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9 minute read Published on Dec 31, 2025 by BrokerLink Communications
There are plenty of times when checking your driving record comes in handy, like when you're shopping for car insurance in Toronto, applying for a job, or updating your driver’s licence. In fact, a 2022 survey of Ontario drivers from CAA found that 83% had witnessed other drivers speeding, and 43% admitted to speeding themselves, making it even more important to keep tabs on your own driving history.
Your driving record can affect things like your car insurance rates and your ability to land certain jobs. In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through how to check your Ontario driving record, what kind of information it includes, and why it matters.
In Ontario, your driving record (sometimes known as a driver's abstract) is your official driving history held by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). According to ServiceOntario, it includes:
Your driver identification details (name, birthdate, sex, height)
Your driver's licence details (number, class, status, issue and expiry date, restrictions)
Demerit point total
Convictions, suspensions, and reinstatements
There are several driving record types in Ontario, each offering more detail:
Record type
What it covers
3-year driver record
Covers your driving history over the past three years, including demerit points, infractions under the Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code of Canada, suspensions, and reinstatements.
5-year driver record
Includes everything above, plus Criminal Code of Canada entries from the past five years.
Extended driver record
Covers demerit points and all available convictions, suspensions and reinstatements under the Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code of Canada.
Complete driver record
Covers the same as the extended driver record but also includes all collisions, residential addresses, and driver’s licence replacements, renewals, and class changes.
Driver's licence history
It shows when you completed your beginner driver education course, driver's licence class changes, renewals, and replacements, and current and past residential addresses.
There are several reasons why someone might need to check their driving record in Ontario:
Insurance companies will check your driving record when calculating insurance premiums to look for a history of tickets, collisions, suspensions, and DUI convictions. Checking your driving record helps you see what violations insurance companies can see when determining your risk level.
Many employers require proof of your driving history to evaluate whether you're a safe and reliable driver when you're applying for a job that involves any form of driving, such as ride-sharing, delivery, or transportation.
If you're upgrading from a G2 to a G licence or planning to renew your licence, you can check your driving record to confirm your eligibility. For example, when upgrading your driver's licence, a clean driving record is often a requirement.
While most provinces share driving record information through agreements such as the Canadian Driver Licence Compact, if you're planning to apply for a driver's licence in a new province, you may still want to be aware of what is on your record so that you're prepared if something comes up during the application process.
You can choose an uncertified or certified record when ordering your driving record. A certified record, which is an official, sealed copy of your driving record, is typically only required for court appearances or formal legal needs. According to ServiceOntario, a certified driver's record has a seal from the Ministry of Transportation on it.
You can easily apply for a copy of your driving record either:
Online
In person at your local ServiceOntario centre
By mail
You can apply online for a copy of your three or five-year driver record by completing its online order form:
You will need to have the following ready before you begin the online application process:
Your driver's licence number or registrant identification number (RIN)
Your date of birth
A valid Visa or Mastercard for payment
If you want a copy of your extended driver record or a complete driver record, you must either apply in person at your local ServiceOntario centre or by mail. You can also apply for a three or five-year record in person or by mail.
To apply in person, visit any ServiceOntario centre in Ontario. To apply by mail, you'll need to download the record search application form, complete it, print it out, and send it in by mail.
If you order an uncertified three-year driver record online or in person, you will receive it immediately. For all other types of driving records, ServiceOntario states that both uncertified and certified (with official seal) orders are processed within 15 business days and then mailed out via regular Canada Post delivery.
For a three-year, five-year, and extended record, the cost is the same. However, the price depends on whether you get it uncertified or certified:
Uncertified: $12
Certified: $18
To order a complete driver record, it costs:
Uncertified: $48
Certified: $54
Mistakes can happen, and when they show up on your driving record, they can impact everything from your insurance premiums to job opportunities. That’s why it’s important to review your record carefully and take action if you notice something that doesn’t look right. Who should I contact to dispute errors on my driving record in Ontario?
To dispute an error on your Ontario driving record, you’ll need to contact ServiceOntario. Depending on the nature of the error, you may also be referred to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). If the issue involves a specific ticket or conviction, you might need to follow up with the court that issued it. You can start by calling the ServiceOntario general inquiries line at 1-800-387-3445 or visiting a ServiceOntario centre in person.
Need your Ontario driving record? BrokerLink can guide you through the request and explain what it means for your rates.
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Your driving record plays a major role in how insurance companies determine your car insurance premium in Ontario. Insurance companies use it to assess how risky you are to insure, and the cleaner your record, the better your chances of getting a lower car insurance rate.
When you apply for coverage or renew your policy, insurance providers often request a three or five-year driver’s abstract. Here’s what they typically check:
Traffic violations (e.g., speeding, careless driving)
Criminal driving offences, like impaired driving
At-fault accidents
Licence suspensions or conditions
The more serious or recent the incidents, the higher your premiums are likely to be.
According to the Ontario Court of Justice, over 1.3 million traffic offences are processed annually under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, with some of the most common traffic violations being speeding, driving while disqualified, running red lights, and failing to stop.
While minor offences like rolling through a stop sign might not increase your premium much, especially if it’s your first, more serious offences or multiple violations can lead to significant premium hikes or even policy cancellation.
Generally, traffic convictions can affect your insurance rate for about three years. But if those tickets lead to a licence suspension, that suspension can stay on your insurance record and impact your premium for up to six years. Here’s a quick look at how different driving infractions in Ontario can impact your car insurance:
Offence type
Examples
Premium increase
Minor offences
Speeding
Failing to signal
Failing to yield
Failure to stop
Failure to wear a seatbelt
Driving too closely
May increase your premium by around 10% for a first offence
Moderate offences
Distracted driving
Speeding in a construction or school zone
Failing to report a collision
Improper passing of a school bus
Could lead to a 25% or more rate increase for a first offence
Serious or criminal offences
Stunt driving
Impaired driving
Fleeing the scene of a car accident
Driving while disqualified
Your rates could double, or even go up by 100% or more, even for a first offence. Your policy may even be cancelled altogether. You may also lose your drivers licence.
Keep in mind that while these are common estimates, it's ultimately up to your insurance company to decide how much your premium goes up after a ticket or conviction.
In Ontario, insurance companies determine fault by using the Fault Determination Rules to decide who was at fault in a collision. If you’re found fully or partially at fault, the accident will be noted on your record, and your rates may go up when your policy renews (unless it's your first at-fault accident and you have accident forgiveness coverage). In Ontario, an at-fault accident typically stays on your record and impacts your insurance premiums for six years. If you believe the fault was wrongly assigned, you can request a correction.
Whether you recently got into a common car accident and are working to steer clear of any other infractions, or you currently have a clean record and want to maintain it, keep reading to learn more about how you can clean and keep your driving record clean:
This should go without saying, but if you want to keep your record clean, never engage in the illegal act of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Known as impaired driving, getting a DUI conviction can have tons of negative consequences, in addition to being extremely dangerous.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported in their 2023 annual report that impaired driving charges rose by 9% last year, reaching 11,142 cases. This included 67 fatalities linked to alcohol- or drug-related collisions. If you choose to drink or smoke, find another way home.
Another tip to keep your record clean is to avoid driving when distracted. This means focusing on the road at all times. Put your phone away, refrain from eating or drinking while driving, and turn your attention towards the cars and road around you to avoid receiving penalties for distracted driving.
Try driving only when necessary and avoid driving in inclement weather conditions or hazardous road conditions. To minimize how much you drive, try carpooling, taking public transit, walking, or cycling more often.
Signing up for an approved driver’s education, driver’s training, or defensive driving course in Ontario may not only help you save money on car insurance, but it can also help you maintain a clean record. Attending these types of courses will help you learn a range of safe driving tips and techniques that you can then adopt to reduce your chances of getting into an accident.
Driving safely at all times is a no-brainer if you want to keep your record clean. You can drive safely by:
Always obeying the speed limit
Using your turn signals when applicable
Driving defensively
Leaving space between you and other vehicles
Drive slowly through construction zones or areas with lots of pedestrian traffic
Focusing on the road at all times
If you still have questions about your Ontario driving record, including how it can impact your car insurance rates, contact BrokerLink. Our team of auto insurance specialists is ready to answer all of your questions as well as help you find the best Ontario car insurance policy for your needs and budget.
You can reach us by phone, email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Ontario. No matter how you choose to get in touch, a BrokerLink insurance advisor will be happy to assist you. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.
This depends on the infraction, as more serious offences will stay on your record for longer. Generally speaking, you can expect an infraction to remain on your record for anywhere from three years to ten years.
Traffic convictions, accidents, and driving-related crimes, like impaired or reckless driving, can all affect your driving record.
Beyond not getting the job you want or having to pay more for car insurance, there are a few other penalties you may incur if you have a particularly poor driving record. First, you could lose your driver’s licence in Ontario, either permanently or temporarily, preventing you from being able to drive. Second, you could face a wide range of expensive fines, as well as jail time if the infraction results in a criminal conviction.
If you have any questions, contact one of our local branches.
