In order to renew their driver's licences, drivers 80 years of age
and over must complete a vision and knowledge test and participate in a
90-minute group education session.
Now that the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has transferred
driver examination services to a new service provider, if you are a driver
80 years of age and over, you should know that the process has
changed for you.
The Old Process
Before September 2, 2003, drivers 80 years of age and over
received their renewal notice in the mail. They would go to an MTO driver exam
centre (DEC) at any time, without an appointment, to complete their vision and
knowledge test. Once these requirements were complete, they would book their
appointment for a group education session (held at a later date), either at the
DEC or by calling the DEC later.
Ministry counsellors and driver exam staff often received comments
from seniors on how they would prefer to complete all renewal requirements in
one day. The transfer of driver examination services can now accommodate this
request.
The New Process
The vision and knowledge test and the group education session will
now be held on the same day. This is available by appointment only. Once you
receive your renewal notice, you must contact the MTO Regional Scheduling
Office in your area (see map) as soon as possible to schedule an
appointment for your tests and group education session. You should not go to a
driver exam centre or an MTO office to book an appointment.
Appointments are available only by calling the numbers
below.
Northern Region: North
of Severn Bridge, west to the Manitoba border and east to the Quebec border,
including the districts of Haliburton, Muskoka and Nipissing
1-800-461-9548 or 705-497-5436
Eastern Region: Port Hope east to Kingston and the
Quebec border, and north to Pembroke including Peterborough and Ottawa
1-800-701-2171
Central Region: Niagara Peninsula, Hamilton east to
Toronto and Port Hope, and north to Lake Simcoe 1-800-396-4233
or 416-235-3579
Southwestern Region: Windsor east to London and
Brantford, Kitchener, and north to Lake Huron
1-888-276-7885 or 519-873-4276
The vision and knowledge tests and group education session take
approximately three and one-half hours to complete. You should have your
driver's licence number available when you call. It can be found on the
application. Remember to bring your application with you when you attend the
group education session.
Renewing Your Licence
Once the renewal requirements are complete, your driver's licence
must be renewed at a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office. A licence
cannot be renewed at the same location where the tests were taken. Driver and
Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices are listed in the Blue Pages of the phone book
under Licences and Permits (Provincial), Drivers and Vehicles Licence Issuing
Offices. Drivers may also be required to have their photo taken.
Some drivers may also be required to take a road test - the
counsellor at your group education session will discuss this with you. Road
tests are delivered by the new service provider at the DriveTest Centres. The
counsellor can provide information regarding the closest DriveTest Centre. Once
the driver completes the road test, the DriveTest Centre will refer the driver
to a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office to renew their driver's
licence.
Drivers 80 years of age and over are required to repeat this
process every two years in order to renew their driver's licence.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please call toll-free
1-800-387-3445 or, in the Greater Toronto Area, you may call
416-235-2999.
See also:
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