Moving to another province, territory or country can involve more than changing your address. If you plan to exchange or apply for a driver’s licence in your new jurisdiction, you may be asked to provide evidence of your Ontario driving or licensing history.
Ontario offers several types of driving records, and they contain different information. Before ordering anything, it is important to find out exactly what the licensing authority, insurer or other organization in your destination requires.
Why might you need an Ontario driving record when moving?
Ontario lists applying for a driver’s licence in another province, territory or country as one reason a person may need a driving record. A record can help document information about your Ontario licence and driving history, but the specific evidence accepted varies by jurisdiction.
Do not assume that every destination wants the standard three-year driver abstract. Some organizations may need a longer history or a document focused specifically on licensing history.
What is the standard three-year driver record?
The three-year driver record is Ontario’s most common driver record. It includes driver and licence information and a three-year history of certain convictions, suspensions and reinstatements. It is frequently associated with employment requests, although it can be useful in other contexts when that is the record specifically requested.
Our guide to what appears on an Ontario three-year driver abstract explains its contents in more detail.
What is a driver’s licence history?
A driver’s licence history is a different Ontario record. It focuses on licensing information and can include items such as beginner driver education course completion, licence replacements, renewals and class changes. Ontario notes that this record is commonly used for vehicle insurance.
Importantly, Ontario states that the driver’s licence history does not include conviction and suspension information or a demerit-point total. That makes it different from a standard driver abstract.
For a comparison, see Driver Abstract vs. Driver’s Licence History in Ontario.
Could you need a five-year or longer-term record?
Possibly. Ontario offers five-year, extended and complete driving records for situations requiring more detailed information or a longer time period. A destination jurisdiction may have its own rules about how much history must be documented.
If someone simply tells you to bring a “driving record,” ask for the exact document requirements before ordering. Our three-year vs. five-year Ontario driver record guide can help you understand why the time period matters.
Certified or uncertified?
Ontario offers certified and uncertified versions of various driving records. Ontario says uncertified records meet most people’s needs, while certified records carry an official seal and are typically required for legal reasons.
For an interprovincial or international licensing process, however, the receiving authority decides what it accepts. Ask whether it requires a certified record, an uncertified record, an original mailed document, or another form of proof.
See our certified vs. uncertified Ontario driver abstract guide before choosing.
A checklist before you order
- Ask the receiving licensing authority for the exact name or description of the record it requires.
- Confirm how many years of history must be shown.
- Ask whether the record must be certified.
- Confirm whether a digital PDF is acceptable or an original mailed document is required.
- Check whether the document must have been issued within a specific recent period.
- Make sure your identifying and licence information is accurate before submitting an order.
Need a standard Ontario driver abstract?
If you have confirmed that the standard driver abstract is the document you need, you can review the GetMyAbstract.ca Driver Abstract service.
GetMyAbstract.ca is an independent private service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Transportation. Requirements outside Ontario vary, so always confirm document requirements directly with the receiving authority.