Why should you avoid following a large truck too closely?
M1 Practice Test 2026 – Free Ontario M1 Questions
Original questions written from the official Ontario handbook, with an explanation for every answer.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
- No sign-up
- Every answer explained
- Independent · not a government site
- 347 questions
- 12 practice tests
Your progress
Your topic map
Keep practising
All Ontario M1 practice tests
- Ontario M1 study guideFree Ontario M1 study guide: 288 key points from the Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- Ontario M1 questions and answers (printable)50 original Ontario M1 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.
- How to get a motorcycle licence in OntarioHow to get a motorcycle licence in Ontario, step by step: the M1 vision and knowledge tests, M1 rules, the M2 and M road tests, motorcycle safety courses, DriveTest fees and what to bring, with each fact linked to ontario.ca or DriveTest.
- Ontario M1 Mock Exam 1 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Ontario M1 Mock Exam 2 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Ontario M1 Mock Exam 3 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Ontario M1 Mock Exam 4 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Ontario M1 Mock Exam 5 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Ontario M1 exam simulator30 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
- Ontario M1 flashcards330 study cards: flip, self-check, review
- Ontario M1 video lessons7 hand-picked YouTube videos, summarised
- Ontario M1 study guides & books3 official guides and books, reviewed
- 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.
Exam facts
Key facts: Ontario M1 Motorcycle Knowledge Test
- Not publishedTest formatontario.ca does not publish the number of questions, pass mark or time limit; DriveTest sets the format. Widely reported as 40 questions in a signs part and a rules part; confirm with DriveTestNot officially published · DriveTest Ontario
- Signs + rulesWhat is testedA vision test, a written test on traffic signs, and a written test on motorcycles and the rules of the roadOfficial MTO Motorcycle Handbook — Graduated licensing
- Age 16+Minimum ageAt least 16 years old, plus an eye test and the written testontario.ca — Get a motorcycle licence
- DriveTest centreWhere to take itApply and take the required tests in person at a DriveTest centreontario.ca — Get a motorcycle licence
- 2 pieces of IDWhat to bringTwo pieces of identification, money for test fees (cash, debit or credit) and glasses or contacts if you need them to read or writeOfficial MTO Motorcycle Handbook — Graduated licensing
- Fee appliesFeeA fee is charged to apply and take the written test; current amounts are on DriveTest's fee listontario.ca — Get a motorcycle licence
- 90 daysM1 validityThe M1 is valid for 90 days; you must hold it at least 60 days before the Level One road testOfficial MTO Motorcycle Handbook — Graduated licensing
- Daylight, zero alcoholM1 conditionsZero blood alcohol, daylight riding only, no roads over 80 km/h (with listed exceptions), no passengers, approved helmetontario.ca — Get a motorcycle licence
- Free onlineStudy materialThe Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook is free to read on ontario.ca; a print copy costs $14.95 plus taxesontario.ca — Get a motorcycle licence
Free Ontario M1 practice tests written from the Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook (online edition, updated 2026) and the road-sign chapters of the Official MTO Driver's Handbook. Every question is original, explains why the right answer is right, and names the handbook page it comes from. No sign-up and no limits; your progress stays on your device.
The M1 written test checks two things: whether you know Ontario's traffic signs, and whether you know motorcycles and the rules of the road. This site keeps those two parts apart. Practise road signs, lights and pavement markings on their own, work through the motorcycle topics one at a time, then take a mixed 30-question mock exam to see where you stand.
What the test covers
Topics and question bank
- Regulatory signs26 questions
Stop, yield, school zone and railway crossbuck shapes, green-ring and red-slash signs, turn and lane controls, stopping, standing and parking zones, community safety zones and HOV lanes.
- Warning, construction and guide signs29 questions
Yellow diamond warning signs for curves, hills, lane endings, crossings and hazards, orange temporary condition signs in work zones, green guide and exit signs, and the slow-moving vehicle sign.
- Traffic lights and pedestrian signals17 questions
Green, yellow and red lights, turns on red, advance green and turn arrows, flashing lights and beacons, blank signals during a power failure, transit priority signals and pedestrian walk signals.
- Pavement markings11 questions
Yellow and white lines, solid and broken lines for passing, continuity lines, stop lines, crosswalks, lane arrows, pedestrian crossovers and markings around fixed objects.
- M1, M2 and M licensing30 questions
Who needs a class M licence, the M1 and M2 conditions, minimum times at each level, licence expiry, safety courses, L and M conditions for mopeds, scooters and three-wheelers, and rules for visitors and new residents.
- Helmets and protective gear13 questions
Ontario's helmet law, what makes a helmet approved and well fitted, and choosing jackets, pants, rain suits, boots and gloves that protect you and help others see you.
- Alcohol, drugs and fatigue10 questions
Zero blood-alcohol for novice riders, how alcohol and medication affect balance and judgment, cellphone and screen rules, fatigue, cold and strong emotions.
- Controls and pre-ride check24 questions
The six primary controls, secondary controls such as the kill switch, choke and fuel valve, and the checks to make before every ride: tires, brakes, lights, mirrors and stands.
- Mounting, starting and shifting15 questions
Getting on and off the stands, starting a motorcycle, moped or scooter, using the clutch and gears, riding posture, starting on a hill and parking.
- Turning, cornering and braking16 questions
Slowing before a turn, leaning and looking through it, counter-steering, using both brakes, the front brake's share of stopping power, and choosing speed and tire track in curves.
- Seeing, being seen and signalling21 questions
Scanning ahead, mirror checks and shoulder checks, making yourself visible, collisions at intersections and with left-turning cars, horn use, turn signals and flashing your brake light.
- Space cushion and sharing the road16 questions
The two-second following distance, space when stopped, side space and passing vehicles, tailgaters, and riding near trucks and buses: blind spots, wide turns, roll-back, spray, turbulence and bus bays.
- Lane position17 questions
Tire-track blocking positions, which track to use in the curb, passing and centre lanes and in turns, slower mopeds and scooters, lane changes, lane sharing, lane splitting and passing on the shoulder.
- Freeway driving12 questions
Who may use freeways, safe speed and scanning, following distance, entering from a ramp, changing lanes near ramps and leaving at an exit.
- Road hazards, night and weather31 questions
Left-turning cars, starting on a hill, riding at night and overdriving your headlight, slippery and uneven surfaces, gravel, gratings, railway crossings, rain, fog, cold and black ice.
- Group riding, passengers and cargo20 questions
Staggered formation and single file, passing as a group, who may carry a passenger, adjusting the motorcycle and your riding for a passenger, and loading cargo safely.
- Emergencies21 questions
Emergency braking and ABS, swerving, running wide in a turn, riding over objects, animals, tire blowouts, stuck throttle, wobble, broken chain, engine seizure and pulling off the road.
- Insurance, registration and maintenance18 questions
Compulsory insurance and fines, plates and permits, the six-day reporting rules, buying and selling a used motorcycle, safety standards certificates, weekly maintenance checks and risky modifications.
Try a few
Sample Ontario M1 questions
1Why should you avoid following a large truck too closely?
- A. The truck's tail lights will blind you at close range
- B. The driver cannot see you, and it blocks your view
- C. Trucks must keep a slower lane
- D. Trucks always brake slowly
Large vehicles have big blind spots. Following closely blocks your view, the driver cannot see you, and you could crash if the truck stops.
2Before changing lanes, what must you do after checking your mirrors?
- A. Speed up sharply
- B. Sound your horn
- C. Flash your high beams
- D. Check over your shoulder
Mirrors leave a blind spot on each side. Always check over your shoulder before turning or changing lanes.
3In winter, the asphalt ahead looks black and shiny instead of grey-white. What should you suspect?
- A. Road salt residue
- B. Fresh dry pavement
- C. Black ice
- D. Spilled oil
Winter asphalt is usually grey-white. Be suspicious of black, shiny asphalt, which may be covered by a thin layer of black ice.
4Ahead, a city bus at its stop flashes its left signal. The yield sign on its back applies to you. What do you do?
- A. Pass the bus quickly before it moves
- B. Let the bus pull back into the lane
- C. Sound your horn so the driver waits
- D. Go around it on the shoulder
The sign on the back of transit buses reminds you that you must yield to a bus leaving a dedicated stop once it signals.
5On Ontario roads, what do yellow lines separate?
- A. Bike lanes from car lanes
- B. Parking spaces from travel lanes
- C. Traffic moving in the same direction
- D. Traffic moving in opposite directions
Yellow lines divide traffic going in opposite directions, while white lines divide lanes going the same way.
6You are downshifting with the clutch pulled in. What should you do with the throttle to avoid a jerk?
- A. Close it fully until the clutch is out
- B. Leave it alone and use the rear brake
- C. Hold it wide open through the shift
- D. Twist it slightly to raise engine speed
Downshifting smoothly is harder than shifting up. Add a little throttle as you downshift, or the bike may jerk when you let the clutch out.
7An intersection warning sign shows one thick arrow and one thinner line. What does the thick arrow show?
- A. That the road ends ahead
- B. The road you must turn onto
- C. That traffic merges from the side
- D. Which road has the right-of-way
This intersection-ahead sign uses the heavier arrow to show which direction of traffic has the right-of-way.
8How should you pull the front brake lever?
- A. Firmly and sharply, with two fingers
- B. With your thumb only
- C. In quick on-off taps only
- D. Smoothly, using all your fingers
Use all your fingers to pull the front brake lever smoothly so you control the braking force.
9Why does the handbook recommend gauntlet gloves for riding?
- A. They keep your hands cooler
- B. They are required by law
- C. They also cover and protect your wrists
- D. They make the throttle easier to twist
Gauntlet gloves extend over the wrists, protecting them as well as your fingers and knuckles, and give a better hold on the controls.
10In a staggered formation, where does the leader ride?
- A. In the centre of the lane
- B. On the right shoulder
- C. On the left side of the lane
- D. On the right side of the lane
The leader takes the left side of the lane, and the second rider stays a little behind on the right side.
About the test
About the Ontario M1 Motorcycle Knowledge Test
The M1 knowledge test is the written test you pass to enter Level One of Ontario's graduated licensing system for motorcycles. To apply you must be at least 16, answer questions about your health, pass a vision test, and pass written tests on traffic signs and on motorcycles and the rules of the road. You apply and take the tests in person at a DriveTest centre, and you pay a fee for the tests.
Ontario does not publish the M1 test format on ontario.ca. The number of questions, the pass mark and any time limit are set by DriveTest, whose website blocks automated access, so we could not confirm them. The test is widely reported to follow the same pattern as the car G1 test, with a road signs section and a rules section, but treat that as unconfirmed and check with DriveTest before your appointment. Our mock exam uses 30 questions and an 80 percent pass mark as a practice standard, not as the official rule.
What the test covers is clearer. The motorcycle handbook lists the subjects it may ask about: rules of the road, traffic signs, motorcycle controls, lane position, steering, equipment requirements, helmets, carrying passengers or cargo, handling dangerous surfaces, downshifting and maintenance. The handbook also tells you to study the Safe and responsible driving and Traffic signs and lights chapters of the car handbook, which is where our sign questions come from.
Once you pass, you get an M1 licence with strict conditions. You must have zero alcohol in your blood, ride only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, stay off roads with speed limits over 80 km/h except a short list of northern highways, carry no passengers, and wear an approved helmet. The M1 is valid for only 90 days, and you must hold it at least 60 days before you can take the Level One road test.
Passing the Level One road test moves you to M2, where you can ride at night and carry passengers. You must stay at Level Two for at least 22 months, or 18 months if you pass a ministry-approved safety course, before the Level Two road test gives you a full M licence. The vehicle you bring to each road test matters: a moped or limited-speed scooter earns a licence with an L condition, and a three-wheeled motorcycle earns an M condition.
Study plan
How to prepare
- 1Read the motorcycle handbook online at ontario.ca from start to finish once. It is free to read there; a print copy costs $14.95 plus tax. Every question on this site cites the handbook page it comes from.
- 2Do not skip the road signs. The written test includes traffic signs, and many motorcycle riders focus only on riding skills. Learn shapes and colours first: red octagon for stop, white-and-red triangle for yield, yellow diamonds for warnings, orange diamonds for road work, green rectangles for guide signs.
- 3Learn the M1 and M2 conditions as a list of numbers with their conditions: zero blood alcohol, half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, roads over 80 km/h, 60 days before the first road test, 90 days of M1 validity, 22 months at Level Two (18 with a course), five years maximum at Level Two.
- 4Take one practice test per motorcycle topic. Lane position, counter-steering, braking and group riding are where the handbook's advice is most specific, such as which tire track to use in each lane, which handlebar to push to turn, the front brake's three-quarter share of stopping power, and the one- and two-second gaps in a staggered formation.
- 5Memorise the emergency procedures in order: a blowout, a stuck throttle, a wobble and a broken chain each have their own steps, and the wrong instinct (braking hard or accelerating) is usually one of the answer choices.
- 6After each test, reread the handbook page cited under every question you missed. The explanation names the exact condition, for example whether a rule applies to motorcycles or only to mopeds, and that condition is usually what the real question turns on.
- 7When you score 27 or more out of 30 on two different mock exams in a row, and you are comfortable with the sign topics on their own, you are ready to book.
- 8On test day bring two pieces of identification, money for the fee (cash, debit or credit) and any glasses or contact lenses you need to read or write. You will take a vision test as well as the written tests.
FAQ
Ontario M1 test questions people ask
How many questions are on the Ontario M1 test?
Ontario does not publish the number on ontario.ca; DriveTest sets the format. It is widely reported as 40 multiple-choice questions split between road signs and rules of the road, but we could not confirm this because drivetest.ca blocks automated access. Check with DriveTest before your test. Our mock exams use 30 questions.
What is the passing score for the M1 test?
The pass mark is not published on ontario.ca. It is commonly reported as 80 percent in each part, but treat that as unconfirmed until DriveTest tells you otherwise. Our mock exam asks for 24 out of 30, which is 80 percent, so you practise to that standard.
What is on the M1 written test?
The handbook says you must pass a written test on traffic signs and a written test on motorcycles and the rules of the road. Topics it names include motorcycle controls, lane position, steering, equipment, helmets, passengers and cargo, dangerous surfaces, downshifting and maintenance. The handbook also tells you to study the signs and safe-driving chapters of the car handbook.
How old do you have to be to get an M1 licence?
You must be at least 16 years old. You also need to pass a vision test and the written tests, and answer questions about your health when you apply.
How much does the M1 test cost?
Ontario charges a fee to apply for a licence and take the written test, and the current amounts are on DriveTest's list of fees. The official motorcycle handbook is free to read online at ontario.ca; a printed copy costs $14.95 plus tax.
Can I take the M1 test online or in French?
Ontario's licence page says to apply and take the required tests at a DriveTest centre, so plan on going in person. The motorcycle handbook is available in French on ontario.ca. Ask DriveTest which languages the written test is offered in at your centre, since ontario.ca does not list them.
How long is an M1 licence valid?
An M1 licence is valid for only 90 days. You must wait at least 60 days before taking the Level One road test, so book the road test early. If the M1 expires, you have to start over.
Can I ride at night or carry a passenger with an M1?
No. M1 riders may ride only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, and may not carry passengers. You also need zero blood alcohol, an approved helmet, and you must stay off roads with speed limits over 80 km/h except Highways 11, 17, 61, 69, 71, 101, 102, 144 and 655.
How long until I can get my full M licence?
The two-step process takes at least 20 months. After passing the Level One road test you hold an M2 for at least 22 months, or 18 months if you complete a ministry-approved motorcycle safety course, before the Level Two road test. You can stay at Level Two for up to five years.
Are these the real M1 test questions?
No. DriveTest does not publish its question bank. Every question here is original, written from the Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook and the Driver's Handbook signs chapters, and each one cites the page its answer comes from. They cover the same rules, so if you can answer these with confidence, the real test should hold no surprises.
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