Where the centre is and how to get there
The Hamilton DriveTest Centre is at 370 Kenora Avenue, in east Hamilton on the Stoney Creek border, just north of Queenston Road near Centennial Parkway. From the QEW, exit at Centennial Parkway and head south; from the Red Hill Valley Parkway, exit at Queenston Road and head east. Parking is free at the centre.
HSR buses along Queenston Road and Centennial Parkway stop nearby. Be at the counter 30 minutes before your appointment.
What the test covers at Hamilton
The G2 road test at Hamilton is a city driving test of roughly 20 minutes. You will be scored on starting, stopping and turning; intersections of several types including left turns across traffic; at least one lane change with a visible shoulder check; parallel parking and a three-point turn; speed control through 40, 50 and 60 km/h zones; and general observation throughout. There is no highway portion on the G2.
The full G road test repeats the city elements and adds a highway section on the Red Hill Valley Parkway and the QEW: merging, holding a steady speed with a two-second gap, one or more lane changes, and exiting. If you are unsure which test you are booking, our G2 vs G guide explains the difference. You need 12 months on a G1 (8 with a BDE course) to take the G2 test, and 12 months on a G2 for the G test.
What the roads around Hamilton DriveTest are like
- Queenston Road is the main artery: multi-lane, busy, with plazas, bus stops and 50 to 60 km/h limits. Lane changes and left turns across Queenston are the core of a Hamilton test.
- Centennial Parkway and Barton Street East add fast traffic, truck movements and signalled intersections with advance greens.
- Nash Road and the residential streets between Queenston and Barton are the parking-manoeuvre section: parallel parking, three-point turns and 40 km/h school zones.
- Hills. Hamilton is the one GTA-area centre where a hill park is a real possibility. Know which way to turn your wheels: toward the curb facing downhill, away from the curb facing uphill.
For the G test, the Red Hill Valley Parkway and the QEW are both minutes away. The Red Hill's curves and short ramps make it a tougher merge than the QEW; practise both.
Where people lose marks at Hamilton
- Hill parking. Wheels turned the wrong way, or not set at all, is a marked error. Set the parking brake too.
- Queenston Road lane changes. Mirror, signal, shoulder check, then move. Skipping the head turn is the most common fault here.
- Trucks on Barton and Centennial. Leave extra following distance and never sit beside a truck's trailer.
- Speed changes. Queenston alternates between 50 and 60 km/h, and residential streets drop to 40. Read the signs as you turn.
- Red Hill merge on the G test. Curved ramps limit your view of traffic. Build speed early and check your blind spot before moving over.
Test-day plan for Hamilton
- Documents: your physical licence card (G1 for a G2 test, G2 for a G test), booking confirmation, glasses if required, and the car's ownership and insurance. The full list is in our road test checklist.
- Warm-up drive: 30 to 60 minutes on the roads described above, right before your slot.
- Arrive 30 minutes early at 370 Kenora Avenue, Hamilton (Stoney Creek), L8E 2W2, near Queenston Road and Centennial Parkway.
- During the test: narrate it in your head. Mirror, signal, shoulder, go. Full stops, steady speed, and commit to safe gaps.
- If it does not go your way: get the examiner's report, book the first available retake, and take one lesson aimed at what was marked. What happens if you fail covers the wait, fees and rebooking.
Book a lesson and a test car near Hamilton DriveTest
Hamilton instructors on MrDriver run mock tests on Queenston, Barton and the east-end streets, and many offer a road test package: a warm-up drive right before your slot, their insured dual-brake car for the test, and the ride home. Book your test on drivetest.ca, then the package for that date.
Compare licensed instructors on our Hamilton page, or the Burlington page if you are east of the city. The G2 prep plan covers what the final lessons should include.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Hamilton DriveTest Centre?
At 370 Kenora Avenue in east Hamilton on the Stoney Creek border, just north of Queenston Road near Centennial Parkway.
Is there parking at Hamilton DriveTest?
Yes, free parking at the centre. Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in and the vehicle inspection.
Which highway is used for the G test at Hamilton?
The Red Hill Valley Parkway or the QEW, both minutes from the centre. The Red Hill's curved ramps make its merge the harder one to practise.
Is there a hill park on the Hamilton road test?
It is possible, more so than at most GTA centres. Know the rule: facing downhill, turn the wheels toward the curb; facing uphill with a curb, turn them away from the curb; and set the parking brake.
Can I take my Hamilton road test in an instructor's car?
Yes. Hamilton instructors on MrDriver offer road test packages with a warm-up lesson, use of their insured dual-brake car for the test, and a ride home.