Road Test Vehicle Requirements

Road Tests – Vehicle Requirements

Before your road test, the driver examiner must perform a basic vehicle check to ensure your vehicle is fit for the purpose. The driver examiner may request your assistance to ensure your vehicle is safe (i.e., trying the turn signals, brake lights, etc.).

If the vehicle you bring to the road test does not meet Ministry of Transportation (MTO) standards for the purpose of a road test — or if there is a non-vehicle-related reason for which the examiner determines that the test cannot be completed — the examiner will declare the road test “out-of-order.”

If your test is declared out-of-order, you lose 50% of your road test fee. The other 50% remains as a credit on your driving record and may be applied when booking a new test. This applies to a vehicle you own and to a vehicle you have borrowed (parent, friend, or driving instructor) or rented. If you have any concerns that your road test may be declared out-of-order, contact the DriveTest Centre before your scheduled road test appointment to discuss it.

If one of the following items is detected, your road test appointment will be cancelled (i.e., declared out-of-order), and you will lose 50% of your road test fee and must pay the outstanding 50% to schedule another road test:

Vehicle equipped with ignition interlock device but no ignition interlock (l) condition on the licence.
Ignition interlock device not installed if a requirement exists.
Roof down and/or unsecured (convertible-style vehicle).
Non-functional or uninstalled door(s) (door does not open and/or does not close).
Non-functional dual brakes (driving instructor vehicle).
Non-functional foot brake.
Non-functional or missing seat belt (for applicant or examiner).
Non-functional right/left brake light.
Non-functional turn signal.
Non-functional head lights or tail lights (darkness and/or limited ability).
Non-functional windshield wipers or no washer fluid (if weather conditions warrant).
Non-functional defroster/defogger (if weather conditions warrant).
Non-functional horn or speedometer.
Damaged windshield, large cracks, stars, etc.
In-vehicle recording devices present such as dashboard or action cameras, must not be facing the passenger area.

Not secured or missing seat.
No rear bumper.
No mirror.
Flat tire, or a temporary tire, on any wheel.
Defective tires.
More than one wheel nut missing on a wheel.
Unsecured or defective muffler.
Obvious fuel leaks.
Fumes in the vehicle.
Unsecured vehicle parts (e.g., hood).
An unclean vehicle poses a health risk to the examiner.
Visible or audible defects that contravene the Highway Traffic Act.
A defect that affects the safe operation of a vehicle.
Brake found out-of-adjustment during air brake practical test (for Z endorsement); the applicant can complete the air brake practical test but any accompanying road test cannot proceed.
Use of a panel van for road test (exception: a person with a disability or a special need who cannot reasonably provide an alternative vehicle).

In addition, your road test appointment will be cancelled and you will lose 50% of your pre-paid road test fee if one of the following is detected:

Inability to provide an acceptable breath sample (over preset level) for the ignition interlock device.
Passenger(s) or pet(s) in vehicle.
Insects in vehicles that pose health risks to the examiner.
Unsecured contents (i.e., work vehicle).
Unacceptable permit: invalid/missing sticker, expired 10-day permit, or in-transit permit.
Altered vehicle plate.
A vehicle with yellow/black dealer and service plate and cannot produce a vehicle permit.
A vehicle with yellow/black dealer and service plate and vehicle permit indicate plate series SPR.
Flammable goods or compressed gas.
Not wearing corrective lenses if a requirement exists.
Refusal to wear a seat belt before or during the road tests.
Arrival for road test with no vehicle.
Arrival for motorcycle road test with no helmet.
Scheduled wrong class of road test based on vehicle configuration/weight.
Scheduled wrong class of road test in error (i.e., Class G2 road test instead of Class G).
Insufficient Class G2 highway experience.
Beginner driver education applicant is enrolled but is not certified by their driving school on the day of the scheduled road test.

Applicant schedules a limited-speed motorcycle (LSM) or a motor-assisted bicycle (moped) road test but brings a full-speed motorcycle. Out-of-order is declared if the DriveTest Centre cannot accommodate a full-speed motorcycle test, or if the applicant declines to take the full-speed motorcycle test.
Applicant schedules a full-speed motorcycle road test but brings a limited-speed (LSM) or a motor-assisted bicycle (moped). Out-of-order is declared if the DriveTest Centre cannot accommodate LSM/moped road tests, or if the applicant declines to take the LSM/moped test.
The vehicle is equipped with air brakes but the applicant does not hold endorsement, the applicant has not completed the air brake course, or the applicant is not taking the air brake (Z endorsement) practical test along with the road test.
Applicant attempting the air brake endorsement practical test does not have the required air brake items to proceed with the test.

Your road test appointment will be cancelled and may be re-scheduled at no charge if:

You are unable to provide a breath sample at the beginning of the test to start the vehicle or during a rolling retest for the interlock device (due to the device).
Fall ill during the road test.
The medical condition prevents road tests from proceeding.
The vehicle will not start.
Vehicle defect becomes apparent during the test (e.g., stalls repeatedly, flat tire, fails to accelerate, exhaust system falls off, extreme vibrations/noise).
Involved in a “not at fault” collision during the road test.
Outstanding fees owing to MTO prevent road tests from proceeding (e.g., reinstatement, non-sufficient funds (NSF)).