Your suspension length depends on whether this is your first offense and your province
A stunt driving conviction in Canada results in an when ready license suspension that lasts a minimum of one year for a first offense. In Ontario, where stunt driving charges are most common, a first conviction means your license is suspended for exactly one year from the date of conviction. If you are convicted a second time within ten years, the suspension jumps to two years. A third or subsequent conviction within that same ten-year window results in a three-year suspension.
Other provinces have different timelines. British Columbia suspends for one year on a first offense and two years on a second. Alberta uses a one-year suspension for first offenses. The specific length also depends on whether you were charged under your province's stunt driving law or under a related offense like dangerous driving, which can carry longer suspensions or even lifetime bans in extreme cases.
Your suspension begins the moment you are convicted, not when you are charged or arrested. If you are fighting the charge in court, your license remains valid until the verdict. Once convicted, the suspension is automatic — you do not need to wait for paperwork or a formal notice, though you will receive written confirmation from your provincial licensing authority.
Key Takeaways
- A first stunt driving conviction in Ontario results in a one-year license suspension starting when ready after conviction.
- A second conviction within ten years extends the suspension to two years; a third or later conviction means three years off the road.
- Other provinces set their own suspension lengths, so the exact duration depends on where you were convicted.
- The suspension clock starts on your conviction date, not your arrest date, so you keep your license while your case is in court.
- You cannot shorten a stunt driving suspension through an early review or hardship process in most provinces.
What counts as stunt driving and why the suspension is automatic
Stunt driving laws target behaviors that go far beyond speeding. In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act defines stunt driving as racing, performing stunts, removing a muffler, driving with an obscured license plate, or driving in a way that shows a wanton or reckless disregard for public safety. Common examples include street racing, excessive speeding (often 50 km/h or more over the limit), doing donuts in a parking lot, or deliberately swerving between lanes at high speed.
The suspension is automatic because stunt driving is treated as a public safety issue, not a minor traffic violation. Unlike a speeding ticket, which may result in demerit points and a fine, a stunt driving conviction triggers when ready license removal. The law assumes that someone convicted of this offense poses an when ready risk to other drivers and pedestrians, so the province removes their driving privilege without waiting for a separate administrative hearing.
You will receive a notice of suspension in the mail within a few weeks of your conviction. This notice will state your suspension start date, end date, and the conditions for reinstating your license. Keep this document — you will need it to prove your suspension status to employers, insurance companies, or anyone else who asks.
How a criminal record affects your suspension timeline
If your stunt driving charge results in a criminal conviction (rather than just a provincial offense), the suspension may be longer or combined with additional penalties. A criminal conviction for dangerous driving, for example, can result in a lifetime driving ban in cases involving injury or death. Even without a lifetime ban, criminal convictions often trigger longer suspensions than provincial offenses.
The distinction matters because stunt driving can be charged as either a provincial offense or a criminal offense depending on the circumstances and the Crown's decision. A provincial conviction carries the one-year (or two-year, three-year) suspension outlined above. A criminal conviction for the same behavior may carry a separate driving prohibition imposed by the court, which can extend beyond the provincial suspension period.
If you are facing charges, ask your lawyer whether the Crown is pursuing a criminal or provincial route. This will help you understand what suspension length to expect if you are convicted.
Reinstating your license after the suspension ends
Once your suspension period ends, your license does not automatically come back. You must take active steps to reinstate it through your provincial licensing authority. In Ontario, you will need to visit a ServiceOntario office in person, pay a reinstatement fee (currently $198 for a one-year suspension), and pass a vision test. Some provinces require you to pass a written knowledge test or a road test as well.
Before you can reinstate, you must also have valid auto insurance. Most insurers will not cover you during a suspension, and many will not insure you when ready after one ends without a waiting period or a higher premium. Contact insurers before your suspension ends to understand what they will require — some may ask for an SR22 or similar proof of financial responsibility, depending on your province and the insurer's own rules.
Bring your suspension notice, proof of identity, and proof of address to the licensing office. The reinstatement process usually takes less than an hour, but you should call ahead to confirm what documents your specific office requires.
Insurance costs and coverage during your suspension
Your auto insurance policy will be cancelled or suspended the moment your license suspension takes effect. You cannot legally drive during this period, so insurers have no reason to keep you covered. When your suspension ends and you reinstate your license, finding affordable insurance becomes difficult.
Insurers view stunt driving convictions as a sign of high-risk behavior. After reinstatement, you can expect to pay significantly higher premiums — often 50 to 100 percent more than you paid before the conviction, depending on your age, driving history, and the insurer. Some insurers will refuse to cover you at all for a set period after the conviction. Others will cover you only if you accept a higher deductible or limited coverage.
The higher rates typically last three to five years from the conviction date, though some insurers use a longer timeline. Shopping around after your suspension ends is essential — rates vary widely between companies, and some specialize in high-risk drivers. You may also be required to carry higher liability limits than the provincial minimum.
What happens if you drive during your suspension
Driving while suspended is a separate criminal offense that carries its own penalties. In Ontario, driving while under suspension can result in a fine of $1,000 to $50,000, jail time of up to six months, or both. Your vehicle can be impounded, and you will face additional license suspension on top of your existing one.
If you are caught driving while suspended for stunt driving, the court may add another year or more to your suspension, meaning you will not be back on the road for two, three, or more years total. A second driving-while-suspended offense can result in jail time. This is not a minor infraction — it is treated as a serious breach of a court order.
If you need to drive during your suspension for work or medical reasons, some provinces offer a limited driving permit that allows you to drive only to and from specific locations (such as your workplace or a medical appointment). These permits are not automatic and require you to show hardship. Contact your provincial licensing authority to ask whether you are may be able to access.
Reducing your suspension through court or hardship appeals
In most provinces, you cannot reduce a stunt driving suspension through an early review or hardship process. The suspension is set by law, and licensing authorities have little discretion to shorten it. Unlike some other suspensions (such as those for unpaid fines), a stunt driving suspension cannot be negotiated or reduced based on personal circumstances.
Your only option to challenge the suspension length is to appeal your conviction itself. If you can overturn the conviction in court, the suspension is automatically lifted. This requires working with a lawyer and presenting new evidence or identifying a legal error in your trial. Most convictions are not overturned on appeal, so this is a long shot and an expensive one.
If you were convicted and believe the conviction was unfair or based on incorrect evidence, speak with a criminal defense lawyer about your options for appeal. If you are still facing charges and have not yet gone to trial, a lawyer can sometimes negotiate with the Crown to reduce the charge to something less serious, which would result in a shorter or no suspension.
How a stunt driving conviction affects your driving record long-term
The conviction stays on your driving record for a set period that varies by province. In Ontario, a stunt driving conviction remains on your record for ten years. During that time, it affects your insurance rates, your ability to get hired for jobs that require driving, and your ability to rent a vehicle.
After ten years, the conviction is removed from your driving record, and your insurance rates should return to normal. However, some insurers keep their own records longer than the province does, so you may still face higher rates even after the official ten-year period ends. Always disclose the conviction to insurers when you are asked about your driving history — failing to do so can result in your policy being cancelled if they discover it later.
If you work in a field that requires a clean driving record — such as commercial driving, delivery, or transportation — a stunt driving conviction can end your career in that field. Some employers will not hire you during the suspension period or the ten-year record period. This is one of the most serious long-term consequences of a stunt driving conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a limited driving permit during my stunt driving suspension?
Some provinces offer limited permits for hardship reasons, such as work or medical appointments, but they are not automatic. You must show that you have a genuine need to drive and no other way to meet it. Contact your provincial licensing authority to ask about the process and whether you meet their criteria. Even if approved, the permit usually restricts you to specific routes and times.
Does my suspension start right away or after I receive paperwork?
Your suspension begins on your conviction date, not when you receive the notice in the mail. You lose your driving privilege when ready after the judge or court convicts you, even if paperwork takes weeks to arrive. Do not drive after your conviction date, even if you have not yet received official notice.
What if I was charged with stunt driving but the charge was dropped?
If the charge was withdrawn or you were found not guilty, there is no suspension. A suspension only happens after a conviction. If you were convicted of a lesser charge (such as careless driving instead of stunt driving), the suspension length depends on that charge, not the original one.
Will my suspension be shorter if I take a driver improvement course?
No. Stunt driving suspensions are set by law and cannot be shortened through courses, counseling, or other programs. Some other traffic violations allow you to reduce demerit points by taking a course, but stunt driving suspensions are not negotiable. You must serve the full suspension period.
Can I drive in another province while my license is suspended in my home province?
No. All Canadian provinces recognize suspensions issued by other provinces through a shared database. If your license is suspended in Ontario, you cannot legally drive in British Columbia, Alberta, or any other province. Driving across a provincial border while suspended is still driving while suspended and carries the same criminal penalties.