Learn about medical and vision standards and tests for non-commercial drivers with class G and M licences.
If the Driver Medical Review Office contacted you and assigned you a case number, you can now access your case information online. Learn how to register.
In Ontario, all drivers must meet basic medical standards to operate a motor vehicle. These standards are set out in Ontario Regulation 340/94 ( s. 14).
Professionals who are required to report patients who have or appear to have certain high-risk medical conditions, vision conditions, or functional impairments include:
Professionals who have discretionary authority to report conditions that they determine will make it dangerous for a person to drive include:
Whether you are applying for your licence or already have one, you must not:
In addition to Ontario's basic mandatory medical and vision standards, we use national medical standards published by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators when we review medical information and make licensing decisions.
Higher medical standards apply for people who want to drive a commercial vehicle. Learn more about medical, vision and hearing standards for commercial drivers.
There are mandatory vision standards you must meet in order to drive. You will need to pass a vision test when you apply for your G1 or M1 licence.
Your vision will be screened with both eyes open and examined together, with or without the aid of corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses). If you have vision in one eye only, your vision will be screened using only your functioning eye.
The screening will check that you meet the standards set out in Ontario Regulation 340/94 ( s. 18), which includes both:
If you don't meet the standard for peripheral vision, the ministry will determine if you are eligible to apply for a vision waiver.
If you don't meet the standard for peripheral vision (120-degree horizontal visual field), you may be considered for a vision waiver.
You may be eligible if you:
You will need to provide:
Once we review and approve your medical and vision reports, you must complete a satisfactory functional assessment from an approved assessment centre for Class G Vision Waivers. This assessment consists of several standardized tests, both in clinic and on the road.
For more information on driving requirements, see Ontario Regulation 340/94 ( s. 21.2).
Effective July 2021, if you don't meet the vision standards for a commercial licence class, you may be considered for a vision waiver for a Class A, C, D or F licence.
You may be eligible if you:
You will need to provide a completed Commercial Vision Waiver application package that includes:
If your medical and vision reports are approved, you must complete a satisfactory functional driving assessment from an approved assessment centre for Commercial Vision Waivers. This assessment consists of several standardized tests, both in clinic and on-road.
If your functional assessment is approved, you must pass a road test in a vehicle that meets the requirements for the Class of licence required (A, C, D or F).
For more information on driving requirements, see Ontario Regulation 340/94 (s. 21.3).
We might receive a report about your ability to drive from:
We review each case individually and evaluate the medical information on the report against:
Complex cases may be reviewed by the Medical Advisory Committee, which is a panel of expert medical advisors including physicians in the fields of:
This review will determine whether you are medically fit to drive. The review process may take up to 15 business days or more depending on complexity.
If the medical report confirms that you do not meet the medical standards, your licence will be suspended. If your licence is suspended, we will send you:
If suspended, your licence will be considered for reinstatement when we have received and reviewed the requested medical information.
We process medical reports on a first-come, first-served basis. Cases are reviewed within 15 business days. More time may be required if more information has been requested.
Depending on the nature of your medical condition, we may:
If you need to provide more medical information, you will receive a letter outlining:
We will review your information to determine whether you meet the required medical standards to drive.
If we don't receive your information by the due date, you will receive either:
The suspension or downgrade of your licence will be reconsidered when we receive your medical information.
Once we have reviewed your information, we will let you know the outcome of our decision by mail.
If you meet the medical standards, your licence will be reinstated as long as there are no other outstanding suspensions or requirements. You will receive a reinstatement notice in the mail.
If your licence is suspended for medical reasons, you will be able to appeal the decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal
You can appeal a medical suspension (excluding vision) or medical downgrade from a commercial class licence by applying for an appeal through the Licence Appeal Tribunal. The tribunal can confirm, change or set aside (reverse) the decision.
The tribunal's decisions in medical cases can be appealed to the Superior Court of Justice within 30 days from the date the decisions are released.
Your licence will remain suspended or downgraded until the appeal is heard.
You must pay a fee to appeal your medical suspension. The fee is payable to the Licence Appeal Tribunal.
A functional assessment (also known as a driving evaluation) is a full medical assessment and an on-road evaluation. It is conducted by an occupational therapist and a qualified driving instructor.
You may need to undergo a functional driving assessment:
If you are required to undergo a functional driving assessment, the Ministry of Transportation will send you a letter including a list of approved functional assessment centres. You can find a location near you on this list.
If the assessment indicates that you need remedial lessons:
Functional Assessment Centres ( FAC's ) are independently operated centres located in hospitals, rehabilitation centres or private clinics. They are approved by the Ministry of Transportation, but they are not a branch of the ministry.
Not all FAC locations are qualified to conduct vision waiver assessments. You can check the "Services Offered" section for each facility before you choose a centre.
You can send an email to ApprovedFAC@ontario.ca to get an application package and information on how to be placed on the ministry’s approved FAC list.
You can register for driver medical review services online if the Driver Medical Review Office contacted you and assigned you a case number.
When you register, you will be able to:
Your case number is a nine-digit number. You can find it in the letter sent to you as the number to reference when contacting the Driver Medical Review Office.
If you are a commercial driver and you’ve submitted a medical report form to apply for or maintain a commercial driver's licence, you will not have a case number unless we requested additional information.
Mail:
Ministry of Transportation
Driver Medical Review Office
77 Wellesley Street West, Box 589
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1N3
Business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday
