Ontario Driver License Classes Explained for RV Towing

Ontario has several classes of licenses, the ones RV’ers are most concerned about are A, D and G. Class A and D being more thought of as “professional truck driver” type license, and G level licenses are your “average guy driving a car” license. The thing to remember about driver’s license classes is not so much what you do for a living but what weights your going to drive/tow.

Please note the following is geared towards RV’ers therefore the information is not totally complete.

Class A

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act states a Class A vehicle 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, but while it is the license held by all tractor-trailer drivers it’s not the same because it’s a commercial only license, it’s 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 exam.
• You must redo the road test at 80 years of age, or at 65 if driver has demerits points/at fault accident.
• It does cost more and requires upkeep including new medicals and written/road testing as required by law.

Class A Restricted (Class AR)

In 2008, Ontario recognized, that many RV’ers had trailers over the limit of 4,600 kg and were required to get a Class A license in order to stay legal. All too many Ontario License Offices refused to give the road test using a RV type combinations and insisted on a more Tractor Trailer type combination which needless to say was overkill, impractical and down right impossible for many RV’ers to do. So Ontario came up with a Restricted license. This allowed RV’ers 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. (You must have an air brake endorsement first).

• Drivers with the “R” restrictive condition will not be allowed to provide 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 in order to get and keep up a Restricted Class A license.

A recent update has included a Class A Manual Transmission Restriction. This means that if you completed your Class A or Class AR road test after July 1, 2022, with an automatic transmission, semi-automatic or automated-manual transmission you cannot drive Class A or AR vehicles with a manual transmission (the kind with a clutch that is manually moved by the driver). This distinction will be noted on your licence.

Anyone who got their Class A or AR prior to July 1, 2022 is safe to operate either.

Class D the misunderstood license

Some people seem to think that with a Class D you can tow a bigger trailer. Not so, and frankly can get you in a world of hurt if ever caught.

Ontario Highway Traffic Act states a Class D driver can drive “Any truck or motor vehicle combination exceeding 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg”

This means, if the truck is over 11,000 kg you can drive it. If the truck and trailer is more than 11,000 kg combined you can drive it UNLESS the trailer itself is over 4,600 kg.

Say again!

Yes your limited to a towed vehicle(s) of less than 4,600 kg.

Class G

According to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act a Class G can drive “any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg” (with exceptions like you can’t drive a motorcycle or bus carrying passengers etc.)

Fifth Wheel Class G Exemption

On July 1, 2011 the Ontario Government gave RV’ers a gift. They have allowed an exemption for those RV’ers who use a pick up truck and fifth wheel configuration but are over the trailer weight limit of 4,600 kg. For most this means they will still enjoy using their class G license as long as they don’t go over their 11, 000 kg gross combined. As soon as the gross combined is over 11, 000 kg you will have to upgrade to a Class A restricted at the very least.

Here are the buts to this new law:

• You must have a pick up truck as defined by regulation.

• Pick up must not weigh over 6,000 kg.

• Pick up truck is fitted with the original box or replacement box that duplicates the one installed by the manufacturer.

• Your gross combined can not be more then 11,000 kg.

• You are towing a fifth wheel Recreational Vehicle.

• You can not double tow.

What does gross combined mean?

Gross combined is the total weight of all units from nose to tail.

How do you find gross combined?

It’s easy, pull across a scale and weigh the front set of axles on your truck. Then pull forward and weigh the next set. Then pull forward and weigh the next set and so on till your done. Add up all the weights.

Quick fact sheet to find the class of license you need

First off decide if your tow vehicle is a “pick up truck” or not. If your tow vehicle is not a pick up truck don’t even read about the Class G exemption. You are either a Class D based on truck weight or Class A or A restricted based on trailer weight and or truck weight.

Second, if your towed vehicle is not a Fifth Wheel Recreational Vehicle you can forget about the Class G exemption, it does not apply to you. Your either a Class D based on truck weight or Class A or A restricted based on trailer weight and or truck weight.

Now we have to find the weights of your vehicles. Do yourself a favor and be sure to weigh all the vehicles as if you were going on a normal trip. This means taking stuff out of the trailer or not filling with fuel to save weight should be avoided. Obtaining your true weights is vital. If you normally travel filled with fresh water, weigh yourself filled with fresh water, if you pack everything including the kitchen sink, be sure the kitchen sink is included at the scale. In fact, cross the scale next time your packed and ready for a long trip.

Which scale? Any scale will do. Sometimes if an MTO weigh scale is not busy they will often let you use it for free. I have heard at times the officers even offer to give you a receipt with the weights for you. If the scale is not staffed, it is still might be active and you can use them. If that is not an option you have or want to use try any commercial scale such as CAT scales, grain scales etc. Most will charge for use.

A note about weighing yourself, it is a good idea for RVers to weigh themselves at least once a year. Why? Well you would be surprised how much you can creep up in weights over the years as you add gear. Most of us don’t remove gear as we add so unless your really good about maintaining the same gear check your weights ever so often to make sure your not overdoing it and weight creep isn’t happening.

How to weigh yourself

It’s easy, pull across a scale and weigh the front set of axles on your truck, this would be your steer axle. Then pull forward and weigh the next set which is normally the drive axle or the axles at the back of your truck. Then pull forward and weigh the next set and so on till your done.

Now the math