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Whether you drive a commercial vehicle, a motorcycle, or an automobile, renewing your plate is essential to driving legally in Ontario. Even though the province has removed physical licence plate stickers and the associated fees, you still need to renew your plate every two years, free of charge. Until now.
Without the need to pay the licencing fees and add the new sticker to their plate, drivers forget to renew their plates. Many others are unaware they need to do it. Currently, more than one million drivers in Ontario risk incurring fines worth up to $1,000 due to their expired license plates.
But this too, is also about the change. As of February 2024, the Ford government is set to introduce automatic renewals for licence plates in Ontario.
Understanding how to renew your licence plate is important because it is part of car ownership. We simplified what you need to do when renewing your licence plate and what to do if it's expired.
Yes, except there’s no longer a sticker (or a fee) involved. It’s known as renewing your licence plate. Although the registration renewal process is free, you must renew it online just like in the past.
In Ontario, the yearly or half-yearly fees for renewing your licence plate sticker have been removed. However, it's still necessary to link your coverage to the vehicle that has the license plate.
This decision will save car owners up to $120 annually in Southern Ontario, while drivers in Northern Ontario and light commercial vehicle owners will save up to $60 per year. Please note that refunds won't be provided for cars that are registered under a business or company name.
Starting from February 2024, automatic licence plate renewal will only be applicable to drivers with a clean record. If a driver has insurance issues, unpaid tolls, or municipal fines, their plates will not be renewed automatically renewed. You will need to renew your plate online or in person. This new system has been introduced by the Ministry of Transportation and was confirmed by a spokesperson who spoke to Global News. More information will be provided in the coming months.
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By law, you are required to renew your licence plate. If you neglect to renew your licence plate, you could face a fine between $60 and $1,000 under the Highway Traffic Act. If you have renewed online but have not received it in the mail, ensure you have a copy of the Extended Vehicle Validation Period Receipt to prove that you have renewed.
In Ontario, it is mandatory for your vehicle to have a valid licence plate and insurance to drive legally. In the past, drivers would renew their licence plates every 1 or 2 years by applying a new sticker. The cost to renew license stickers in southern Ontario was $120/year. However, these fees have been eliminated by the provincial government.
Even with plate stickers a thing of the past, you still need to renew your licence plate. Why? Renewing your licence plate requires you to provide valid Ontario auto insurance. This information is then associated with your vehicle's licence plate, enabling law enforcement to verify your vehicle has valid coverage.
The million or so drivers in Ontario driving around with expired tags are not only at risk of a fine. They could also deny their car insurance claim if they are involved in an accident. Some insurers will deny any claims you make if you have an expired plate. This could leave you on the hook to pay for repairs out of pocket. You could also have issues renewing your policy in the future.
Once you own a vehicle, much like your Ontario driver's licence, you must renew your licence plate to keep your registration up to date. In Ontario, you must renew every two years. This can be done at a ServiceOntario location near you or online.
To renew, you will need the following information:
You may also be required to provide your vehicle safety inspection certificate number or Drive Clean security code if you renew a heavy-duty diesel vehicle. If you recently moved, you must notify the MTO before applying for a sticker renewal.
Although licence plate stickers are a thing of the past, you will need to renew your plate online. If you drive a passenger vehicle, you must visit ServiceOntario or or renew your plate online every two years. Since the February 2024 announcement of automatic renewals, there has not been an updated guide on how the process will look. Here’s how to renew your Ontario licence plate online, currently.
You can renew your Ontario licence plate online up to 180 days before it is set to expire. Plan for at least a month to avoid missing the window. You also cannot renew online once it has expired.
You can renew your plate by visiting ServiceOntario near you or simply online. If you are renewing a farm or heavy commercial vehicle over 3,000 kg, you will need to go in person. It is easy to find a ServiceOntario location close to you to renew your licence plate. Note that not all locations accept cash.
Depending on your vehicle and where you live, you’ll have to pay for a licence plate renewal. Most passenger vehicles do not have to pay for a plate renewal, but many commercial vehicles do.
Here is a look at the different types of vehicles and their cost:
| Type of Vehicle | Southern Ontario | Northern Ontario |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | $0 | $0 |
| Commercial vehicle (gross weight 3,000 kg and less, commercial use) | $0 | $0 |
| Commercial vehicle (gross weight 3,000 kg and less, personal use) | $0 | $0 |
| Mopeds | $0 | $0 |
| Motorized snow vehicle | $15 | $0 |
| Motorized mobile home | $120 | $60 |
| Historical vehicles | $18 | $18 |
Commercial vehicles (buses, school buses, farm plated and commercially plated with a Registered Gross Weight (RGW) greater than 3,000 kg) must renew their plates every three to 12 months. The vehicle must have active commercial vehicle insurance before you can renew.
Commercial drivers will continue to receive a licence plate sticker; the fee is based on the type of vehicle and gross weight. After you finish the process, law enforcement will be alerted that your plate was renewed.
You can renew plates for commercial vehicles for up to 90 days before it expires. Business owners and joint registrants can check the vehicle permit for the expiry date.
No. You will have to pay all outstanding fines to renew your plate and vehicle registration. This includes 407 tolls, licensing fees, traffic tickets, red light camera tickets, and outstanding licensing fees.
Effective March 13, 2022, Ontario will be removing licence plate renewal fees and the requirement to have a valid licence plate sticker for motorcycles, mopeds, light-duty trucks, and passenger vehicles.
All vehicles owned by individuals will receive a direct refund for licence plate sticker fees paid between March 1, 2020, and March 12, 2022. To ensure you receive the refund, check online to ensure your vehicle has the correct address. Make sure you pay any outstanding fees, fines and tolls by March 7, 2022.
The province will automatically send drivers their refunds based on the address they have on file associated with the driver’s licence. Be sure to check your mailbox. If you still have not received your refund, contact ServiceOntario.
Keep in mind that the following vehicles are not eligible for refunds and will still need to pay a fee when renewing their plates :
Someone else can renew for you online. They will need all the required information to complete the process. However, you are the only person who can renew in person.
No. You cannot complete the renewal process without your policy active. You will need the insurer's name and policy number to renew.
As of March 2022, passenger vehicles and motorcycles no longer have to pay for a licence plate sticker. The renewal process takes a few minutes and won’t cost you a dime unless you have a farm or commercial vehicle.
There is no physical licence plate sticker, but you still need to renew your licence plate to be a legal driver in the province, or else you risk being fined.
Before 2022, a licence plate sticker was the smaller coloured sticker on the rear licence plate in Ontario. It represents your plate and registration expiry date. Previously, when you renewed your Ontario vehicle registration, you were provided with a new sticker to add to your licence plates.
The new process of renewing a licence plate is similar, but you will not receive a physical sticker, and you do not have to pay for it.
Yes, you need to renew the sticker for your snowmobile yearly. However, it is not necessary to provide snowmobile insurance.
Renewing your licence plate is part of being a responsible driver in the province. Don't forget to take a quick minute to find out how you can get the best savings on car insurance quotes to protect you and help lower your costs of owning a car.
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| Categories | Auto |
|---|---|
| Tags | Buy and Sell VehiclesDriving Tips |
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