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Order your driver abstract →If you completed an approved beginner driver education course in Ontario, you may eventually need proof of that training for insurance, licensing or another administrative purpose. A common question is whether the standard 3-year driver abstract is the right document to order.
Short answer: Ontario’s standard 3-year driver record does not include Ontario beginner driver education course completion. Ontario identifies the driver’s licence history as the record that includes this information.
What does the 3-year Ontario driver record include?
The 3-year driver record—often called a driver abstract—includes driver identification details, the demerit-point total, active fine suspensions, and specified Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code convictions, suspensions and reinstatements from the previous three years.
It is Ontario’s most popular driver record and is commonly requested for employment. If that is the document you have been asked to provide, you can learn more on our Ontario Driver Abstract order page.
Which record includes beginner driver education?
Ontario states that a driver’s licence history includes Ontario beginner driver education course completion. It also includes driver identification details and licence replacements, renewals and class changes.
That makes the licence history different from the ordinary 3-year abstract. The licence history does not include the demerit-point total or conviction and suspension information that appears on the 3-year record.
Why choosing the record type matters
“Driving record” and “driver abstract” are sometimes used casually as if they describe one document. Ontario offers several record types, however, and they do not all contain the same information. Ordering the familiar 3-year abstract when an insurer or organization specifically needs proof of driver education may leave you without the information they requested.
Before ordering, ask the requesting organization for the exact record name and whether it must be certified. Ontario says uncertified records meet most people’s needs, while certified records are typically required for legal reasons.
What if an employer asks for a driver abstract?
For employment screening, the 3-year driver record is commonly used. An employer interested in your recent driving record may be asking for that document rather than evidence of a driver education course. See our guide to driver abstracts for employment in Ontario for more context.
What if an insurer asks about driver education?
Do not assume the insurer wants the standard abstract. Ask which document it accepts. If the purpose is to verify Ontario beginner driver education course completion, Ontario’s description of the driver’s licence history specifically lists that information.
Key takeaway
A standard Ontario 3-year driver abstract and a driver’s licence history serve different purposes. The 3-year record does not include Ontario beginner driver education course completion; the driver’s licence history does. Confirm the requested document before paying for a record.
If you have specifically been asked for the standard 3-year record, visit our Driver Abstract service page to review the ordering option.
GetMyAbstract.ca is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Transportation.