Motorcycle Licensing Information

M1 Licence

The M1 is the first step in motorcycle licensing, allowing aspiring riders to practice skills. To earn the M1 licence one must visit an Ontario Drive Test Centre to complete an Application for Ontario Driver’s Licence, vision test and written test. There is no ridden or road test to earn the M1. 

The written M1 test will include a number of “rules of the road” questions such as identification of highway signs, as well as motorcycle-specific regulatory information. A copy of  the Official Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Motorcycle Handbook provides information needed to pass the M1 written test. Those who aren’t already licensed car drivers (or those in need of a refresher) should also study the Ontario Drivers’ Handbook to prepare. These books can be purchased online at the Service Ontario Publications website or at select Service Ontario Centres.

The two main Ontario Drive Test Centres in Ottawa are at 1570 Walkley Rd. and 5303 Canotek Rd., Unit 14.

The cost of the M1 includes a fee for the application and the future M2 road test. Those intending to take a Ministry approved licensing course (such as Gearing Up-M1 Exit) can notify the Ministry upon application, and the price will be adjusted accordingly.

The M2 licence is earned after taking a basic skills test (M1-Exit test) on a closed course, either at a selected Ontario Drive Test Centre, or with a training course. The M2 can only be applied after riding for at least 60 days under the restrictions of an M1 licence. Since the Gearing Up-M1 Exit course is provincially certified and involves no street riding, it may be taken at any time while holding an M1 – one does not have to wait until after 60 days. The paperwork earned upon successful completion of the course, however, must only be submitted after 60 days (and before 90 days) for the upgrade to be applied.

As the M1 is designed to allow riders to practice skills, there are a number of restrictions:

• your blood alcohol level must be zero;
• you must ride only during daylight hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset)
• you may not ride on highways with speed limits over 80 km/hr, except highways: 11, 17, 61, 69, 71, 101, 102, and 144; and you may not carry passengers.

M2 licence

The M2 licence is earned after taking a basic skills test (M1-Exit test) on a closed course, either at a selected Ontario Drive Test Centre, or with a training course. The M2 can only be applied after riding for at least 60 days under the restrictions of an M1 licence. Since the Gearing Up-M1 Exit course is provincially certified and involves no street riding, it may be taken at any time while holding an M1 – one does not have to wait until after 60 days. The paperwork earned upon successful completion of the course, however, must only be submitted after 60 days (and before 90 days) for the upgrade to be applied.

The M2 is a probationary driver’s licence intended for riders to apply the skills acquired while holding the M1 to on-road situations. Other than maintaining a blood alcohol level of zero, the remaining M1 restrictions are lifted. 

The M2 licence expires after 5 years, with the expectation that riders are prepared for full motorcycle licensing privileges after that time. Riders who let the M2 lapse will be required to begin the process again, including wait times.

M licence

When riders are eligible to test for their full M licence depends on how the M2 was earned:

• Riders who earned their M2 licence through a safety course are eligible to test after 18 months of holding an M2.
• Riders who earned their M2 through testing at the Ministry are eligible to test after 22 months of holding an M2.

Once the M licence is earned there are no special restrictions beyond the normal law, and it does not expire. Due to these facts, the M2-Exit test is more intensive than the previous road test, including street and highway riding.

The two main Ontario Drive Test Centres in Ottawa are at 1570 Walkley Rd. and 5303 Canotek Rd., Unit 14.