Your driver’s abstract can affect everything from your insurance premium to a job application.
To prepare this guide, our team reviewed the Ontario government’s latest guidance on driver record types, fees, ordering methods and Ministry of Transportation record contents. Read on to learn which type of Ontario driving record you need, how much each one costs and how to order it.
How Do I Check My Ontario Driving Record?
You can check your Ontario driving record online, in person or by mail. Here’s a guide to each method.
Online
You can request some driving records from home. An uncertified three-year record is sent as a PDF by email. Certified three-year records, five-year records and driver’s licence histories can also be ordered online, but they are sent by mail.
Complete and extended driver records cannot be ordered online.
In Person
You can order every record type in person at a ServiceOntario centre. It’s still worth contacting your branch before you go to confirm it can process the specific record you need and whether you want a certified or uncertified copy.
An uncertified three-year record can be provided immediately. Certified records and longer-term records are processed within 15 business days and sent by regular mail.
By Mail
If you plan to get your record by mail, you must complete the Record Search Application Form first. Download, fill out and print the form. It is available through Ontario’s Central Forms Repository.
Send the completed form to:
Ministry of Transportation
Information Services Office
Information and Data Retrieval Unit
87 Sir William Hearst Avenue
Room 158-D
Toronto, Ontario, M3M 0B4
What Information Is in My Driving Record?
Depending on the type of driving record you get, it may include information about your residential address, licence replacements, class changes, convictions, suspensions or collisions.
Driver identification details may include:
- Licence owner’s name
- Driver’s licence number
- Birth date
- Sex
- Height
- Licence expiry date
- Licence class
- Licence status
- Condition codes showing driving requirements
- Endorsements permitting the driver to operate certain vehicles
- Earliest available licence date
What’s the Difference Between an Uncertified and a Certified Record?
An uncertified copy and a certified copy of the same record contain the same type of information. However, a certified copy comes with an official seal from the Ministry of Transportation.
An uncertified three-year record ordered online is delivered as a PDF by email. Certified records are sent by regular mail and can take up to 15 business days to process.
Certification also changes the price. It costs $18 instead of $12 for most record types, and $54 instead of $48 for the complete record.
Types of Driving Records
Insurers, employers and courts may request different types of driving records for different purposes.
| Record type | Uncertified | Certified | Online availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-year driver record | $12 | $18 | Uncertified PDF by email; certified copy by mail |
| Five-year driver record | $12 | $18 | Available online and sent by mail |
| Extended driver record | $12 | $18 | Not available online |
| Complete driver record | $48 | $54 | Not available online |
| Driver’s licence history | $12 | $18 | Available online and sent by mail |
Source: Ontario.ca.
Driving Record vs. Driver’s Abstract
A driving record can be uncertified or certified by the Ministry of Transportation. Some driving records also cover periods beyond three years. Depending on the record, it may include collisions, licence replacements and activity under the Criminal Code of Canada.
“Driver’s abstract” is another name commonly used for the three-year driver record. In addition to basic driver identification details, it includes:
- Active fine suspensions
- Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code convictions, suspensions and reinstatements from the past three years
- Total demerit points
Read More: How Traffic Tickets Affect Car Insurance Rates in Ontario