Ontario M1 knowledge test: what it covers
The Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook is used together with the Driver's Handbook, which covers the road-signs and rules-of-the-road material also studied for the G1 test, alongside motorcycle-specific knowledge the Driver's Handbook does not cover.
The Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook must be used together with the Driver's Handbook. Confirm the current motorcycle knowledge-test format directly at DriveTest.ca.
Know the test format
Road signs, rules of the road, and motorcycle-specific knowledge.
Follow the licence path
Understand how M1, M2, and full M stages fit together.
Prepare for test day
Review restrictions, the M1 timeline, and what to bring.
Your road to a full M licence
Three levels, starting with an M1.
- Level One · M1
Step 1 of 6
Turn 16
You must be at least 16, with a valid motorcycle licence class (M1, M2, or M), to ride a motorcycle in Ontario.
Step 2 of 6
Ride as an M1
Zero blood alcohol. No passengers. An approved motorcycle helmet, meeting Highway Traffic Act Regulation 610.
Step 3 of 6
A 90-day window
The M1 is only valid for 90 days. You must hold it for at least 60 of those days before you can attempt the Level One road test.
- Level Two · M2
Step 4 of 6
Pass the Level One road test
Passing moves you to an M2 licence. The zero blood-alcohol requirement continues at this level.
Step 5 of 6
Hold an M2 for 22 months
An approved motorcycle safety course can reduce this minimum period by 4 months.
- Full M
Step 6 of 6
Finish within five years
Attempt the Level Two road test within five years of passing the Level One road test, or you must reapply.
Full M licence
Source: Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook and ontario.ca.
What the M1 test covers
- Road signs: the same regulatory, warning, and information signs studied for the G1 test
- Rules of the road: the same right-of-way, intersections, and traffic-law material studied for the G1 test
- Motorcycle-specific knowledge: licensing and restrictions, pre-ride checks and gear, basic riding skills, visibility and lane positioning, riding in traffic and weather, and emergencies
Already studying for your G1? A G1 + M1 Bundle covers both licence classes in one purchase.
M1 guides
Ontario M1 restrictions you need to know
An M1 lets you start riding, but Ontario law sets firm conditions on alcohol, passengers, helmets, and how long the licence itself stays valid.
Ontario M1 test day: what to expect
DriveTest applies the same registration and vision-test process to a motorcycle knowledge test as it does to a car knowledge test; the content is simply the Motorcycle Handbook instead.
What to bring for your Ontario M1 test
Bring the same identification and be ready for the same vision test a car licence applicant needs: DriveTest's general application requirements apply to a motorcycle licence too.
Ontario M1 frequently asked questions
What an M1 actually lets you do, how long it lasts, and how the M1-M2-M path works, answered from the official Motorcycle Handbook.
Need practical details? Read the M1 FAQ, check the M1 restrictions guide, follow the test-day guide, use the document checklist, or find a nearby DriveTest centre.