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Toronto’s Best Driving School

See why thousands of students are choosing Kruzee for their driver’s education.

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  • 100% online, hassle-free scheduling
  • 30% cheaper than comparable schools
  • Fully vetted and MTO certified instructors

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Book driving lessons in three easy steps

Book in-car lessons with our instructors in seconds. Complete in-class lessons fully online, on your schedule.

Step 1

Book online

Spend 30 minutes on the phone to book? Nope. Enter your postal code, choose a pick up location, and check out in 30 seconds. It’s that easy.

Step 2

Get behind the wheel

Our fully certified and trained driving instructors will pick you up and take you for your lesson. Rest assured, they are masters of their craft!

Step 3

Access exclusive perks

Have your license but missing the car and auto insurance? We’ve got you covered! Kruzee students save $400 on their first car from Clutch, and receive 5 free auto insurance quotes from Canada’s largest and oldest insurers via our partner brokerage, Walnut Insurance.

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See why students love Kruzee

Don’t take our word for it – see why thousands of students across the country are choosing Kruzee to learn how to drive.

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Meet one of our Toronto instructors!

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Hey, I’m Cory! As a Senior Driving Instructor at Kruzee, I specialize in Defensive Driving and teach critical techniques for new and experienced drivers to stay safe on the road. I love what I do and I always take a patient approach with my students, making sure they’re comfortable every step of the way. Excited to drive together!

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Your source for the tips, tricks, and advanced driving techniques
you need to know in order to pass your road test.

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The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Driver’s Licence in Toronto in 2022

author avatar

Lauren Alexander

23 August, 2022

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Driver’s Licence in Toronto in 2023

Toronto residents can start the process of getting licensed when they turn 16 — an exciting milestone for young people and new residents to the province. However, the process of getting your licence can be confusing. To help you get your licence faster, easier, and smoother, here’s Kruzee’s guide to getting licensed in Toronto:

The licensing system in Toronto - G1, G2, G

As in other cities across Ontario, Toronto follows a graduated licensing system split into three licence classes - the G1, G2, and G. While you can start the process of getting licenced  when you turn 16, it can take up to 4 years to make it through the entire process. Based on our study of students across Toronto, most students take between 4-6 years to complete the entire licensing process. Each step in the licensing process has different requirements, benefits, and costs to secure the licence. Here they are at a glance.
Licence What is it, and when can you get it? What are the restrictions? How much does it cost?
G1
  • First learner’s permit that lets you practice with another driver.
  • You can get your G1 licence when you are at least 16 years of age, and pass a 40-question written test.
As the first step in the journey of new drivers, the G1 licence has the most restrictions out of any licence. They include:
  • Must be accompanied by a person who has had a valid full G licence for a minimum of 4 years and has zero alcohol consumption
  • No driving between midnight to 5 a.m.
  • No driving on 400-series highways, including the Gardiner Expressway, Don Valley Parkway (DVP), and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW)
  • Seatbelts must be worn by all passengers at all times
  • Permitted to drive G class vehicles only
On the first attempt, a G1 costs $159.75 to write the test and receive the licence. For any subsequent attempts (in case you didn’t pass the first time), you will need to pay a $16.00 fee.
G2
  • Learner’s permit that lets you drive by yourself, with some restrictions.
  • You can get your G2 if you’ve had your G1 for 12 months, or 8 months if you went through a registered driver’s education program like Kruzee.
The G2 licence has many fewer restrictions than the G1 licence. As the first licence that lets you drive by yourself, the G2 does give you more freedom - you can now drive:
  • Without another experienced driver in the car
  • On all Ontario roads
  • At any time of the day, in most cases
However, you must still:
  • Have a zero blood alcohol level
  • Carry only as many passengers as there are working seatbelts
  • Can only drive with one passenger aged 19 and under between the hours of midnight and 5AM, if you are under 19 yourself
A G2 test costs $53.75 on each attempt.
G
  • Full driver’s licence.
  • You can get your G 12 months after getting your G2.
Full privileges and responsibilities associated with having a driver’s licence apply. A G2 test costs $91.25 on each attempt.

Going to driving school in Toronto

Once you’ve completed your G1 test, the next step in moving along your licensing journey is aligning on a strategy for how you learn how to drive. At this point, you have two options - either attending an MTO-approved driving school, or learning to drive on your own. In Toronto, going through driving school tends to be the more popular option - in a 2022 Kruzee study, 82% of individuals reported going to a driving school to learn how to drive, vs. 18% learned by themselves. If you are deciding to go through driving school, here are a few things to keep in mind:

What are the benefits of driving school?

  1. Driving school lets you get your G2 in 8 months instead of 12: The Ministry of Transportation views new drivers that have gone through a BDE course as less risky than drivers that haven’t. As a result, the Ministry of Transportation allows new drivers that have gone through a BDE course to get their G2 in 8 months instead of 12 if they have their G1 licence. For a high school student, this can be the difference between having your licence before you graduate and graduating without being able to use a car.
  2. It can save you 10-20% on auto insurance: Often, driving school can pay for itself, purely through the insurance discounts. Many auto insurers across Ontario offer discounts to students that have gone through a BDE course to recognize their safer driving behaviour. Auto insurance for new drivers can cost between $4,000 – $6,000 per year if you have your own vehicle. At these rates, in your first 3 years of driving, the 10-20% auto insurance discount can represent savings of $1,200 to $1,800 overall, paying for driving school many times over. Savings can vary by insurance provider, though, so make sure to give your insurance company a call to check what your specific discount could be.
  3. It can be the difference between passing and failing your road test: Many driving instructors have been road test examiners in the past. This means that they know the ins and outs of what it takes to pass your road test —  and where most students slip up. While there is no guarantee that driving school will result in you passing your road test, it can go a long way towards improving your chances. For more tips and tricks on how to pass your road test, click here.
  4. It will improve your overall driving record: The certificate you receive from completing an MTO-approved BDE course remains on your driving record for years. Aside from the direct recognition by insurance companies the certificate produces, going through driver’s ed will teach you how to drive more safely, thus improving your driving record. For new drivers, this is critically important, as their time on the road is limited and their driving records are still quite short.
  5. You can learn advanced defensive driving techniques: At the end of the day, learning how to drive safely is the heart and soul of driver’s ed. All of the other benefits — faster licensing time, insurance discounts, etc. — exist because driving schools like Kruzee produce safer drivers. The defensive driving techniques you learn when completing a driver’s ed course can save your life, and the lives of others. At Kruzee, driving instructors focus on instilling safe driving habits for life that will improve your reaction time in dangerous situations and help you assess risky driving situations critically.

How much does driving school cost in Toronto?

For the most common driving school package - an MTO-approved BDE program - the average cost of attending driving school in Toronto is $945 in 2023. This includes 10 hours of in-car instruction, 20 hours of online theory, and 10 hours of online practice tests - completion of all of these are mandatory in order to receive the MTO certificate. At Kruzee, our MTO-approved BDE program costs $695.

How should I evaluate my driving school / instructor?

Unfortunately, not all driving schools and instructors are created equal! You'll want to make sure that the school you're selecting is the best driving school in Toronto for your specific needs. Whether you decide to book with Kruzee or a different driving school, here are the questions you should be asking yourself before getting started with a given driving school or instructor:
  1. Is the driving school MTO-certified? Before enrolling in classes, make sure that the driving school you decide to go with is ministry-certified. Only ministry-approved driving schools are allowed to offer lessons to G1-holding students, and only ministry-approved driving schools are able to give you the MTO-certificate that grants you accelerated licensing and the insurance discount.
  2. Is the driving instructor MTO certified? In addition to the driving school being MTO-certified, the driving instructor themselves must be ministry certified. Only MTO-certified driving instructors are allowed to take students on highways, and only in-car hours with certified instructors count towards the MTO certificate.
  3. Does the driving instructor have driving instructor insurance? Driving instructor insurance is different from normal car insurance - due to the higher risk of teaching new students, driving instructors must have special driving instructor insurance. This keeps you safe and protected in case of an accident. Unfortunately, because driving instructor insurance is more expensive than normal insurance, some driving instructors cut corners and don’t get the proper coverage. If you get into an accident with an instructor that isn’t properly insured, there could be serious consequences.
 

Passing your G2 and G road test in Toronto

  What are the DriveTest centres in Toronto?While there are no DriveTest centers in Downtown Toronto, there are two DriveTest centres in the Metro Toronto Area - one near Downsview, at 37 Carl Hall Rd, and a secondary location in Scarborough at 1448 Lawrence Ave East. What are the average passing rates for the G2 and G tests in Toronto? For the G2 road test, the average passing rate in Toronto is 48%, as of 2023. For the G road test, the passing rate is slightly higher, at 55%.

Top 3 tips & tricks for passing your road test from our Toronto instructor Paul Bumra:

  1. Practice driving in your testing area. Paul recommends doing some practice in the road test area to get comfortable driving there. For example, if your G2 test is at the Metro East DriveTest Centre, practice driving nearby at least once. However, he doesn’t recommend just driving the test route.“Just because you drive the route doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re prepared or that you’re a good driver,” says Paul. “Things might happen on the road, in that area or outside of that area that you might not expect.” Instead, spend a few practice hours with a parent or licensed instructor driving in your test area to get comfortable with the driving conditions.
  2. Be a bobblehead. Awareness of your surroundings is an important skill, but particularly important for your road test. Moving your head constantly makes it clear to your examiner that you’re aware of your surroundings.Paul explains;“Be sure to check intersections before entering, check driveways, and watch for pedestrians. Driving instructors will also watch your head movements to ensure that you’re doing them properly.”
  3. Listen to verbal prompts. Your examiner will always tell you what the next driving manoeuvre is that they want you to make. Careful listening can be the difference between passing and failing.“The driving examiner isn’t trying to trick you. They will explain exactly what they want you to do - make sure you’re listening carefully. If you aren’t 100% sure what the examiner meant, always, always ask for clarification.”

Our Package Pricing

Clear, transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Most Popular

$695 +HST

Beginner Driver Certificate Course

Our MTO-approved course for new drivers

  • 10 hours of in-car lessons with a Kruzee driving instructor
  • 30 hours of online, self-paced learning
  • Up to 20% reduction on your auto insurance (varies by insurer)
  • Get your G2 in 8 months instead of 12
  • MTO completion certificate
  • Save $400 on your first car purchased through Clutch.ca
  • 5 free auto insurance quotes

$75 / hr+HST

Driving Practice Lessons

Practice and refresher lessons with an MTO-certified driving instructor

  • By-the-hour driving practice to help you accomplish your goals - whether you're going for a G2 or G exam, or just need a general refresh
  • Book one, five, or ten hours of personalized practice lessons
  • Book and schedule your in-car lessons fully online

$295 +HST

Vehicle for Road Test

Use a Kruzee driving instructor’s vehicle for your exam

  • Use a Kruzee driving instructor’s vehicle for your G2 or G road test
  • 30 min refresher lesson before test
  • Free pickup and drop-off from the local road test center (non-local road tests may incur an additional charge)

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FAQ’s

Learn why Kruzee is the best driving school in Toronto

We make it easy for you to get your license and get on the road. Our online platform allows you to book your in-car lessons directly with one of our ministry-certified instructors – no more last-minute cancellations or scheduling headaches.

Our instructors are trained on the highest levels of customer service and defensive driving techniques, so you receive the absolute best quality of instruction. Also – we’re 30% cheaper than comparable driving schools!

Yes! Kruzee’s curriculum is ministry approved and all of Kruzee’s instructors are thoroughly vetted and licensed to teach driving in your area. That means you know you’re getting the best curriculum, along with all the benefits of an MTO-approved driving school.

Unlike a traditional driving school, our lesson booking process is entirely online – no phone calls or awkward text exchanges required. First, we ask you to enter your postal code – this helps us find the best instructors in your area. Next, you’ll be asked to select the type of driving lessons you’d like. Whether you’re looking for a full BDE package or just want individual practice lessons, we have you covered. Finally, you’ll select the lesson time and pickup location that’s most convenient for you, and your instructor will meet you there on the day of your lesson.

You can reschedule your lessons as many times as you’d like, up until 24 hours before the lesson. Cancellations within 24 hours are not allowed without a valid doctor’s note, given that last-minute cancellations directly affect our instructors’ earning potential. We appreciate your cooperation!

At Kruzee, we aim to provide the best learning experience for our students. We understand that sometimes, plans change or circumstances arise that might prevent a student from completing their lessons.

  1. Eligibility for Refunds: Students are eligible to request refunds for lessons that they have not taken or commenced.
  2. Requesting a Refund: To request a refund, students must contact our customer service team at support@kruzee.com within 30 days of purchase. If a refund request is submitted to Kruzee beyond 30 days of purchase, we are unable to process the refund.
  3. Processing Time: Upon receiving a refund request, we will review it and process refunds within 5-10 business days. The amount will be credited to the original payment method used during booking.
  4. Non-refundable Expenses: Please note that any delivered lessons, administrative or processing fees associated with the booking may be deducted from the refundable amount.
  5. Changes to Policy: Kruzee reserves the right to modify this refund policy at any time. Any changes will be communicated on our official website and/or through direct communication to our students.

We are committed to ensuring fairness and flexibility for our students. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please reach out to us.

Only the top 5% of driving instructors that apply for a position with Kruzee are selected, ensuring that you’re receiving the absolute top quality of instruction available. To identify the best driving instructors in your area, we’ve developed a three-part interview process. First, we assess an instructor’s teaching ability and driving knowledge through an in-car assessment. At this stage, we’re also looking to understand who our instructors are as individuals. We want instructors that demonstrate our core values – patience, kindness, and a passion for education. Next, we verify the instructor’s references, examine past student reviews, and conduct a thorough criminal background and vehicle safety standards check. Finally, we confirm that our driving instructors have all of the necessary licensing and insurance – whether this is at a municipal or provincial level. Given that you’ll be spending over 10 hours in the car with your instructor, we want to make sure that this is somebody you’ll love learning from.

This is correct! Over time, insurance companies have recognized that students who go through an MTO-approved BDE program tend to be safer drivers than students who don’t. As a result, many insurance providers offer a 10-20% discount on your policy if you complete an MTO-approved BDE program. These discounts typically stay on your record for 3-5 years, and can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your policy. As a newer driver, insurance rates tend to be 2-5x higher than more experienced drivers – making every discount particularly helpful.

For specifics, please call your insurance provider to see how much you may be able to save. Kruzee students are also eligible for 5 free auto insurance quotes from our partner auto insurance brokerage, Walnut Insurance.

That is correct! We’ve partnered up with Clutch, Canada’s fastest-growing used car marketplace, to save Kruzee students $400 on their first car.

As a Kruzee student, you’ll be provided with a unique discount code once you complete your lessons to save $400 on your first car with Clutch – regardless of the make, model, or year.

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Learn to drive from Toronto's best team of driving instructors

Your safety is our priority. Our instructors go above and beyond to make sure you’re confident behind the wheel every step of the way

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