Most people who fail the G2 road test can drive. They lose it on one or two habits that slip under pressure: a rolling stop, a missed shoulder check, a nervous pause at a left turn. The good news is that these are some of the most fixable mistakes there are. Here’s what the examiner marks, the errors that come up again and again, and what to do if your test didn’t go your way.
How the G2 road test is marked
The examiner gives you directions as you drive and marks you on a scoresheet against set criteria. DriveTest uses set routes, set driving tasks and the same marking standards at every centre.
Each task is broken into small checks. For a left turn at a light, that means things like checking traffic, choosing the right lane, signalling, controlling your speed, keeping your wheels straight while you wait, and finishing in the correct lane.
The rule
The closest thing to an official fail rule
The Driver’s Handbook says you haven’t properly checked traffic if a vehicle or pedestrian with the right-of-way has to take action to avoid you. DriveTest also says an examiner can end a test if your skills aren’t good enough to finish it without risking safety.
The mistakes that fail the most tests
Driving instructors and insurers report the same handful of mistakes again and again. Here’s each one next to the standard in the Handbook’s road test checklist.
| Mistake | What the examiner wants to see |
|---|---|
| Rolling stops | A complete stop, with no rolling, at the stop line. With no line, stop at the crosswalk; with no crosswalk, at the edge of the sidewalk. |
| Missed shoulder checks | A look over your shoulder before you pull away from the curb or change lanes, and a check for cyclists before a right turn. In a lane change, check again after you signal. |
| Too few mirror checks | Mirrors every 5 to 10 seconds, and before you slow down or stop. |
| Not yielding | No pedestrian or driver with the right-of-way ever has to brake or swerve because of you. |
| Speed | Within the limit, and not unreasonably slow either. |
| Following too closely | At least two to three seconds behind the vehicle ahead. |
| Late or forgotten signals | A signal before you slow down for a turn, switched off once you’re through it. |
| Sloppy turns | Wheels straight while you wait to turn left, no cutting across lane markings or bumping the curb, and finishing in the correct lane. |
| Hesitation | Once it’s safe, moving off within four to five seconds. |
| Roadside stops and turnarounds | Stopping within about 30 cm of the curb, and reversing only once in a three-point turn. |
Almost nothing on that list is about skill. It’s about doing the right thing every single time, including the moments when you’re nervous. The blind spot guide, the three-point turn guide and the parallel parking guide cover the trickiest ones.
Are there automatic fails?
You’ll find long lists of “automatic fails” online. DriveTest doesn’t publish one, and it doesn’t publish a pass mark or a limit on minor mistakes either. Here’s what it does say:
- The examiner can stop the test, or refuse to start it, if the car isn’t safe, you seem impaired, or your driving can’t finish the test without risking safety.
- You won’t be asked to do anything illegal, and the examiner can’t coach you during the drive, so ask any questions before you start.
- If someone with the right-of-way has to react to avoid you, the Handbook counts it as not checking traffic properly.
The lists online usually include an examiner having to step in, breaking a traffic law such as running a red light, and causing a collision. They aren’t official, but treat them as fails anyway: each one breaks the rule the whole test is built on, which is to drive safely and legally every time.
Tests that end before they start
Some tests never get going. If the car, or something else, doesn’t meet DriveTest’s rules, the test is declared out of order and you lose half the fee. The other half stays as a credit, and you pay the missing half to rebook. Common reasons:
- A signal light, brake light or horn that doesn’t work
- A cracked windshield, or a temporary spare tire
- A passenger or a pet in the car
- Not wearing glasses or contacts that your licence requires
- A phone, dash camera or other recording device left on
- Testing early on a BDE course your driving school hasn’t reported yet
Arriving late or not showing up costs the whole fee. If the car develops a problem partway through, you become ill, or you’re in a collision that isn’t your fault, the test can be rescheduled at no charge.
Tip
What about backup cameras?
The Handbook says back cameras and other driving aids may not be used during the road test. DriveTest’s FAQ says you can test in a car that has a rear camera, but you still have to show good observation. Either way, practise reversing and parking with your mirrors and shoulder checks.
Failed your G2? Call or text Mrs. Akbar to work on exactly what your scoresheet shows.
What to do after a fail
- Get your scoresheet. The examiner goes over the result with you, and with your consent an instructor or translator can join that talk. If your test was marked on a tablet, you can download the results from DriveTest for 15 days. After that, or for a paper copy, ask at a DriveTest centre.
- Read it for patterns. One mark is a slip. The same mark three times is a habit, and habits are what you practise.
- Book again. Online booking reopens 24 hours after your test, and there must generally be at least 10 days between tests. Each G2 attempt after the first costs $53.75, and there’s no limit on attempts while your licence is valid. The booking guide explains how to find an earlier date.
- Check your expiry date. You can’t book a test for a date after your licence expires. The licence expiry guide explains your options if time is short.
- Practise the marks, not just the drive. Work on each item on the sheet until you do it without thinking, then do a mock test with someone giving you directions.
You’re still on a G1 after a failed G2 test, so you need a qualified accompanying driver to drive home. If you think the result was wrong, raise it with the examiner first, then ask to speak to a supervisor at that centre.
“Very patient instructor, she practiced with me until I got it right. Very knowledgeable instructor, she knows what the ministry require you to do and she will teach you that.”
Failing is more common than you think
In 2022, 66% of G2 road tests at the Hamilton DriveTest centre were passes, out of almost 11,000 tests, compared with 74% at Burlington, according to the Auditor General of Ontario. That means about one in three Hamilton G2 tests that year didn’t pass. If it happens to you, you’re in large company, and you go into the next attempt knowing exactly what to expect.
The rule
Be wary of guarantees
The Handbook warns against anyone who promises to guarantee road test results. Nobody can. What a good instructor can do is find the habits that cost you marks and fix them.
How to pass next time
- Practise in different places and conditions: busy and quiet roads, different times of day, rain and darkness. DriveTest suggests exactly that.
- Drive the test’s skills on purpose: stops, turns at lights and stop signs, lane changes, one-way streets, residential streets, parallel parking and three-point turns.
- Make your checks visible. Examiners can’t see your eyes, only your head turning.
- Do a mock test. Have someone give you directions without warning, the way the examiner will.
- Book a lesson before the retest. An instructor who knows what examiners mark can spot the habit that cost you the test.
passed the G2, first try
“Her clear feedback and guidance ensured I was fully prepared, helping me pass my G2 on the first attempt…”
The G2 road test guide covers the test from start to finish.
Sources
- Road tests for cars (drivetest.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Road test vehicle requirements (drivetest.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Driver’s Handbook: the road test checklist (ontario.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Driver’s Handbook: getting your driver’s licence (ontario.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Tests overview (drivetest.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- DriveTest frequently asked questions (drivetest.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Booking help: overview (drivetest.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Payments, cancellations and refunds (drivetest.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Fees (drivetest.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Driver’s licences for cars (drivetest.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Get a G driver’s licence: new drivers (ontario.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Auditor General of Ontario, 2023 report on driver training and testing, Appendix 2 (auditor.on.ca, PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- How do I pass my G2 road test on the first try? (brokerlink.ca) (opens in a new tab)
- Driving instructors on common driving exam mistakes (belairdirect.com) (opens in a new tab)
Quick answers
How many times can you fail the G2 test in Ontario?
There’s no limit while your licence is valid. You pay the fee each time, and there must generally be at least 10 days between tests.
How long do you have to wait to retake the G2?
Generally at least 10 days between tests. Online booking reopens 24 hours after your attempt.
Do you have to pay again if you fail your G2?
Yes, $53.75 for each new attempt. The first G2 road test is included in the $159.75 G1 package.
What are automatic fails on the G2 road test?
DriveTest doesn’t publish a list. An examiner can end the test if continuing would risk safety, and the Handbook says that if someone with the right-of-way has to react to avoid you, you didn’t check traffic properly.
How many mistakes can you make on the G2 and still pass?
DriveTest doesn’t publish a pass mark or a mistake limit. Examiners mark set tasks against fixed criteria, so the safest plan is to make every habit automatic.
Can you fail the G2 for a rolling stop?
It’s one of the most commonly reported reasons people fail. The Handbook’s standard is a complete stop, with no rolling, at the stop line.
Can you fail the G2 for driving too slowly?
It can cost you marks. The Handbook’s standard is to stay within the limit without driving unreasonably slowly.
Can I drive home after failing my G2?
Only with a qualified accompanying driver, because you’re still on a G1.
How do I get my G2 scoresheet online?
If your test was marked on a tablet, DriveTest lets you download the results for 15 days. After that, or for a paper copy, ask at a DriveTest centre.
Is it normal to fail the G2 the first time?
Yes. In 2022, about one in three G2 road tests at the Hamilton DriveTest centre didn’t pass, according to the Auditor General of Ontario.
Can I use my backup camera on the G2 road test?
The Handbook says back cameras may not be used during the test. DriveTest says you can test in a car that has one, but you must still show good observation, so practise without it.
put it into practice
Turn your scoresheet into a plan
Call or text with what your scoresheet says. Lessons start with the marks you lost.
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