What Your Ontario Driver's License Record Contains

Your Ontario driver's license record is a file maintained by ServiceOntario that shows your driving history, current license status, and any violations or suspensions. It includes every traffic conviction, demerit point, collision you reported to police, and any administrative actions taken against your license. This record is what insurance companies see when they quote you, what employers may review if the job involves driving, and what police officers access during a traffic stop.

The record stays with you across license renewals and transfers. Even if your license expires or you move out of province, ServiceOntario keeps the history. Some entries fall off after a set time — most traffic convictions disappear after three years, but serious violations like impaired driving remain much longer.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Ontario driver's license record includes traffic convictions, demerit points, collisions, and any suspensions or cancellations tied to your license number.
  • You can view your own record online through ServiceOntario's DriveTest portal or by mail, and the information is usually current within one to two business days.
  • Traffic convictions typically disappear from your record three years after the conviction date, but serious violations like impaired driving stay for longer periods.
  • Insurance companies and employers with legitimate business reasons can request your record, but you have the right to know what information is being shared about you.

How to Request Your Own Driver's License Record

The fastest way to see your record is through the ServiceOntario DriveTest online portal. You log in with your Ontario driver's license number and date of birth, and your current record appears when ready. This method is free and shows you exactly what ServiceOntario has on file.

If you do not have online access or prefer a paper copy, you can request your record by mail. Send a written request to ServiceOntario with your full name, date of birth, driver's license number, and current address. Include a cheque or money order — the fee varies but is typically under $10. Mail it to the ServiceOntario address listed on the ServiceOntario website. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days by mail.

You can also request your record in person at a ServiceOntario office or DriveTest centre. Bring your driver's license and photo ID. The staff will print your record on the spot, usually within minutes, and the fee is the same as the mail request.

What Demerit Points Mean and How They Affect Your License

Demerit points are penalties added to your record when you are convicted of certain traffic offences. Ontario uses a demerit point system where different violations carry different point values — running a red light is 3 points, speeding 16 to 49 km/h over the limit is 4 points, and careless driving is 6 points. The points accumulate on your record.

If you reach 15 demerit points within a two-year period, ServiceOntario will suspend your license for 30 days. If you accumulate 25 points within two years, the suspension is 60 days. These suspensions are automatic — you do not have to do anything to trigger them. Once the suspension period ends, the points remain on your record but the suspension is lifted and you can drive again.

Points also affect your insurance rates. Most insurance companies charge higher premiums for drivers with recent demerit points, and some may refuse to insure you if the points are severe or numerous. The points stay on your record for two years from the conviction date, after which they are removed.

Traffic Convictions and How Long They Stay on Your Record

A traffic conviction is a formal finding that you broke a traffic law. It includes speeding, running a red light, careless driving, and other moving violations. Once you are convicted — either by pleading guilty, being found guilty in court, or paying a ticket — the conviction is recorded on your driver's license record.

Most traffic convictions stay on your record for three years from the date of conviction. After three years, ServiceOntario removes the conviction from your record automatically. However, some violations stay longer: impaired driving convictions remain for 10 years, and hit-and-run convictions stay for 10 years as well. Criminal code offences related to driving may stay permanently.

Even after a conviction falls off your record, your insurance company may still know about it if they have their own records. Insurance companies keep their own databases separate from ServiceOntario's, so removing a conviction from your license record does not automatically lower your insurance rates. You may need to contact your insurer directly to ask them to reassess your premium once the conviction is no longer on the official record.

Suspensions, Cancellations, and Administrative Actions

A suspension is a temporary removal of your driving privileges. Common reasons include reaching the demerit point threshold, failing to pay a traffic fine, or not appearing in court for a traffic charge. A suspension has a set end date — 30 days, 60 days, or longer depending on the reason. Once the suspension period ends, your license is automatically reinstated and you can drive again.

A cancellation is permanent removal of your license. ServiceOntario cancels licenses when you do not renew them before they expire, when you move out of Ontario permanently, or when you surrender your license voluntarily. A cancelled license cannot be reinstated — you must reapply for a new license through the normal process process.

Administrative actions also appear on your record. These include court-ordered driving prohibitions (you are forbidden to drive for a set period as part of a criminal sentence), medical suspensions (your license is suspended because of a medical condition), and administrative penalties for unpaid fines or failure to appear in court. Each type has different rules for how long it lasts and what you must do to have it lifted.

Collisions and How They Appear on Your Record

If you are involved in a motor vehicle collision and report it to police, the collision is recorded on your driver's license record. The record shows the date, location, and whether you were at fault or not at fault. A collision at fault means you were found responsible for causing the accident; not at fault means the other driver or circumstances beyond your control caused it.

Collisions at fault stay on your record for three years and significantly affect your insurance rates — insurers view them as evidence of risky driving. Collisions not at fault also stay on your record for three years but have less impact on your premium, though some insurers still charge slightly higher rates. After three years, the collision is removed from your record.

If you were in a collision but did not report it to police at the time, it will not appear on your ServiceOntario record. However, if the other driver reported it or if police attended the scene, it may still be recorded. Insurance companies also keep their own collision records, so even if a collision is no longer on your license record, your insurer may still have it in their system.

Who Can See Your Driver's License Record and What You Can Do About It

ServiceOntario shares your record with police, courts, and other law enforcement agencies without restriction. Insurance companies, employers, and other third parties can request your record, but only if you give them permission or if they have a legitimate business reason. Most commonly, insurance companies request your record when you explore for a quote or renew your policy.

You have the right to know what information has been shared about you. If you believe an error is on your record — for example, a conviction that should have been removed, or a demerit point that was incorrectly added — you can dispute it. Contact ServiceOntario directly with details of the error and supporting documents. Disputes can take several weeks to resolve, and ServiceOntario will investigate before making any changes.

If your record contains information you believe is inaccurate, you can also request a review through the Licence Appeal Tribunal if the error affects your ability to drive. This is a formal process and usually requires legal representation, but it is available if ServiceOntario refuses to correct the error on your own request.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is my Ontario driver's license record updated?

ServiceOntario updates your record within one to two business days of a conviction being entered into the court system or a demerit point being assessed. If you check your record online and do not see a recent ticket or conviction, wait a few business days and check again. Court processing times vary, so there can be a delay between when you are convicted and when it appears on your record.

Can I remove a conviction from my record before three years?

No. Traffic convictions stay on your record for the full time period set by law — three years for most violations, 10 years for impaired driving. You cannot request early removal, and paying a fine or completing a driving course does not shorten the time. The only exception is if the conviction was entered in error, in which case you can dispute it and ask ServiceOntario to remove it.

Will my record affect my ability to renew my license?

Most convictions and demerit points do not prevent you from renewing your license. However, if your license is currently suspended or cancelled, you cannot renew it until the suspension is lifted or you reapply for a new license. If you have a medical suspension or court-ordered driving prohibition, you must resolve that before renewal.

What happens if I move out of Ontario?

Your Ontario driver's license record stays with ServiceOntario even if you move to another province or country. If you obtain a license in another province, that province will request your Ontario record as part of their assessment. Your Ontario convictions and demerit points may transfer to your new province's record, depending on their rules.

Can I see someone else's driver's license record?

No. Driver's license records are private. You cannot see anyone else's record, and ServiceOntario will not share it with you unless you have a legal right to it — for example, if you are a lawyer acting on behalf of a client in a court case. Parents cannot see their adult children's records, and employers cannot see employee records without the employee's written consent.