Ontario changes DUI, licensing laws starting July 2026

The updates affect interlock requirements, driver’s licences for newcomers, and some annual fees

A series of bills has become law over the past couple of years that have made significant changes to Ontario’s driving rules. Some of the relevant statutes from these bills came into effect on July 1, 2026. The latest round institute a mandatory interlock install and post-interlock zero-tolerance period for those convicted of impaired driving; make it more complicated for some newcomers to acquire Ontario driver’s licences; and freeze fees for road tests and driver’s licence renewals.

Here’s what you need to know. New interlock requirements for impaired driving convictions Effective July 1, 2026, anyone convicted of impaired driving in Ontario under the Criminal Code of Canada is required to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle within 30 days after the end of their mandatory driver’s licence suspension. The ignition interlock requires the driver to undergo a breath test in the vehicle to prove their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is no higher than 0.02 before it will start.

Convicted drivers cannot operate their vehicle until the interlock is installed, and it must remain in place for a set period depending on the driver’s previous offences and any performance failures or program violations. Once the interlock is removed, these drivers are now subject to a new zero-tolerance period of six months where they cannot be under the influence of any amount of alcohol or drugs while driving. Violating the zero-tolerance period will result in another licence suspension.

- lifetime licence suspensions for impaired driving causing death - longer roadside licence suspensions for first- and second-time alcohol- or drug-related offences - mandatory remedial education for first-time impaired driving offences - giving police officers greater authority to stop vehicles for impaired driving on or off public roads - extending look-back period for alcohol- and drug-related offences to 10 years Updated rules for newcomers to receive Ontario driver’s licences These drivers can receive credit for up to 12 months of verified foreign driving experience. However, they will now be required to complete the Ministry of Transportation’s vision test, knowledge test, and G2 and G road tests.

They will also need to wait at least 12 months after completing the G2 test before attempting the G test. Effectively, this means some newcomers will be subject to many of the same graduated licencing requirements as those currently implemented with new Ontario drivers. This includes a full year of G2 licence restrictions, which include zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol and a restriction on the number of passengers at certain times for drivers 19 and under.

Ontario has driver’s licence exchange agreements with the following jurisdictions, and drivers arriving from these places are therefore not subject to the new rules: - other Canadian provinces or territories - the Canadian Armed Forces - the 50 states of the United States of America (but not U.S. territories or protectorates) - Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Denmark, the Isle of Man, Japan, South Korea, Kosovo, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Ukraine These changes were laid out in Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, and are intended to reduce driver’s licence fraud.

No annual fee increases for road tests and driver’s licences The Government of Ontario has cancelled annual fee increases for road tests, driver’s licence renewals, and driving instructor licence fees. These increases were previously tied to inflation. The change comes under Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024.

That happens to be the same bill mandating bicycle-lane removals in the City of Toronto and requiring provincial approval for municipalities to create new bike lanes. Greater oversight over commercial drivers New rules coming into force on July 1 increase the province’s oversight of commercial vehicle operators and driver training schools. These changes are designed to combat risky driving behaviours and address safety issues by introducing new administrative penalties.

The updates also mandate stricter operating requirements for tow operators, tow truck drivers, and vehicle-storage operators.