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Vehicle In Ontario

Licence plates are validated by obtaining and affixing a validation sticker to the upper right hand corner of your plate. For your convenience, a renewal application will be mailed to you approximately 60 days prior to the sticker expiry (usually your birthdate). If you do not receive a renewal application or have lost it, a new one can be printed, and your plates renewed while you wait, at any ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office.

Take the following documents to any ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office or ServiceOntario Kiosk.

  • the renewal application;
  • your vehicle permit;
  • proof of insurance;
  • fee shown on application;
  • a vehicle emissions pass report or a conditional pass report may also be required;
  • · odometer information for passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles (3000kg registered gross weight or less and for personal and business use only) and buses (non prorate. Heavy commercial vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, off-road vehicles, motorized snow vehicles (snowmobiles) and motor assisted bicycles (mopeds) are exempt from the odometer information requirement.

You may also renew your plates online at ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Online Services.


Notice to Customers: 407 ETR Toll Amounts

Due to a November 9, 2005 court ruling, the Ministry must refuse to issue or renew a Vehicle Permit if outstanding 407 ETR toll amounts appear on our computer system.

As of November 24, 2005, any outstanding amounts on vehicle licence plates that have been submitted by 407 ETR due to non-payment of 407 ETR tolls, administrative fees or interest must be paid prior to plate renewal.

If your tolls, administrative fees or interest are not paid within 90 days of your receiving a “Notice of Failure to Pay”, 407 ETR may require the ministry to refuse to validate (renew) your vehicle permit, and, where the licence plate in respect of the unpaid tolls, administrative fees or interest becomes unattached from the vehicle or expired, refuse to validate (renew) another single vehicle permit issued to you and/or refuse to issue a vehicle permit to you.

You can pay your 407 ETR toll amounts directly to the 407 ETR or at any Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office.

Customers who have a dispute with their 407 ETR bill must contact the 407 ETR directly:
Telephone: 1-888-407-0407,
Email: customerservice@407etr.com, or

Mail to: 407 ETR Concession Company Limited
6300 Steeles Avenue West
Woodbridge ON L4H 1J1

Website: 407 ETR*

At the time of renewal, any outstanding parking fines, outstanding 407 ETR tolls and administrative fees, and non-negotiable cheque amounts posted against the plates must be paid in full before a validation sticker is issued, regardless of the amount shown on the Vehicle Licence Renewal Application.

Drive Clean Requirement

To find out if your vehicle needs to pass an emissions test before you can renew your plates, or for more information on the Drive Clean Program, call the Drive Clean Call Centre at 1-888-758-2999 or visit the Drive Clean website. Out of province callers, may call 1-905-421-7083 (charges will be assumed by caller).

All light duty vehicles (passenger and commercial vehicles with a registered gross weight of 4,500 kg or less) must pass an emissions inspection every two years to renew validation if the following conditions are met:

  • the plate holder's address is within the program area and
  • the vehicle is five or more model years old and
  • 20-year-old light-duty vehicles will now require testing.

    This means vehicles with 1988 and newer model year require testing until they are taken out of service.

In addition, odd model year vehicles (i.e. 1999 model year) require an inspection in even years (2004, 2006) and even year vehicles (i.e. 1998 model year) require an inspection in odd model years (2003, 2005).

Heavy-duty (commercial vehicles with a registered gross weight greater than 4,500 kg) diesel-powered vehicles in the Drive Clean program area must pass an annual emissions test. For further details, call the Drive Clean Call Centre at 1-888-758-2999 or visit the Drive Clean website. Out of province callers may call 1-905-421-7083.

Light Duty Vehicle Outside Ontario

If the vehicle is outside of the province and requires an emissions test, a one-time extension may be granted to renew the licence plates for a six-month period without an emissions inspection. At the end of the six months, an emissions inspection may be required for renewing vehicle licence plates. See the "To Do Checklist" to renew the licence plates for a vehicle that is outside Ontario.

Fee Table - Annual Validation (Sticker) Fee

Vehicle-Related Transactions Cost
Passenger vehicles or motorized mobile homes  
In Southern Ontario $74*
In Northern Ontario $37*
Motorcycles  
In Southern Ontario $42*
In Northern Ontario $21*
Mopeds  
In Southern Ontario $12*
In Northern Ontario $12*
Commercial vehicle gross weight less than 3,000 kg  
In Southern Ontario $74*
In Northern Ontario $74*
Commercial vehicle gross weight less than 3,000 kg, personal use  
In Southern Ontario $74*
In Northern Ontario $37*
Motorized snow vehicles  
In Southern Ontario $15*
In Northern Ontario $0
Historical vehicles $18*
Dealer and Service permit for vehicle or trailer $156
Dealer and Service permit for motorcycle $87
* add a $1 convenience fee if purchased through a ServiceOntario kiosk.

Effective January 1, 2005, all personal cheques must be certified unless payment is sent by mail.

"To Do" Checklist

Renewing Plates for an Out-of-Province Vehicle
  1. Get a letter requesting a six-month renewal stating the date of return to Ontario and the reason for the waiver signed by the plate owner or the plate owner's insurance company
  2. Get a completed vehicle licence plate renewal application; or if you do not have the renewal application, the signed letter noted above must also include:
    • the licence plate number to be renewed,
    • the insurance company name under which the vehicle is insured,
    • the insurance policy number
    • odometer reading
  3. Pay a six-month validation fee of $37 (The fee should be in the form of a cheque or money order payable to the "Minister of Finance/MTO" and drawn on a Canadian bank account.)*

If allowed, your renewal date will be changed, and you will always renew on that date in the future.

* If you choose to pay by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express we require a signed and dated letter of authorization which includes:

  • type of credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express);
  • credit card number;
  • date of expiry;
  • name of the card holder; and
  • a statement authorizing the ministry to debit the credit card, the dollar amount to be debited and the reason for the payment.

Send this information to the:

Ministry of Transportation
Licensing Administration Office
Building A, Room 178
2680 Keele Street
Downsview, ON  M3M 3E6
Fax: 416-235-4414

Notes:

  • A plate owner who is not in the Drive Clean program area must send the fee of $74 for a one-year sticker, or $148 for a two-year sticker.
  • A plate owner who renews late will still have to pay for the months when the sticker expired.
  • The new sticker renewal period will begin from the expiry date of the last sticker.

Customer Service Options

Below are the Ministry of Transportation service channels where you can purchase/order this service. Click on the underlined titles below for an address/location.

  DriveTest Centre Licence Issuing Office Service Ontario Kiosk  Mail   Phone  Order Online
Renewing vehicle plates   Yes Yes Yes   Yes

For further information please complete our online feedback form, or contact the ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licensing Contact Centre at 416-235-2999 or toll free at 1-800-387-3445.

  


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Last Modified: June 10, 2008