MTO-Approved Translators in Ontario: What DriveTest Actually Needs
There is no separate "MTO translator" licence to look for. For a DriveTest exchange you need a regular certified translation of your foreign licence, signed, with a copy of the original attached. That is $59 plus HST here, usually ready within one business day.
Which certification DriveTest expects
Almost everyone at the counter needs the first option. The other two cost more and are only worth ordering when an institution names them in writing.
Regular certified translation
- Both sides of the licence rendered in English
- Signed certification statement with the translator's name and details
- A copy of the original licence attached to the package
- Print-ready PDF, usually within 1 business day
ATIO certified translation
- Stamp and number of a translator certified by the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario
- Order it when an institution asks for ATIO by name
- Not what a routine licence exchange needs
Notarized translation
- Sworn declaration before a commissioner attached to the translation
- For consulates and institutions outside Canada
- Takes longer than a regular certified order
Prices do not include HST. Certified PDF free, hard copy by Canada Post free, both together $15, Xpresspost $30. If your document turns out to need a different certification, we say so before you pay.
What the DriveTest package contains
Four elements make a licence translation acceptable at the counter. All four are in every order.
- A clean rendering of the foreign licence, front and back
- Licence class, restriction codes, issue and expiry dates in English
- The translator's full name and certification details
- The translator's signature on the certification statement
- A copy of the original licence attached to the translation
- Print-ready PDF you can hand across the counter, hard copy by Canada Post on request
How to order
Photograph both sides
Flat, well lit, no glare. Add the driving history letter if your country issues one.
Approve the price
We confirm the price, the certification type and the turnaround before anything is charged.
Take it to DriveTest
Bring the original licence, the certified translation and your identity documents.
Driving documents we translate for MTO cases
Everything from the same file is quoted together. Languages: most world languages into English.
| Item | Regular certified |
|---|---|
| Driver licence, front and back | $59 |
| Each additional page | $49 |
| Certified PDF, or hard copy by Canada Post | free |
| Certified PDF and hard copy together | $15 |
| Xpresspost delivery | $30 |
Prices are per document and do not include HST. Common languages: Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, French, Korean, Turkish, Romanian, Polish, Tagalog, Vietnamese. Others on the languages page.
Why licence translations get sent back
The counter is checking that the English version matches the card in front of it. Four things break that match.
- The back of the card is missingCategories, restrictions and issue notes live on the back. A one-sided translation is incomplete.
- Licence classes rewritten as Ontario classesForeign classes stay as they are, with the English meaning next to them. Converting them is not the translator's job.
- The name spelled differently than on your passportSend the passport page and we transliterate to match the identity document you use in Canada.
- No copy of the original attachedThe package has to show what was translated. We attach the original copy in every order.
Questions about MTO and DriveTest translations
Who counts as an MTO-approved translator?
For a DriveTest licence exchange the usual requirement is a regular certified translation, prepared and signed by a translator with a certification statement and a copy of the original attached. If a specific office asks for a different certification type, we quote that separately before payment.
Do you provide translations DriveTest accepts?
Yes. We prepare regular certified driver licence translations in the format DriveTest expects, print-ready, with the original attached.
How much does it cost?
A regular certified driver licence translation is $59 plus HST for the card, both sides. Each additional page, such as a driving history, is $49.
How fast is it?
Usually ready within 1 business day, delivered print-ready by email. A mailed hard copy needs extra time for Canada Post.
What do I need to send?
A clear photo or scan of both sides of your foreign licence, plus any driving history letter your country issues separately.
Do I need ATIO certification for a licence exchange?
Normally no. ATIO certification costs more and is meant for institutions that ask for it by name. If you were given such an instruction in writing, send it with your files and we will quote that route.
Send both sides of your licence
We confirm the price and the certification type before you pay, so nothing surprises you at the DriveTest counter.