How to get a DZ licence in Ontario
The full path to an Ontario DZ licence: who can apply, the vision, medical and knowledge tests, the Class D road test, the Z air brake endorsement and what DriveTest charges. Every fact links to ontario.ca or DriveTest.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
- No sign-up
- Every answer explained
- Independent · not a government site
- 8 steps
- Official sources only
- Checked October 17, 2026
A DZ licence is two things on one card: a Class D licence for heavy straight trucks such as dump trucks, large cube vans and tandem-axle flatbeds, and the Z air brake endorsement that most trucks of that size need. Both are issued through DriveTest, and unlike the Class A tractor-trailer licence, Class D has no mandatory entry-level training course.
This guide takes the steps in order: eligibility, documents and the medical report, the knowledge test, practising, the Class D road test and the Z endorsement, then renewals and periodic medicals. Each step links to the official page it comes from, either the Government of Ontario or DriveTest. Fees and rules change, so check the linked page before you go.
Step by step
Check that you can apply
You must be at least 18 and hold a valid Ontario licence other than G1, G2, M, M1 or M2, so in practice a full G or higher.
Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licenceGather your documents
Bring original ID showing your legal name, date of birth and signature. Since May 11, 2026, applicants for Class A, B, C, D, E or F also prove that Ontario is their primary residence, that their presence in Canada is legal and that they are eligible to work in Canada (work eligibility is not needed for a Class D with RV restriction).
Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licenceGet the medical report filled in
You must hand in a completed, satisfactory ministry medical certificate. Blank forms are available at any DriveTest centre, and the application is refused if your medical condition does not meet the Highway Traffic Act standards.
Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — A and D licence classes and requirementsPass the vision and knowledge tests
The knowledge test is multiple choice, not timed (until the office closes), marked on the spot and needs a total score of at least 80%. Questions come from the handbook for the class you want, here the Official MTO Truck Handbook. If you fail, you pay again, and if you retry within a year you only redo the sections you missed.
Source: DriveTest — Knowledge Tests (archived copy, Aug. 2026)Practise with a qualified driver
To learn on a heavy truck you need a Class G or higher licence and must be accompanied by a driver who holds a valid Class D licence (Class A for a tractor-trailer).
Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — A and D licence classes and requirementsBook the Class D road test
Book through DriveTest with your Ontario licence number, a preferred location plus second and third choices, and a preferred date and time. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead to avoid a cancellation fee.
Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licencePass the road test
The test has a daily inspection (exterior, in-cab check and interior), a backing manoeuvre (offset backing or alley dock) and an on-road drive. You may make errors on one inspection item only, and up to 30 errors on the backing and road parts together, with the backing finished in under 10 minutes. Any moving violation fails the test.
Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — Road testAdd the Z air brake endorsement
Any truck with air brakes or air-over-hydraulic brakes needs a Z endorsement. With a D licence you can take an air brake course with a vehicle fleet owner and bring the referral envelope to DriveTest within 6 months, or take the air brake knowledge and practical tests at a DriveTest centre.
Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
Who can get it
- At least 18 years old, holding a valid Ontario Class G or higher licence (not G1, G2, M, M1 or M2). Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — A and D licence classes and requirements
- You must meet vision standards and provide a satisfactory medical certificate on application and periodically after that. Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — A and D licence classes and requirements
- Since May 11, 2026: documents showing Ontario residence, legal presence in Canada and eligibility to work in Canada (no work eligibility needed for a Class D with RV restriction). Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
- No training course is required: the Class D requirements are age, licence, vision, medical, knowledge test and road test. Ontario's mandatory entry-level training applies to Class A. Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial licence package for applicants under the age of sixty-five (knowledge test and road test) | $122.75 | Source: DriveTest — Fees (archived copy, July 2026) |
| Commercial knowledge test, each attempt | $23.75 | Source: DriveTest — Fees (archived copy, July 2026) |
| Commercial road test (with or without the Z practical test) | $99.00 | Source: DriveTest — Fees (archived copy, July 2026) |
| Air brake (Z) endorsement package (knowledge test and practical test) | $66.00 | Source: DriveTest — Fees (archived copy, July 2026) |
| Printed Official MTO Truck Handbook (cash only; free to read online) | $23.00 | Source: DriveTest — Fees (archived copy, July 2026) |
| Medical examination for the medical report (not on DriveTest's fee list) | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — A and D licence classes and requirements |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
Apply and take the tests at a DriveTest centre, or by appointment at the ServiceOntario Bay and College location in downtown Toronto. Road tests are booked, cancelled and rescheduled directly through DriveTest. Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
What to bring or have ready
- For the knowledge test: two pieces of identification or your Ontario driver's licence, the completed medical report form, money for the fee (cash, debit or credit card) and glasses or contact lenses if you need them to read. Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — A and D licence classes and requirements
- Since May 11, 2026: proof of Ontario residence, legal presence in Canada and work eligibility, from the accepted documents list. Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
- For the road test: a Class D truck in good working order with valid annual inspection stickers, plus a valid, completed daily inspection report and the schedule for that vehicle. Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — Road test
- If the truck has air brakes: wheel chocks or blocks, a way to time seconds, a means of holding the brake pedal down and a pushrod-stroke measuring device. Without them the test is declared out of order and you pay 50% of the road-test fee before rebooking. Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — Road test
After you pass
Class D is added to your licence. You can drive a truck over 11,000 kg gross or registered gross weight, including one towing a vehicle of up to 4,600 kg, plus cars and light trucks covered by Class G. A towed vehicle over 4,600 kg needs a full or restricted Class A, and air brakes need the Z endorsement. Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
Validity and renewal
Since July 1, 2018, Class D drivers under 65 renew with a vision test and a knowledge test; drivers 80 and over also pass a road test before renewing, and drivers 65 to 79 do so after an at-fault collision or three or more demerit points. Class D drivers must periodically pass a medical report or be downgraded to Class G, and from 80 the report is yearly. Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — Keeping your licence
Common mistakes
- Arriving at the road test without a valid daily inspection report and the vehicle's schedule: the test is cancelled and you lose 50% of the pre-paid road-test fee. Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
- Assuming Class D covers any heavy combination. If the towed vehicle weighs more than 4,600 kg, you need a full or restricted Class A. Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
- Cancelling or rescheduling a road test less than 48 hours ahead, which brings a cancellation fee. Source: ontario.ca — Get a truck driver's licence
- Studying only the car handbook. Knowledge-test questions come from the official handbook for the class you want, which for Class D is the Official MTO Truck Handbook. Source: DriveTest — Knowledge Tests (archived copy, Aug. 2026)
- Ignoring the medical notice after you are licensed: Class D drivers who do not file periodic medical reports are downgraded to Class G. Source: Official MTO Truck Handbook — Keeping your licence
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- Ontario Class D (DZ) practice tests272 original practice questions with explanations
- Ontario Class D (DZ) questions and answers (printable)50 original Ontario Class D (DZ) practice questions on one printable sheet, with a separate answer key, an explanation and the handbook chapter for every answer. Print it or save it as a PDF. Free; not the official test.
- Ontario Class D (DZ) study guideFree Ontario Class D (DZ) study guide: 372 key points from the The Official MTO Truck Handbook in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- Ontario Class D (DZ) Mock Exam 1 – 40 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Ontario Class D (DZ) exam simulator40 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
- DriveTest centres in OntarioEvery DriveTest location by region, the road tests each one offers, and a page per city with fees and what to bring.
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get a DZ licence in Ontario: common questions
How much does a DZ licence cost in Ontario?
DriveTest lists $122.75 for the commercial licence package (knowledge test plus road test) for applicants under 65, or $23.75 for the knowledge test and $99.00 for the road test separately. The air brake (Z) package is $66.00. DriveTest's fee list has no line for the medical examination.
Do I need a training course (MELT) for a DZ licence?
No. Ontario's Class D requirements are age 18, a valid licence other than G1, G2, M, M1 or M2, a vision test, a medical report, the knowledge test and the road test. Mandatory entry-level training is a Class A requirement.
What is the difference between D and DZ?
Class D is the licence class for trucks over 11,000 kg. The Z is the air brake endorsement you add to drive any vehicle with air brakes or air-over-hydraulic brakes, through an air brake course or tests at DriveTest.
Can I take the DZ road test in an automatic truck?
Yes. Ontario's manual-transmission restriction applies to Class A and AR road tests and does not apply to lower classes such as G or D.
What happens if I fail the Class D knowledge test?
You pay the fee and try again. Results stay valid for one year, and if you retry within that year you only redo the sections that did not meet the standard.
How do I renew a Class D licence?
Drivers under 65 renew with a vision and knowledge test, usually every five years, and must keep filing satisfactory medical reports or be downgraded to Class G.
Where can I practise for the DZ knowledge test?
Use our free DZ practice tests, the timed mock exam and the printable questions, all written from the Official MTO Truck Handbook. Each question explains the rule and names the handbook page it comes from.
Keep practising
- DZ written test – 100 questionsOne long 100-question practice run for the Ontario Class D (DZ) written test, covering every chapter of the MTO Truck Handbook with an explanation for each answer.
- Ontario Class D (DZ) questions and answers (printable)50 original Ontario Class D (DZ) practice questions on one printable sheet, with a separate answer key, an explanation and the handbook chapter for every answer. Print it or save it as a PDF. Free; not the official test.
- Ontario Class D (DZ) study guide
- Ontario Class D (DZ) Mock Exam 1 – 40 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Ontario Class D (DZ) Mock Exam 2 – 40 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Ontario Class D (DZ) Practice Test 140 questions with explanations
- Ontario Class D (DZ) Practice Test 240 questions with explanations
- Ontario Class D (DZ) Practice Test 340 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Class D licence and requirementsWhat Class D covers (over 11,000 kg, towing up to 4,600 kg), the RV-restricted Class D, the licence class chart, age, medical and document requirements.
- Weights, CVOR and documentsGross, registered gross and manufacturer's weight ratings, size limits, CVOR, documents to carry, inspection stations and weigh scales, impoundment for critical defects and dangerous goods.
- Daily inspection and defectsThe Schedule 1 inspection every 24 hours, minor versus major defects, tires, wheels and steering lash, annual inspection decals and straight-truck defect limits for brakes, suspension and wheels.
- Brake checks: hydraulic and airTesting hydraulic brakes with and without power assist, brake fluid limits, and the straight-truck air checks: build-up, air loss of 3 psi, low-air warning, pushrod stroke and spring brakes.
- Cargo securement and loadsBalancing and tying down loads, re-inspection intervals, NSC Standard 10, rear overhang marking, oversize load flags and signs, and loading within licensed capacity.
- Hours of service and logsHours-of-service limits for trucks over 4,500 kg, exemptions, duty statuses, daily and cycle limits, cycle resets, the 160 km log exemption and daily log contents.
- Engine, gears and braking techniqueStarting the engine, moving off, transmission and clutch-brake use, the inter-axle differential lock on tandem axles, engine braking on grades, fanning and parking.
- Off-track, turns, clearances and backingWheelbase and off-track, right and left turns, curves and roundabouts, the 4.15 m height limit, truck bans and safe straight backing with a guide.
- Class D road testThe daily inspection, backing and on-road parts of the Class D road test, items to bring for an air-brake truck, error limits and what examiners expect.
- Driver conduct and sharing the roadTruck following distance and speed limiters, courtesy on hills and when being passed, stopping for school buses and railway crossings, cyclists, emergency vehicles and right-of-way.
- Night, weather and emergenciesGlare and high beams, fog, rain, ice and snow plows, skids and ABS, warning devices when broken down, truck fires, collisions, drowsy and distracted driving.
- Signs, signals and markingsSigns that restrict trucks by lane, length, weight or cargo, clearance and truck warning signs, slow-moving and oversize signs, traffic lights and pavement markings.
- Keeping your Class D licenceClass D renewal and medical rules since 2018, tests for drivers 65 to 79 and 80 and over, change of address, demerit points and zero tolerance for commercial drivers.
- Fuel-efficient driving, HOV and brandingWarm-up times, progressive shifting, idling, tire pressure and route choice, HOV lane rules for trucks and the Mandatory Vehicle Branding Program.