A driver record is a government document showing your driving history: demerit points, convictions, suspensions, and licence status. The uncertified 3-year record is the most common type, costs $12, and can be ordered online in about 5 minutes with instant delivery as a PDF.
Ontario offers several types of driving records. The right one depends on why you need it.
3-year driver recordMost popular. Used for employment, insurance quotes, and licence exchanges. Shows convictions, demerit points, and suspensions from the past 3 years.$12 / $18
Driver's licence historyUsed by insurance companies. Shows your licence timeline (G1, G2, G upgrades), renewals, and driving school completion. Does not show convictions.$12 / $18
5-year driver recordSame as the 3-year but covers 5 years. Often requested by insurers for detailed history. Used when applying for a licence in another province.$12 / $18
Extended driver recordShows all convictions, suspensions, and reinstatements from your entire driving history (not just the past 3 or 5 years).$12 / $18
Complete driver recordEverything: all convictions, suspensions, licence history, medical suspensions, and any other records. Most detailed and most expensive.$48 / $54
First price is uncertified, second is certified (with Ministry of Transportation seal). Uncertified meets most needs.
What the 3-Year Record Contains
The record shows:
Full name, licence number, date of birth, and sex
Licence class (G1, G2, G, etc.) and expiry date
Licence conditions and endorsements (corrective lenses required, air brake endorsement, etc.)
Licence status (licensed, suspended, cancelled, etc.)
Earliest licence date on file
Demerit point total
Highway Traffic Act convictions (speeding, running red lights, etc.) from the past 3 years
Criminal Code convictions related to driving (impaired driving, dangerous driving, etc.) from the past 3 years
Active fine suspensions
Suspensions and reinstatements from the past 3 years
The record does NOT show:
Your address
Driver's education course completion dates
Expired medical suspensions
Insurance claims or at-fault accident history (this is tracked by your insurer, not the MTO)
2Enter the Ontario driver's licence number of the person whose record you want
3Enter the driver's date of birth
4Pay $12 by Visa or Mastercard
5The uncertified PDF is delivered instantly by email
Takes about 5 minutes. Available 24/7. You can order for yourself or for someone else (you just need their licence number).
ServiceOntario does not validate the licence number. If you type the wrong number, you will still be charged $12 even if no record is found. Double-check the number before submitting.
Visit any ServiceOntario centre with your driver's licence or government-issued ID. Uncertified records are printed on the spot. Pay with cash, debit, or credit. Certified records are processed within 15 business days and mailed to you.
In-person is useful if you need it immediately and do not want to use a credit card online, or if you need a record type that is not available online (extended or complete records must be ordered in person or by mail).
Download the driver record search application form from ontario.ca, fill it out, and mail it with a cheque or money order (payable to the Minister of Finance) or credit card information to:
Ministry of Transportation Information Services Office Information and Data Retrieval Unit 87 Sir William Hearst Avenue, Room 158-D Toronto, Ontario M3M 0B4
Both uncertified and certified mail orders are processed within 15 business days and then mailed by Canada Post. This is the slowest option.
When You Need One
•Job application: Many employers require a clean 3-year record for driving positions (delivery, trucking, taxi, ride-share, courier)
•Insurance quotes: Insurers use your record to assess risk and set premiums. Some ask for the driver's licence history instead, which does not show convictions
•Applying for a licence in another province, territory, or country: A certified 5-year record is usually required
•Court appearance: A certified record may be required as evidence. Only the certified version with the MTO seal is accepted as an official document in court
•Confirming your address: Some institutions accept the record as secondary proof of address
•Personal review: Checking your own record for errors before applying for insurance or a job
Which Record Type Do You Need?
Disputing Errors
Errors on your driver record can affect insurance premiums, job applications, and your ability to exchange a licence in another province. If you notice something wrong, act on it:
1Review the record carefully. Compare every conviction, suspension, and reinstatement against your own records. Check dates, offence descriptions, and demerit points.
2Contact ServiceOntario. Call 1-800-387-3445 or visit a ServiceOntario centre. Explain the error and provide any supporting documents (court dismissals, payment confirmations, etc.).
3If ServiceOntario cannot resolve it, contact the Ministry of Transportation directly. Write to the Information Services Office at the address on the mail order form, explaining the error in detail.
Corrections can take several weeks to process. Order a new record after the correction is confirmed to verify the error has been removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my employer order my driver record without my permission? +
Yes. The 3-year and 5-year driver records can be ordered by anyone who has the driver's licence number. There is no consent requirement for these record types. This is why employers often ask for your licence number during the hiring process for driving positions. The driver's licence history, however, can only be ordered by the driver themselves or by law enforcement.
Do convictions stay on my record forever? +
On the 3-year record, convictions fall off after 3 years. On the 5-year record, they fall off after 5 years. On the extended and complete records, convictions may appear for much longer. Criminal Code convictions (impaired driving, dangerous driving) are retained differently and may appear on your record for longer periods. Pardoned offences are eventually removed.
I need a record for an out-of-province licence exchange. Which one? +
Most provinces and territories require a certified 5-year driver record. Call the licensing authority in the province you are moving to and confirm which type they accept before ordering. You will also need your actual Ontario driver's licence and possibly a letter of experience from your insurer.
Can I get a driver record if my licence is expired or cancelled? +
Yes. You can order a driver record regardless of your current licence status. Even if your licence has been expired, cancelled, or surrendered, the record still exists and can be ordered online, in person, or by mail.
Does the record show my insurance claims or accidents? +
No. The MTO driver record does not show insurance claims, at-fault accidents, or your insurance history. That information is tracked separately by insurance companies through the Insurance Bureau of Canada's claims database. If an insurer needs your accident history, they will pull it from their own systems, not from the MTO record.
My insurance company asked for a "driver's licence history." Is that the same as a 3-year record? +
No. The driver's licence history is a different record type. It shows your licence timeline (when you got your G1, upgraded to G2, got your full G), renewal dates, and driving school completion. It does not show convictions or demerit points. Insurers request this to verify how long you have been licensed. The 3-year record shows convictions and points but not your licence timeline. Ask your insurer which one they need.
