Medical review for Ontario drivers
Learn about medical and vision standards and tests for non-commercial drivers with class G and M licences.
Access your driver medical review case online
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.
Basic medical standards
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:
- physicians
- nurse practitioners
- optometrists
Professionals who have discretionary authority to report conditions that they determine will make it dangerous for a person to drive include:
- physicians
- nurse practitioners
- optometrists
- occupational therapists
Whether you are applying for your licence or already have one, you must not:
- suffer from any mental, emotional, nervous or physical disability that might significantly interfere with your ability to safely drive a Class G or M motor vehicle
- be addicted to alcohol or a drug to a point where it is likely to significantly interfere with your ability to safely drive a motor vehicle
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.
Vision standards
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:
- a visual acuity, which is measured by the Snellen Rating, that is not poorer than 20/50
- a horizontal visual field of at least 120 continuous degrees along the horizontal meridian, and at least 15 continuous degrees above and below fixation
If you don't meet the standard for peripheral vision, the ministry will determine if you are eligible to apply for a vision waiver.
Get a vision waiver for a Class G licence
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:
- don't have more than six demerit points on your driving record
- haven't had your licence suspended within the last five years because of a Criminal Code conviction for an offence committed by means of a motor vehicle
- haven't had your licence suspended within the last five years because of certain Highway Traffic Act convictions
- haven't been involved in a collision with an associated conviction under the Highway Traffic Act for certain offences, within the last five years and within the time of your vision loss
- meet all other qualifications for your licence class
- don't have a medical or visual condition or disability that may significantly impair your driving ability, either alone or combined with a reduced visual field
You will need to provide:
- a satisfactory medical report
- a satisfactory vision assessment from an optometrist or ophthalmologist
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).
Get a vision waiver for a Class A, C, D or F licence
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:
- don't have more than two demerit points on your driving record
- haven't had your licence suspended within the last five years because of a Criminal Code conviction for an offence committed by means of a motor vehicle
- haven't had your licence suspended within the last five years because of certain Highway Traffic Act convictions
- haven't had your licence suspended within the last five years as a result of an administrative roadside sanction under section 48, 48.0.1, 48.0.2, 48.0.3, 48.0.4, 48.1, 48.2.1, 48.2.2, 48.3 or 48.3.1 of the Highway Traffic Act
- your licence has been valid for the last two years
- haven't been involved in a collision with an associated conviction under the Highway Traffic Act for certain offences, within the last five years and within the time of your vision loss
- meet all other qualifications for your licence class
- don't have a medical or visual condition or disability that may significantly impair your driving ability, either alone or combined with reduced vision.
You will need to provide a completed Commercial Vision Waiver application package that includes:
- a satisfactory medical report
- a satisfactory vision assessment from an optometrist or ophthalmologist
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).
Medical reports and licence suspensions
We might receive a report about your ability to drive from:
- your physician
- a nurse practitioner
- your occupational therapist
- your optometrist
- a police officer
We review each case individually and evaluate the medical information on the report against:
- medical standards found in Regulation 340/94 of the Highway Traffic Act
- national medical standards
Complex cases may be reviewed by the Medical Advisory Committee, which is a panel of expert medical advisors including physicians in the fields of:
- cardiology
- psychiatry
- endocrinology
- ophthalmology
- internal medicine
- rehabilitation medicine
- geriatric medicine
- addiction medicine
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:
- a formal Notice of Suspension
- a letter telling you what type of medical information is needed to have your licence considered for reinstatement
Reinstating a licence
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.
Other possible outcomes of our review
Depending on the nature of your medical condition, we may:
- take no action, if your condition is deemed to be temporary or minor
- downgrade your commercial licence, if applicable
- ask you to take a new written, vision and road test at a DriveTest centre
- ask you to take a functional assessment at an approved assessment centre
- ask you to file additional medical information
If we need more information
If you need to provide more medical information, you will receive a letter outlining:
- the information needed
- a due date to submit the information
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:
- a suspension notice
- under certain circumstances, in the case of a commercial licence, a new licence or a downgraded licence
The suspension or downgrade of your licence will be reconsidered when we receive your medical information.
Results
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
Appeal a medical suspension or downgrade of your licence
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.
Functional assessments
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 reported as being medically unfit to drive due to a neurological condition, physical disability or cognitive impairment
- as part of an application for a Class G vision waiver
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:
- a report will be sent to the ministry
- you will be issued a temporary licence (for the purpose of lessons only), as long as there are no outstanding suspensions or requirements on file
Functional Assessment Centres
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.
Approved Functional Assessment Centres for drivers
Become an approved Functional Assessment 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.
Driver medical review online services
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:
- access your case and communications from us
- submit your driver medical review documents
- ask us questions specific to your case
- receive an email when we respond to your question or when your case has been reviewed
- manage your contact information and add or remove third-party representatives
Find your case number
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.
Contact us
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
Tel: 416-235-1773 Toll-free: 1-800-268-1481 (within Ontario)Fax: 416-235-3400 Fax: 1-800-304-7889 - Email: drivermedicalreview@ontario.ca