Taking the mystery out of Ontario’s Driver’s Licenses
A closer look at the Class A and Class A Restricted Licenses
Many people ask about the different classes of Ontario Driver’s Licenses, including Class A Licenses. A big question for many of these people is what they can and can not drive or tow. Having the wrong class of license for the vehicle combination you’re driving can lead to fines, demerit points, and in the event of an accident, your insurance company may not cover you because you were an unqualified driver.
This is the first in a series of posts attempting to take the mystery out of driver’s license classifications and restrictions.
Class A
Ontario’s Class A driver’s license is what most people think of as the big trucker’s license. You know what you need to haul a tractor-trailer down the road ways. Well you’d be right, but not right.
The Ontario Highway Traffic Act states a Class A is “any tractor-trailer or combination of motor vehicle and towed vehicles where the towed vehicles exceed a total gross weight of 4,600 kilograms.”
This basically means if you plan on pulling a trailer(s) that weighs more than 4,600 kilograms or 10,141 pounds, this is the license for you. People often confuse this with a Tractor Trailer license. While it is the license held by all tractor-trailer drivers, it’s not the same thing. These two types of license are commercial-only classes, but the difference is because of the weight of the vehicle(s) being towed.
This class of license does have a few requirements.
- You MUST have and pass a medical and vision exam.
- You must redo the road test after you reach the age of 65.
- It does cost more and requires upkeep including new medical and written/road testing as required by law.
Generally speaking, you will also hold a Z endorsement which is your Air Brakes.
What can you drive with this class of license?
Pretty much anything! You’re not limited to weight for either the tow vehicle or the vehicle(s) being towed. Nor are you limited to towing only one vehicle, you may double tow, that means having more than one trailer.
Class A Restricted
In 2008, Ontario recognized that many RV’ers, horse trailer haulers and others had trailers over the limit of 4,600 kg and were required to get a Class A license in order to stay legal. Almost all the Ontario License Offices refused to give the road test using these smaller type combinations and insisted on a more Tractor Trailer type combination which needless to say was overkill, impractical and downright impossible for many people to do. So Ontario came up with a Restricted license. This allowed motorists to pull into a Ontario Testing Facility and do the road test using their existing equipment and then drive/pull configuration of a similar size. This was a bonus for the RV’er or people towing applicable trailers (such as horse or utility trailers). With this license you can pull a vehicle over the weight of 4,600 kg but you may NOT:
- Drive full size tractor-trailers
- Drive a motor vehicle pulling double trailers
- Drive a motor vehicle pulling a trailer with air-brakes. (Even WITH an air brake endorsement).
- Drivers with the “R” restrictive condition will not be allowed to give driver instruction to another person on a vehicle requiring full Class A privileges.
All Class A requirements are still applicable such as medicals and the like to get and keep up a Restricted Class A license.
What can you drive with a Class A license?
You may tow a vehicle over 4,600 kg such as larger RV’s, horse trailers etc.
You may also drive a tow vehicle over 11,000 kg.
You can not double tow!
For more information on classes of drivers licenses and how to weigh yourself vehicle combination please visit our information page here.
Class A Manual Transmission Restriction
One more note for getting your Class AR- July 1, 2022, Ontario implemented a manual transmission restriction to Class AR licences. Basically this means that if you took your road test after July 1, 2022, if you used an automatic, semi-automatic, or automated- manual transmission vehicle and trailer combo you cannot decide to pull with a manual transmission. If you want to switch you will need to retake your road test with a manual transmission vehicle that has at least eight forward gears with a high-low range.
You will see this notated on your licence.
A manual transmission means you have a clutch pedal, lever, and driver-operated gear-shift mechanism that is operated by hand and foot, with no automated assistance.
This recent restriction does not apply to anyone who got their Class AR licences prior to July 1, 2022.
Minimum requirements for Class A or D driver’s licence application
An applicant for a class A or D driver’s licence must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Hold a valid Ontario class G or higher licence or equivalent
- Pass a test of operating knowledge of large trucks and tractor trailers
- Meet vision standards
- Provide a satisfactory medical certificate on application and periodically thereafter
- Demonstrate driving competence during a road test while driving the following types of vehicles:
- For class D – a motor vehicle exceeding 11,000 kg (24,000 lb) gross weight or registered gross weight
- For class A – a motor vehicle and towed vehicle where the towed vehicle exceeds a total gross weight of 4600 kg (10,000 lb)
If you have any questions feel free to post them, I am sure if it is a question for you, it is a question for someone else to. Also if you found what you have read helpful, help us out by sharing.
Safe motoring!
Don’t find your company unprotected by suspended/unqualified drivers
Are you sure the drivers you have working for you actually hold valid driver’s licenses for the class of vehicle they are operating? Are they now under suspension or have been downgraded? Don’t find out after the fact, PSTC can check the status of any Canadian drivers license for a low fee. Whether you require one time or on-going services, contact our staff now for more details: 1-877-796-7016
