Your driver’s abstract can affect everything from your insurance premium to a job application—and ordering one usually takes less than five minutes.
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, how to order it, and what information insurers and employers actually see.
How Do I Check My Ontario Driving Record?
You can check your Ontario driving record online, in person, or via mail or fax. Here’s a guide on how you can check through each method.
What Information is in My Driving Record?
Your driver’s licence history in Ontario is basically your driving record. Depending on the type of driving record you get, this can include information on your residential address, licence replacements, and class changes.
That said, every Ontario driving record type will have the following information recorded:
- Licence owner’s name
- Driver’s licence number
- Birth date
- Sex
- Height
- Licence expiry date
- Licence class
- Licence status (e.g., any active fine suspensions)
- Condition codes to indicate driving requirements (e.g., “A” for “adequate lenses”)
- Endorsements for driving, a.k.a. permissions to drive specific vehicles like school buses
- Earliest available licence date
What’s The Difference Between An Uncertified And A Certified Record?
An uncertified copy and a certified copy of your driving record will contain the same type of information. However, a certified copy comes with an official seal from the Ministry of Transportation. While true, be aware that uncertified records are delivered immediately as PDFs when ordered online, whereas certified records with an embossed seal can take up to 15 business days to arrive via regular mail.
Certification also changes the price. It’s $18 instead of $12 for most record types, and $54 instead of $48 for the complete record (Source: Ontario.ca).
Types Of Driving Records
Insurers, employers, and courts all request a certain type of driving record for different purposes. Here’s a quick description of each one and the differences between them.
| Record Type | Uncertified | Certified | Can You Order It Online? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-year driver record (driver’s abstract) | $12 | $18 | Yes — instant PDF by email |
| 5-year driver record | $12 | $18 | Yes — via the MTO’s online service |
| Extended driver record | $12 | $18 | No — in person, by mail, or by fax |
| Complete driver record | $48 | $54 | No — in person, by mail, or by fax |
| Driver’s licence history | $12 | $18 | Yes |
Driving Record vs Driver’s Abstract
A driving record can be uncertified or certified by the Ministry of Transportation. There are also driving records that cover periods beyond three years. Apart from the basic information listed above, some driving record types also include any collisions, licence replacements, and a complete record of activity under the Criminal Code of Canada.
A driver’s abstract in Ontario, on the other hand, is typically uncertified and only covers the following information apart from the basics listed above:
- Any active fine suspensions
- All reinstatements, convictions, and suspensions under the Highway Traffic Act for the past three years.
- Your total demerit points
In practice, ‘driver’s abstract’ is just the everyday name for the uncertified three-year driver record — the $12 version most employers ask for, and the one insurers commonly pull when setting your premium.
Read More: How Traffic Tickets Affect Car Insurance Rates in Ontario