What Is The Penalty For Driving Without A Licence in Ontario?

We learn that we need to follow the rules of the road long before we get behind the wheel of a car for the first time. Some of the first rules that we learn are to obey the speed limit, stop at stop signs and slow down for passengers when they need to cross the street.

Another important rule of the road is that you need to carry your driver's licence with you while you're operating a vehicle.

However, even the best of us make mistakes; it's not uncommon for drivers to accidentally forget their licences at home, work, the gym, etc., and to unintentionally drive without them.

This leads to the question, "what happens if you're caught driving without a licence in Ontario?".

Continue reading to find out.

Driving without a licence in Ontario — Penalty overview

Yes, according to Section 33 of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, drivers in Ontario are legally required to carry their driver's licence with them while operating a vehicle on public roadways. The rule applies to all forms of driver's licences, including (but not limited to) G-class licences, G2 licences, G1 licences, M-class licences, etc.

What is the penalty for driving without a licence Ontario?

There are two everyday situations in which a driver may not be able to provide their licence to the authorities:

1. The driver has a valid driver's licence but it's not on their person
    
2. The driver is operating a vehicle with a suspended driver's licence

In both cases, you can face a penalty for driving without a licence in Ontario; that being said, the type and severity of the penalty will depend on the context of the event.

Situation #1 — You have a valid driver's licence but it's not on your person

If you're caught driving without a licence in Ontario, the police officer that pulled you over can either give you a warning or issue you a ticket.

If the police officer lets you off with a warning, you won't face any fines or legal repercussions; however, you will need to provide the police officer with some personal information, like your name and address.

On the other hand, if you're issued a ticket for driving without a licence in Ontario, you will have to go to court to prove that you have a valid driver's licence. If you can't successfully prove that you have a valid driver's licence, then you can face the following penalties:

• A three-year driving conviction on your abstract
• A fine ranging from $200 to $1,000
• Demerit points
• Potential jail time (in severe cases for repeat offenders)
• Increased auto insurance rates

Thankfully, if you're able to prove that you have a valid driver's licence and that the event was an honest mistake, you can avoid facing the aforementioned consequences.

Situation #2 — You're caught driving with a suspended driver's licence

If your driver's licence is suspended for any reason, you are not allowed to operate a vehicle on Ontarian roadways until the suspension has expired. Unfortunately, some drivers choose to use their vehicles even if their licences are suspended. 

Operating a vehicle with a suspended licence directly conflicts with the requirements listed in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. If you're caught driving a vehicle with a suspended licence, you can face a number of severe consequences (we touch on these consequences below).

What is the penalty for driving with a suspended driver's licence in Ontario?

In the eyes of the Ontario government, the act of driving with a suspended licence is a serious offence. So, it should come as no surprise that it comes with equally serious consequences.

The first time that you're caught driving with a suspended licence, you can face a fine of (no less than) $1,000 or (no more than) $5,000. If you're caught driving with a suspended licence multiple times, you can face a fine of (no less than) $2,000 or (no more than) $5,000 and/or a prison sentence of (no more than) six months.

After learning this, it's clear that the penalty for driving with a licence in Ontario makes it not worth the risk. Instead, we suggest waiting until your licence suspension has expired; although it will require some patience, it's the safest way to approach the situation if you want to get your driving privileges back.

What is the penalty for driving with an expired driver's licence?

Most Ontarians have a lot on their plates, so it's easy to forget to renew a driver's licence. However, driving with an expired driver's licence also comes with its own penalty. If you're caught driving with an expired driver's licence, you could face a fine ranging from $200 to $1,000 dollars. 

Considering that it only costs $90 to renew your driver's licence at your local ServiceOntario, you may want to add the task to your priority list, especially if your expiry date is coming up.

How does a ticket for driving without a licence affect your auto insurance rates?

Like other convictions, being convicted of driving without a licence in Ontario can have a negative impact on your auto insurance rates. 

When you're convicted of a criminal offence, like operating a vehicle without a licence, it goes on your abstract for three years. When your auto insurance company reviews your abstract, they'll see the conviction as a red flag and use it to increase your risk level. As a rule of thumb, the higher a driver's risk level is, the more they need to pay for auto insurance.

So, if you want to maintain your affordable insurance rates, we highly suggest making sure that you have your licence with you whenever you hit the road.

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