Are you stressed because you lost your license in Ontario? After a DUI in Ontario, the shock sets in fast. Your driver’s license is gone, you get a hefty fine, your car gets towed to some unknown location, and your entire routine is wrecked.
It hits even harder if you drive to work, have kids to shuttle around, or live somewhere in Ontario without decent transit. But getting your license back isn’t impossible. It’s just a process. It’s frustrating, but if you handle it properly, you can get back on the road legally without making things worse.
I’ve sat across from enough people who’ve blown over to know that panic hits hardest the morning after. The night is a blur. Your car is probably in the impound, and your license is gone. Ontario doesn’t mess around when it comes to impaired driving. You lose your license the second you’re charged. Not convicted, but criminally charged. Most folks don’t realize that until they’re already stuck on the TTC holding a coffee and a court date.
Blowing over the limit
Let’s rewind to the start: You blow over the limit. The cops hit you with an automatic 90-day suspension, called an ADLS. That’s under the Highway Traffic Act, and it kicks in when the charge happens. No trial. No arguments. Just boom! Keys out of ignition, license yanked. It’s meant to be immediate and painful.
After that 90 days, you’re not automatically good to go. I’ve had clients call on day 91, wondering why ServiceOntario won’t return their license. Simple. Because they skipped the homework.
If you want your license reinstated, you must go through the “Back on Track” program. The name sounds like a yoga class. It’s not. It’s government-run and mandatory and costs you around $894. The course runs in three phases: assessment, education or treatment (depending on how bad you blew), and follow-up. It’s not fun. I sat in on one session out of curiosity. A guy beside me got nailed on his bike. Yes, bike. Blew a 0.09 on a pedal-powered ride and still got dinged. Ontario’s got zero chill.
Getting your license suspended
Assuming you finish Back on Track, the next step is the interlock device. This one’s straight from dystopia. They install a breathalyzer in your car. Before you can start it, you have to blow sober. If this is your first conviction, the government requires you to keep it for at least 12 months. Miss a blow or blow dirty? You’re suspended again. I’ve seen someone get two months in and mess up once after drinking mouthwash, which set him back another year.
Math time: You blow 0.12, get charged, pay a $1,000 fine in court, $894 for Back on Track, $150 for reinstatement, plus $1,300+ for the interlock lease. Add insurance spikes (roughly $5,000 more annually), and you’re at $8,344. That’s the actual cost of one stupid night.
Court’s a whole different circus. Some people try to fight it. You can argue Charter breaches if the stop wasn’t lawful or the demand for a sample wasn’t proper. I’ve helped someone beat a DUI after the cop waited too long to make the demand. Clock matters. They only get so many minutes after the stop to make you blow. But those wins are rare. Most people just plead, get it over with, and focus on damage control.
The most significant mistake that I see people make is ignoring deadlines. Miss Back on Track enrollment? Delay. Skip court? Warrant. Forget to apply for reinstatement? You stay suspended even if you’re eligible. I had one guy lose his job because he thought the license returned on its own. Nope. Ontario doesn’t babysit you.
Lost License In Ontario
Want to drive again? You need grit, not optimism. The system assumes you’re a risk. Your job is to convince them you’re not. Show up early, do the course, pay every fee on time, document everything, and keep receipts like your life depends on them. Because if you drive for work, it often does.
Here’s the part no one likes to say out loud: some people never bounce back. I had a client in Thunder Bay lose his license for a second time. He tried to Uber to job sites, but the cost was impossible. He quit. Started drinking more. Got a third charge. That’s a three-year suspension and a lifetime with the interlock device after. At that point, even his lawyer gave up.
But I’ve seen wins, too. One woman in Mississauga worked at a school and couldn’t risk a criminal record. We pushed for a careless driving plea under the Highway Traffic Act. No conviction, no interlock, no Back on Track. Just a $500 fine and demerit points. That took a lot of back-and-forth with the Crown and proof she had zero priors and a clean record. It wasn’t easy, but it was doable.
What Actually Happens When You Lost Your License In Ontario
Ontario’s system kicks in automatically when you blow over the limit or refuse a breathalyzer. Your license is gone on the spot for 90 days under the Ontario Administrative Driver’s License Suspension program. That’s before you even step foot in a courtroom.
Your car gets impounded for seven days, and you’ll be slapped with immediate fines. If you end up convicted in court, things get even more serious. A first-time DUI charge in Ontario comes with a minimum one-year license suspension, and that’s assuming no one got hurt. If someone got hurt, you are looking at jail time.
A second offence means losing your license for three years. A third means a lifetime ban, with a slim chance of getting reinstated after ten years.
Some people try to wait out their suspension, assuming their license will magically return when the time is up. It won’t. There’s a process to follow, and if you don’t handle it properly, you could be stuck without a license far longer than necessary. It’s good to get a law firm involved as soon as possible once you have been charged with a DUI or refusing to blow.
Step 1: Start the Mandatory Education Program Early
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they lose their license in Ontario is waiting for their suspension to end. That’s wasted time. Ontario requires anyone with a DUI conviction to complete the Back on Track program before they can even think about getting their license back. This program isn’t optional. If you don’t complete it, you’re not driving again.
Depending on your case, the program involves education, assessments, and sometimes treatment. People in Ontario who wait until their suspension is over to start this process end up off the road even longer. The sooner you register, the sooner you can check it off the list.
Step 2: Understand the Ignition Interlock Requirement
Most people don’t get their full license back right away after a DUI. Ontario requires an ignition interlock device for at least one year for first-time offenders. This breathalyzer is installed in your car; you must blow into it every time you start. If there’s alcohol in your system, the car won’t start.
This isn’t cheap. Expect to pay around $1,500 to $2,000 for installation and monitoring over the year. Some people think they can skip this step, but you’ll stay suspended if you don’t comply. The system tracks everything, and any failed tests or tampering can lead to even harsher penalties.
Step 3: Can You Get a Restricted License?
People always ask me if they can drive before their full suspension ends. The short answer is yes, but only under specific conditions. Ontario offers Reduced Suspension with Ignition Interlock program, which allows particular drivers to regain limited driving privileges sooner than usual. However, this program comes with strict requirements, and not everyone qualifies.
To apply, you must immediately install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. This device requires you to blow into a breathalyzer before starting the car, ensuring you are not under the influence. You also need to prove that losing your license creates severe hardship. You may have a strong case if you rely on driving to keep your job, attend essential medical treatments, or fulfill other critical responsibilities.
The process isn’t automatic, and approval isn’t guaranteed. You must follow all legal steps carefully, provide proper documentation, and comply with every condition the program sets. If accepted, you’ll still need to drive with the interlock device for the required period. This can be a lifeline for those who qualify, allowing them to resume essential activities without waiting out the entire suspension period.
Step 4: Reinstatement – Get Back Your Lost License In Ontario
Once you’ve completed all the requirements—served your suspension, finished the Back on Track program, and installed the interlock device if required—you can apply to reinstate your license. But be prepared to pay up.
The reinstatement fee is around $281, and you may need to provide additional proof, like high-risk insurance (SR-22), depending on your case. Some people will have to redo vision, written, or even road tests if their suspension lasts long enough.
Make sure every box is checked before you apply. If you’re missing anything, they won’t process it, and you’ll be stuck waiting even longer.
What Happens If You Get Caught Driving Suspended?
This part is simple: don’t do it. If you get caught driving on a suspended license after a DUI, the penalties are brutal.
You’ll be hit with a minimum fine of $1,000, which can go up to $5,000 for a first offence. There’s also the possibility of jail time—up to six months. And the worst part? Your suspension gets extended even longer. If you were supposed to get your license back soon, that won’t be happening anymore.
If you were required to have an ignition interlock and got caught driving without one, that’s another 12 months added to your suspension. It’s just not worth the risk.
Lost Your License In Ontario?
Reinstating a suspended license after a DUI in Ontario isn’t fun, but it’s manageable if you do things correctly. Start the education program early, install the interlock immediately, and follow all court orders. People who ignore these steps or think they can cut corners end up stuck in the system longer than necessary.
I’ve seen people who could have been back on the road in a year it out to two or three just because they didn’t take the process seriously. Don’t be that person. Handle the requirements, stay compliant, and you’ll be driving again legally as soon as possible.
If you’re unsure about anything, talk to a lawyer. There are situations where suspensions can be appealed, penalties can be reduced, or mistakes in your criminal charges can be challenged. The worst thing you can do is assume nothing can be done and wait it out. Take action, follow the steps, and move forward.
Author: Mass Tsang LLP, Ontario DUI lawyers
