GETTING TEMPORARY VEHICLE REGISTRATION OR A SPECIAL PERMIT

Temporary Vehicle Registration

Temporary Vehicle Registration allows vehicles to be driven to licensing offices, garages (eg. to satisfy Safety Standards Certificate and/or Drive Clean requirements) and for other necessary short-term transportation purposes. Temporary Vehicle Registration is a "T" validation sticker that must be affixed to the upper right hand corner of your licence plate and will be valid for ten days starting with the date issued. A vehicle that has been sold must be registered in the new owner's name, prior to Temporary Vehicle Registration being issued for the vehicle.

As of July 28, 2008:

• Temporary Vehicle Registration is eligible for use on all passenger, unladen commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles and limited speed motorcycles;
• All passenger and unladen commercial motor vehicles are eligible to obtain a maximum of two Temporary Vehicle Registration per vehicle within a 365-day period;
• A newly transferred vehicle that requires Temporary Vehicle Registration must be registered and plated in the new owner's name;
• Owners must pay outstanding 407 ETR fines and NSFs before receiving Temporary Vehicle Registration; and
• Regular vehicle registration processes do not change for owners that do not require Temporary Vehicle Registration (i.e if all regulatory requirements are met at time of registration, full validation will be issued).

To apply for Temporary Vehicle Registration, take the following items to any ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office:

• The original fit vehicle permit;
• If the permit is not registered in your name ensure that the back of the permit is completed and signed by the previous owner, (a Bill of Sale can be used for supporting documentation from the person named on the permit);
• Used Vehicle Information Package (if a private sale)
• Name of your insurance company and policy number for the vehicle that you are registering; and
• Existing plates (if available) along with the plate portion of the vehicle permit.

Special Permit

A Special Permit will be used in circumstances where the Temporary Vehicle Registration is not suitable (e.g. out-of-province vehicles, laden commercial motor vehicles).

The Special Permit will:

• Consist of a decal to be displayed in the windshield of the vehicle and will be valid for 10 days;
• Allow a limit of 2 (two) permits per motor vehicle or unladen commercial motor vehicle within a 365-day period;
• Allow an unlimited number of permits for laden commercial motor vehicles;
• Allow a commercial motor vehicle that is registered in Ontario a higher gross vehicle weight than indicated on the plate portion of the permit; and
• Will allow a vehicle to operate in Ontario on a continuous trip originating at a point outside Ontario and destined to a point outside Ontario (corridor movement).

To apply for a Special Permit take the following items to any ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office:

• A completed Application for Special Permit ( HTML | PDF );
• The original fit vehicle permit/or NVIS;
• If the permit is not registered in your name ensure that the back of the permit is completed and signed by the previous owner (a Bill of Sale can be used for supporting documentation from the person named on the permit); and
• Name of your insurance company and policy number for the vehicle must be included on the application form.
• If the vehicle is being imported from outside of Canada, then a Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) Form 1 with both stamps must be provided.  This ensures that the vehicle meets the Federal inspection requirements.
• For out-of-province and out-of-country clients, acceptable identification documents must be presented, for example: a Canadian or US passport; or a Canadian/US birth certificate in combination with a Canadian/US driver’s licence or identity card.

Fees

Temporary Vehicle Registration:

 

Passenger vehicle, motorcycle, limited speed motorcycle, unladen commercial motor vehicle - $15.00

 

Special Permit:

 

Passenger vehicles (except buses) - $15.00

 

All trailers (laden or unladen) - $15.00

 

Unladen Commercial Motor Vehicle (includes a laden commercial motor vehicle where the gross weight of the commercial motor vehicle and any towed trailer does not exceed 4500 kilograms, EXCEPT where the commercial motor vehicle is a bus) - $15.00

 

Laden Commercial Motor Vehicle (including buses) without a trailer (includes a laden commercial motor vehicle where the gross weight of the commercial motor vehicle exceeds 4500 kilograms and any laden bus regardless of gross weight) - $75.00

 

Commercial Motor Vehicle (including buses) towing a trailer (includes either or both of the vehicles being laden and where the gross weight exceeds 4500 kilograms, and any laden bus towing a trailer) - $132.00

All personal cheques must be certified.

Customer Service Options

For further information about Temporary Vehicle Registration or Special Permits, please complete our online feedback form, or contact the ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Contact Call Centre at 416-235-2999 or toll free (Canada-Wide) at 1-800-387-3445.

Temporary Vehicle Registration or a Special Permit may be purchased at any ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office.