If you are reviewing your driving history for a job, insurance application or personal records, you may wonder whether an Ontario driver abstract lists every accident or collision. A standard 3-year driver record and a collision report are different documents designed for different purposes.
What does a 3-year Ontario driver record contain?
Ontario says the common 3-year driver record includes driver identification details, the demerit-point total, active fine suspensions, and Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code convictions, suspensions and reinstatements from the previous three years.
That means the record can contain driving-related convictions associated with an incident, but it should not be treated as a complete report of every collision a person has experienced. For more detail, see our guide to what shows on a 3-year Ontario driver abstract.
What is an Ontario collision report?
A collision report concerns a specific vehicle collision. Ontario says it can contain the names of drivers involved, road conditions, vehicle makes and models, and a description of the collision. These reports are commonly needed for insurance or legal purposes.
Driver abstract vs. collision report
If an employer asks for a 3-year driver abstract, a collision report is not a substitute. Likewise, if an insurer or lawyer requests the report for a specific collision, a general driver abstract may not provide the incident-level information needed.
Check the exact document name
Ask the requesting organization whether it needs a 3-year driver record, driver licence history, collision report, or another document. Similar-sounding records can contain very different information. You can also read our comparison of an Ontario driver abstract and vehicle record.
What about commercial drivers?
Ontario’s CVOR Driver Abstract is different. It is a five-year commercial-driving record that can include collisions, safety-related offences, convictions and inspections relating to a driver while operating in Ontario. Our Driver Abstract vs. CVOR Driver Abstract guide explains the distinction.
Confirm what you need before ordering
If you were specifically asked for a standard Ontario driver abstract, review the GetMyAbstract.ca Driver Abstract service. If the request is unclear, confirm the document type with the employer, insurer, lawyer or other organization first.
Important: GetMyAbstract.ca is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of the Government of Ontario, ServiceOntario or the Ministry of Transportation.