G2 vs Full G: What Actually Changes After the Test

Restrictions, insurance rates, highway privileges: here's what a Full G licence actually gets you that a G2 doesn't.

ontario.caChecked Aug 2026~5 min read

What's the main difference between G2 and Full G?

A G2 licence still carries passenger and driving-condition restrictions for younger drivers; a Full G licence removes those restrictions entirely, along with the requirement to have an experienced driver in the car.

Do G2 drivers have a curfew?

No general curfew, but G2 drivers 19 and under face nighttime passenger limits for their first 6 months, which loosen after that.

Does insurance drop after Full G?

For most drivers, yes, since insurers weigh years-licensed and accident-free history heavily, and Full G often coincides with a second graduated-licensing discount if your record stays clean.

Can G2 drivers use 400-series highways?

Yes, unlike G1 drivers, G2 drivers can use 400-series highways and expressways without restriction.

The restrictions that actually disappear

G2 drivers can already drive independently and use highways, so the jump to Full G isn't about newly gained freedoms so much as removing the last passenger-count and nighttime conditions that still apply to younger G2 drivers.

The passenger rule that catches G2 drivers off guard

For the first 6 months on a G2, drivers 19 and under can carry at most one passenger aged 19 or younger between midnight and 5am, with exceptions for immediate family or when an experienced driver is present. After 6 months that limit rises to three passengers. Full G removes this condition entirely, for any age.

Insurance: the discount that stacks

Ontario's graduated licensing insurance discount is meant to apply twice: once when you reach G2 (if you have a clean record) and again once you reach Full G, each roughly a 10% discount across coverages for a year. It's framed as something insurers "should" apply, not something automatic, so confirm with your provider that both discounts have actually been applied to your policy.

What the Full G road test actually adds

The Full G test (also called the G2 exit test) focuses heavily on the skills G2 testing doesn't emphasize as much: highway merging, lane changes at speed, and navigating 400-series conditions under an examiner's evaluation.

Timing: how soon can you take it

You must hold your G2 for at least 12 months before booking the Full G road test; there is no BDE-style shortcut for this stage, unlike the G1-to-G2 wait.

What doesn't change

Basic rules like seatbelt requirements, zero-tolerance for impaired driving as a young driver, and demerit-point consequences carry through Full G unchanged; Full G removes graduated-licensing conditions, not general road rules.

Sources: ontario.ca. Checked Aug 2026.

Frequently asked questions

G2 vs Full G, answered

Is the Full G test the same as the G road test?

Yes, "Full G test" and "G road test" (or G2 exit test) refer to the same thing.

Can I drive on 400-series highways with a G2?

Yes, G2 drivers can use highways and expressways, unlike G1 drivers.

What happens if I fail the Full G test?

You can rebook as long as your G2 is still valid; a retest fee applies for each additional attempt.

Do G2 restrictions apply to all ages?

The nighttime passenger restriction specifically applies to G2 drivers aged 19 and under; other G2 rules apply to all G2 holders regardless of age.

How long do I have to wait to take the Full G test?