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 insurance 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.
Changes to Ontario licence plate renewal in 2024
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.
2024 licence plate renewal statistics
According to Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, the OPP has equipped its 1,400 cruisers with license plate readers that can scan up to one million plates per day. These readers are used to identify any outstanding issues associated with the car and can also flag expired plates. Here’s what else they are finding:
- In 2021, before Ontario eliminated the license plate fee, there were 372,438 unregistered plates.
- In 2022, after the province dropped renewal fees, that number more than doubled to 814,224.
- As of June 2023, there are 573,974 expired license plates in Ontario.
- The number of active license plates in the province was 13.6 million in December 2022, with 814,224 unregistered (6%).
Is your plate expired? Use the Ontario licence plate expiry checker to find out
Sign up to receive free email, text message, or phone call reminders 60 and 30 days before your license plate, driver’s license, health card, or Ontario Photo Card expires. You can also check the status of your plate, with the free Ontario
licence plate expiry checker.
What is the fine for driving with an expired licence plate?
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.
Why do I need to renew my plate if stickers are no longer required?
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 insurance coverage.
What happens if I get into an accident with an expired plate?
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.
What do I need to renew my licence plate?
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:
- Licence plate number
- Permit number (RIN number)
- A valid insurance pink slip or policy information
- Odometer reading
- Payment of any outstanding fines
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.
How to renew Ontario licence plate online
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.
- Plate and permit: Get your licence plate and vehicle permit number. The permit number begins with a letter, followed by seven digits (example: B1234567).
- Policy details: Ensure your Ontario car insurance is up to date and valid. Have it handy just in case you need to provide your insurance company and policy number.
- Odometer reading: Input your odometer reading on the website.
- Conform Address: Ensure your delivery and licence address is up-to-date.
- Outstanding fees and fines: If applicable, pay any outstanding speeding tickets, parking tickets, or toll fees.
- Length of renewal: Choose if you want to renew for one or two years, free of charge.
- Payment: Choose to pay with Mastercard, debit, or VISA.
- Proof of purchase: You will be redirected back to the site to obtain your digital proof of purchase. There is an option to print it, and it will be emailed to you.
- Stickers will not be mailed out: You will not receive a sticker in the mail if you are renewing the plate for a passenger vehicle, light commercial vehicle, moped, or motorcycle.
When should I renew my licence plate?
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.
Where can I renew my Ontario licence plate?
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.
How much does a licence plate renewal cost?
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
|
Renew heavy commercial licence plate in Ontario
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.
- Licence plate number
- Vehicle permit number
- Insurance company and policy number
- Your odometer reading
- Pay any fines, tolls or fees
- Pay for your renewal fees
- An emissions test, if you are renewing for a heavy-duty diesel vehicle
- Maximum seating capacity (only for buses or school buses)
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.
Can I renew my plate if I have outstanding fines?
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.
When did Ontario eliminate licence plate sticker renewal 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.
How to get an Ontario licence plate sticker refund
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 :
- Heavy commercial vehicles (over 3000 kg)
- Farm vehicles
- Busses and school busses
- Motorized snow vehicles (snowmobiles)
- Off-road vehicles
- Trailers
Ontario licence plate renewal FAQs
A final word on licence plate renewals
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.