Driving School Operators (In-Vehicle Training)

Driving school operators who operate a driving school with in-vehicle instruction must obtain a licence.

Sole proprietorships (individuals), partnerships or corporations.

Minimum Age

Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

For a sole-proprietor application submit:

For a corporation application submit:

If you are applying as a signing authority for a corporation, please submit all corporation requirements as well as One (1) piece of Government issued Photo Identification for the signing authority and a letter advising of signing authority (Sample Letter of Signing Authority) on corporation letterhead, signed by a director of the corporation and dated within 30 days

For a general partnership application submit:

All applicants are required to submit:

Please note:

  • Health Cards are not accepted as identification
  • Your first and last names must match all your identification and documents
  • Applications will not be started until ALL required documents are provided
  • In person: digital copies will not be accepted

You can apply for a new business licence online or in-person.

Apply online

Save yourself time and apply online. Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application. Licence application fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.

Submit Application

If you have already submitted an application and a representative has contacted you about uploading additional documents, you may do so using the upload token provided to you by the representative. Please note, you cannot upload additional documents using this tool if you do not have an upload token.

Upload Documents for Existing Request

Apply in-person

In-person services are available at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor.
You must bring hard copies of all application requirements. Applications will not be started unless all requirements are provided. Digital copies of documents will not be accepted.

Payment can only be made by debit, credit or cheque. Cash will not be accepted.

Walk-in Services

Walk-in services are available for new applications Monday through Friday at 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Application fee: $178.51

  • The application fee is non-refundable and is required upon submittal of a complete application.

Licence fee: $384.97

  • The licence fee is due upon approval of the application

Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $563.48

After a completed application is submitted, staff will obtain a copy of the applicant’s driving record abstract: a three year driving history recorded by the Ministry of Transportation. This record may also be supplied by the applicant, but should be less than 30 days old.

This record, along with other documents submitted, will determine whether there are concerns with the applicant obtaining a licence.

ML&S shall deny an application for, or a renewal for any business, trade or calling for which a vehicle and it’s driver are licenced or required to be licenced by the City under this Chapter and for which a licencesee is required to hold a valid provincial driver’s licence under this Chapter where the licensee or applicant has:

    1. Been convicted at any time of a sexual offence against a minor or a person with a disability under any of sections 151 to 153.1 of the Criminal Code;
    2. Been convicted of any sexual offence under the Criminal Code in the preceding ten years;
    3. Been convicted of an offence under the following Criminal Code sections in the preceding five years:
      1. 84 to 117.15 (Firearms and Other Weapons);
      2. 264.1 to 286.1 (Offences Against the Person);
      3. 321 to 378 (Offences Against Rights of Property);
      4. 379 to 462 (Fraudulent Transactions, Wilful and Forbidden Acts of Certain Property, Offences Relating to Currency);
      5. 462.3 to 462.5 (Proceeds of Crime).
    4. Been convicted at any time of an offence under the following Criminal Code sections:
      1. 83.01 to 83.33 (Terrorism);
      2. 219 to 248 (Major Offences Against the Person);
      3. 267, 268, 270.01, 272, 273 (Major Assaults or Major Sexual Assaults).
    5. Been convicted of an offence under the following Controlled Drugs and Substances Act sections in the preceding ten years:
      1. 5 (Trafficking);
      2. 6 (Importing and exporting);
      3. 7 (Production);
      4. 7.1 (Possession for use in production or trafficking).
    6. Been convicted of any offence under section 4 (Possession or obtaining) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in the preceding five years;
    7. Been convicted of five or more offences under Chapter 545 or 546 of the Toronto Municipal Code in the preceding three years;
    8. Any overdue by-law fines, unless the applicant provides proof that such fines have been subsequently paid.
    9. Been convicted of any offence under sections 320.13 to 320.18 (Offence Relating to Conveyances) (Motor Vehicles, Vessels, and Aircraft) of the Criminal Code in the preceding five years.
    10. Accumulated nine or more demerit points on his or her driving record abstract at the time the application for a licence or renewal is made;
    11. Been convicted of any of the following offences under the Highway Traffic Act in the preceding five years:
      1. Careless driving;
      2. Racing or stunt driving;
      3. Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/hour or more;
      4. Failing to stop for a school bus or when signaled or asked by a police officer;
      5. Failing to remain at the scene of a collision;
      6. Driving while licence suspended.

Despite these screening criteria, if a licence has been previously issued or renewed and the applicant’s or licensee’s record discloses no new breach of the screening criteria, the licence may be issued or renewed without the matter being referred to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal.

These screening criteria do not apply to any offence for which a licensee or applicant has been granted a criminal record suspension (i.e. a pardon) by the Parole Board of Canada.

December 4, 2023

Your licence will expire annually on the anniversary of the date that the licence was first issued. The expiry date is written on your licence for your reference.

A courtesy notice will be mailed to your mailing address on file identifying any documents required to renew the licence. As a licensee you are responsible for ensuring that your business licence is valid while operating. If you have not received your renewal notice and your licence is about to expire, please contact us at mlsbusinesslicence@toronto.ca for additional information.

The renewal fee is $389.32

Find your outstanding business licence or permit renewal invoice.

Existing licensees must renew their licences online or in-person. Licence renewal fees can be made in-person, paid online or by sending a cheque.

If you fail to renew your licence according to the bylaw, your licence will be cancelled and you will have to reapply.

Renew Licence

Renew In-Person

Walk-in services for are available for renewals Monday through Friday at 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Renewals Forms