Ontario Opening Temporary Road Test Centre in Ottawa

Province working to clear backlog of road tests due to COVID-19

OTTAWA – The Ontario government is opening a temporary road test centre in Ottawa to increase testing capacity and help clear the backlog of road tests due to COVID-19.

“Our government recognizes the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on all Ontarians,” said Lisa MacLeod, Member of Provincial Parliament for Nepean. “That’s why we are pleased to be opening temporary road test centres, like the one here in Ottawa to help clear the backlog of road tests and minimalize the wait times for our local residents.”

Located at 3310 McCarthy Road, Unit 1008, the temporary centre will open on October 18, 2021, and will offer class G2 road tests seven days a week between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Customers will be able to book road tests online at DriveTest.ca beginning October 14, 2021.

“We’re making tremendous progress towards clearing the backlog of road tests,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “By opening temporary road test centres, hiring additional driver examiners, and extending weekday operating hours for passenger road testing, we’re getting Ontario back on track.”

All DriveTest customers will be required to wear face masks, use hand sanitizer and complete the COVID-19 customer screening.

“I know that adding capacity to our road test centres has been a top priority for our government,” said Jeremy Roberts, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean. “This is great news for anyone who has been waiting to secure an in-vehicle passenger road test, and I am pleased that we are delivering this extra capacity for Ottawa.”

The public should only book road tests at DriveTest.ca, and avoid booking through third-party websites.

Quick Facts

• In addition to opening temporary road test centres, Ontario is also hiring an additional 251 temporary driver examiners, extending weekday operating hours for passenger road testing and offering passenger road tests on Saturdays and Sundays at select locations.
• Because of the high demand for road test appointments, DriveTest is unable to prioritize customers with cancelled appointments. As measures to address capacity are implemented, additional road test appointments will be made available. Please continue to check DriveTest.ca for new blocks of road test appointments.
• For customers whose road tests were cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be a credit in the system to rebook a test.
• Road test customers may be required to provide a contact phone number should contact tracing be required.
• All DriveTest staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment when serving customers, and driver examiners will also be equipped with face shields, sanitizer and seat covers when conducting road tests.
• For inside services and road testing for other licence classes, customers will need to visit a permanent DriveTest location.

Source Province of Ontario