Newcomer driver guide

1. Get the G licence sorted first

Ontario uses a graduated licensing system: G1 (knowledge test) → G2 (road test) → G (full licence). Most newcomers are eligible to exchangea foreign licence under Ontario’s reciprocal agreements (UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, France, the US, and others) — Service Ontario will tell you what your country qualifies for. If your country isn’t on the list, you still get credit for your experience and can write G1 right away.

Most insurers price you mainly on your G class and your years of licensed driving, not your age. The faster you move from G2 → G, the lower your rate gets.

2. Why your first quote is high

Insurers can only price what they can see. On day one in Ontario the gaps look like this:

• No Ontario driving record. Tickets and at-fault claims here are easy for insurers to check; your overseas record is not.
• No proof of continuous insurance. Most carriers give a meaningful discount for several consecutive years of being insured. They can’t apply that discount until you prove it.
• New address / no Ontario credit history. Some carriers offer credit-tier discounts; brand-new arrivals don’t have a score yet.

3. Three things that almost always lower it

• A letter of experience from your previous insurer. Ask your insurer in your home country for an English letter stating the years you were continuously insured, the policy type (third-party / comprehensive), and your claims history. A surprising number of Ontario brokers and carriers will give you credit for this. Bring it to every quote.
• An accredited driving course. Completing a Ministry-approved Beginner Driver Education course (the certificate stays valid for several years) is usually treated as equivalent to one year of experience for pricing purposes.
• Telematics (usage-based insurance).Apps like Intact’s my Drive or Belairdirect’s automerit watch how you actually drive and give a discount based on your behaviour. For drivers without an Ontario history, this is often the fastest way to be priced on you, not on the newcomer category.

4. What to have ready when you get a quote

• Driver’s licence (Ontario class + the date you were first licensed anywhere).
• The vehicle’s year / make / model / VIN, where it is parked at night, and roughly how many kilometres a year you drive.
• Postal code of where the vehicle is garaged.
• Tickets and at-fault claims in the last 3–5 years (be honest — they will be verified).
• The letter of experience (if you can get it).