Everyone needs to start somewhere, especially when it comes to driving. If you live in Ontario, getting your G1 driver's licence is the first step that you need to take on your journey to becoming a fully-licenced driver.
Once you've earned your G1 driver's licence, you need to get some experience behind the wheel. If you don't have enough on-road experience, it will be nearly impossible for you to earn your G2 or G-class licence.
However, some new drivers are worried about getting behind the wheel without learning about the insurance requirements beforehand. This leads us to today's question: do you need to get insurance for G1 drivers in Ontario?
We answer this question, and many more, in the following paragraphs. Continue reading to get started!
Do you need insurance for G1 drivers? — A beginners guide for new drivers in Ontario
Technically, G1 drivers don't need to purchase their own insurance policy until they've earned their G2 or G-class licence and have a car of their own.
G1 drivers can only operate a vehicle while under the supervision of an experienced driver (we'll go over what an "experienced" driver is shortly). While under the supervision of an experienced driver, G1 drivers are covered by the vehicle policyholder's (generally the parent or guardian's) auto insurance policy. Because of this, there’s no need to purchase insurance for G1 drivers in Ontario.
Note: As a G1 driver, you are insured to drive anyone's vehicle without being listed as a driver on their policy, (while under the supervision of an experienced driver.)
Once the G1 driver has earned their G2 licence, you (as the parent or guardian) must add them to your policy as a secondary driver, or they can purchase a vehicle and policy of their own.
Be sure to keep these things in mind if you’ve been wondering, “can you get insurance with a G1 driver’s licence?”.
What happens if a G1 driver gets into an accident?
If your teen has recently earned his or her G1 and is learning how to drive, you should be aware of what will happen if they get into an accident.
If a G1 driver is deemed at fault for an accident that causes injuries, private property damage or public property damage, the event will go through the policyholder's auto insurance. When the G1 driver obtains their own vehicle with a separate insurance policy, the accident will be transferred to their insurance history. Until this point, you will notice a significant increase in your auto insurance rates.
Are there car insurance companies that will insure G1 drivers in Ontario?
Most of the major insurance carriers in Canada will allow G1 drivers - Intact, Aviva, and Travelers are examples. They do so with the belief that the G1 driver will follow the provincial laws and ensure an approved experienced driver is in the vehicle with them.
If you don't intend on purchasing car insurance for G1 drivers in your home, you (as the parent or guardian) can simply let your auto insurance provider know that your child (or children) has recently earned their G1. This is a win-win situation for everyone; your teen gets to learn how to drive, you get peace of mind, and your insurance company has all of the up-to-date information that they need.
Can G1 drivers buy a car in Ontario?
Yes, technically, anyone can buy a car in Ontario as long as they can make the necessary payments and meet other requirements set by the seller. And considering that G1 drivers cannot operate a vehicle by themselves there are fewer options available, and those options that are available come with higher premiums and more work to obtain.
So, even though G1 drivers can purchase a vehicle, they aren't able to purchase insurance or drive it (unless supervised by an experienced driver who is listed on their policy and rated as the primary driver).
Requirements for G1 drivers in Ontario
Even though insurance for G1 drivers in Ontario isn't legally required, there are a number of rules regarding what G1 drivers can and cannot do on the road. Failing to follow these rules can result in a variety of consequences, including demerit points and licence suspension.
These rules include the following:
- G1 drivers must maintain a blood alcohol level of 0%
- The driver and all passengers must wear a seatbelt at all times
- G1 drivers cannot operate a vehicle between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
- G1 drivers cannot operate a vehicle on the 400-series highways and various high-speed roadways
Requirements for drivers accompanying G1 drivers
As we mentioned earlier, G1 drivers need to be accompanied by an experienced driver. But what exactly makes a driver experienced enough to accompany a G1 driver?
Here are the Ministry of Transportation's requirements:
- Supervising drivers need to have a minimum of four years of driving experience
- The supervising driver has earned their G-class driver's licence
- The supervising driver's blood alcohol level cannot exceed 0.5%
