Upgrade Expired M2 to M

[ibbu]

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Hi - running into some issues trying to upgrade my [now expired] M2 to M. I completed my M2 exit test prior to expiry.

The facts:
I completed my M1 in ~August 2018 and my M2 in October 2018. I moved to NY state in late 2021 but never exchanged my driver's license as NY doesn't recognize the M2 and I would lose the entire M license. Received noticed that my M2 was due to expire in October 2023 so returned to Ontario to complete my M2 exit test with Learning Curves in September 2023. However, I was due to fly back to NY the next day and didn't have a chance to go to the DriveTest office to upgrade to an M. I explained this to the folks at Learning Curves and they were of the view that the test results are valid for six months and I should be able to walk into the DriveTest office to obtain my M anytime within that six month window (even after the October expiry). Cool.

I'm now back in Ontario for a week and paid a visit to the DriveTest office. It took some explaining and they eventually called 'head office' for guidance. After about an hour they just took my number down as they were awaiting more information on how to process this from head office.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice on how to navigate? Worried I'm SOL here, and 100% acknowledge I had five years to upgrade so please spare me the scolding!

 

[Evoex]

Hi - running into some issues trying to upgrade my [now expired] M2 to M. I completed my M2 exit test prior to expiry.

The facts:
I completed my M1 in ~August 2018 and my M2 in October 2018. I moved to NY state in late 2021 but never exchanged my driver's license as NY doesn't recognize the M2 and I would lose the entire M license. Received noticed that my M2 was due to expire in October 2023 so returned to Ontario to complete my M2 exit test with Learning Curves in September 2023. However, I was due to fly back to NY the next day and didn't have a chance to go to the DriveTest office to upgrade to an M. I explained this to the folks at Learning Curves and they were of the view that the test results are valid for six months and I should be able to walk into the DriveTest office to obtain my M anytime within that six month window (even after the October expiry). Cool.

I'm now back in Ontario for a week and paid a visit to the DriveTest office. It took some explaining and they eventually called 'head office' for guidance. After about an hour they just took my number down as they were awaiting more information on how to process this from head office.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice on how to navigate? Worried I'm SOL here, and 100% acknowledge I had five years to upgrade so please spare me the scolding!

That is our (LC) understanding; that

a) as long as you pass the exam prior to expiry date you should be good to upgrade your license
b) you have about 6 months from the passing date to go in and update your license

However in thinking about b) I suppose that may not hold if your entire license expires within the window?

What exactly did Drive Test say to you?
You should have received a certificate of completion, this is more for insurance as you aren't required to show this at Drive Test anymore since we upload the results directly, but may be helpful in this situation. So unless they couldn't see you in the system I'm curious to know what the issue is.

 

[ibbu]

Thanks. Agree that the nuance around (b) may be the challenge here. To be frank, the people at the DriveTest didn't offer much information and were just relying on what guidance their head office provided. They didn't seem to be aware of the completed M2 exit test at first (no idea what they see in their system) but then did ask me to confirm that I completed the LC course and took a copy of the test results that I had with me.

I'm planning to go back early tomorrow morning to try again / get an update as I don't have high expectations they will actually give me a call back. Anything else you suggest bringing with me?

I recall reading somewhere that I might have to rewrite the M1 but then should be able to automatically jump to an M - does that sound plausible?

 

[GreyGhost]

Thanks. Agree that the nuance around (b) may be the challenge here. To be frank, the people at the DriveTest didn't offer much information and were just relying on what guidance their head office provided. They didn't seem to be aware of the completed M2 exit test at first (no idea what they see in their system) but then did ask me to confirm that I completed the LC course and took a copy of the test results that I had with me.

I'm planning to go back early tomorrow morning to try again / get an update as I don't have high expectations they will actually give me a call back. Anything else you suggest bringing with me?

I recall reading somewhere that I might have to rewrite the M1 but then should be able to automatically jump to an M - does that sound plausible?

If it isn't too inconvenient, i would try a different office. It shouldn't matter but it often does.

 

[Evoex]

Thanks. Agree that the nuance around (b) may be the challenge here. To be frank, the people at the DriveTest didn't offer much information and were just relying on what guidance their head office provided. They didn't seem to be aware of the completed M2 exit test at first (no idea what they see in their system) but then did ask me to confirm that I completed the LC course and took a copy of the test results that I had with me.

I'm planning to go back early tomorrow morning to try again / get an update as I don't have high expectations they will actually give me a call back. Anything else you suggest bringing with me?

I recall reading somewhere that I might have to rewrite the M1 but then should be able to automatically jump to an M - does that sound plausible?

I would show up with a copy of the certificate in hand. I expect dates are going to be the deciding factor here, i'd emphasize on how recent this all went down.

You could also try calling LC head office to discuss, see if they can confirm from our side that you did in fact pass and this was successfully uploaded to MTO etc.

If you`re re-writing the M1 then I would expect you will likely be forced to complete the m1 exit as well, but they will probably waive the waiting period. This season a friend had a 'valid' license that should have already expired but they re-issued it to her as M2 in good standing. So she completed the M2 exit only to be told she had to do M1 and M1 exit again to have Drive Test update her license to M.

 

[Dunc]

Good luck, my wife was needing to complete her m2 by the fall a few years ago. She broke her leg biking and her season ended a little early. We talked to the Drive Centre and they said she could get a temp in the spring to do the test. Come spring nobody knew anything and her file was gone from the system. So she had to start all over. Don't trust them, and don't take the first persons answer as the final answer.

 

[ibbu]

Just to close the loop here - I went back to DriveTest office Saturday morning and thankfully the upgrade to M was already in their system. They never called me back (didn't expect them to) but happy they were able to put it through and issue me my temporary GM license.

In summary, they were able to issue an upgrade to an M after my M2 expired, so long as my M2 exit road test was completed prior to the expiry. Thanks to everyone for their responses.

 

[justride]

Just to close the loop here - I went back to DriveTest office Saturday morning and thankfully the upgrade to M was already in their system. They never called me back (didn't expect them to) but happy they were able to put it through and issue me my temporary GM license.

In summary, they were able to issue an upgrade to an M after my M2 expired, so long as my M2 exit road test was completed prior to the expiry. Thanks to everyone for their responses.

Do you have a bike? If so, did make any difference in your insurance premium?

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