In Ontario, it is rare for drivers to face a suspension for careless driving.

Careless driving offences are often attributed to momentary lapses in judgment or accidental driving errors. However, in cases involving aggravating circumstances, serious injuries or death, drivers can be suspended from 6 months to 5 years.

In Ontario, the penalties for careless driving, include a possible licence suspensions.

• Standard careless driving conviction: Up to a two-year licence suspension.
• Careless driving causing bodily harm or death: Licence suspension for up to five years.
• Novice drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2 licences): Subject to more stringent regulations.
  • Automatic six demerit points upon conviction for careless driving.
  • Potential for dual suspensions: one for the conviction itself and another for exceeding demerit point limits applicable to novice drivers.

Where a driver is convicted of careless driving and receives a licence suspension, the affect on insurance will be to put the driver into high risk insurance rates.

Reinstating a driver’s licence in Ontario after a suspension for careless driving starts with a structured process aimed at ensuring drivers are ready to safely return to the roads.

• Suspension Period: Drivers must complete the full time requirement of the suspension
• Initial Step: Visit a DriveTest centre to begin the reinstatement process.
• Reinstatement Fee: Pay a $281 fee
• Additional Fees: Be prepared for fees related to written and road tests, if required.
• Testing Requirements Based on Suspension Duration:
  • 1-3 years suspended: Mandatory eye test to assess visual acuity.
  • 3-10 years suspended:
    • Take a written knowledge test and an eye test.
    • Complete two road tests (G1 and G2); book the first road test after passing the knowledge and eye tests, and the G2 road test after passing the G1 road test.
  • More than 10 years suspended: Reapply as a new driver and retake all required tests, adhering to all mandatory waiting periods without the possibility of fast-tracking.

This approach ensures that drivers, especially those returning after a lengthy suspension, meet current safety standards and are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to drive responsibly.

Under the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, insurance companies must comply with these rules for drivers licence suspensions.

• Less than one year: An administrative lapse or suspension of a driver’s licence for less than one year must not affect an individual’s driving record or the number of years licensed for the purposes of rating.

• 12 to 36 months: When the length of an administrative lapse or suspension of a driver’s licence is between 12 and 36 months, an insurer is permitted to use the lapse or suspension as part of its risk classification system. However, the insurer must submit a rate filing with actuarial evidence to FSCO justifying the proposed rating rules. The rate filing will be subject to the normal review and approval process. Otherwise, use of an administrative lapse or suspension of a driver’s licence between 12 and 36 months will not be permitted for the purposes of rating.

• More than 36 months: If the length of an administrative lapse or a suspension of a driver’s licence is more than 36 months, an insurer is permitted to file rules to use the lapse or suspension of a driver’s licence as part of its risk classification system without additional actuarial evidence although the rules must meet the statutory criteria for approval. For example, an insurer may consider the period of time during which the licence has lapsed or been suspended for the purposes of rating.

An administrative lapse or a suspension of a driver’s licence is a documented driver’s licence lapse for administrative or medical reasons that are not connected to driving offence convictions.

Reasons can include non-renewal or expiry of a driver’s licence due to a consumer’s oversight, temporary medical conditions, unpaid parking tickets, outstanding support payments to the Family Responsibility Office or outstanding payment to the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund.