In Ontario, licence plate stickers are required to be displayed on the front and back of all vehicles. The stickers indicate that the vehicle has been registered and is up-to-date with its mandatory annual safety inspection.
This article will discuss when licence plate stickers expire, how to renew them, what the renewal fees are, and what happens if you drive with an expired sticker. We will also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this topic.
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Do You Still Need Licence Plate Stickers in Ontario?
As of 1st March 2022, the requirement for validation stickers will no longer exist in the province of Ontario. This doesn’t mean that you won’t need a licence plate. Your vehicle will still need to have one that is clearly visible and up-to-date. The only change is that you won’t need to put validation stickers on it anymore.
Though you will still need to renew your licence plates, the only change is that you won’t need to put validation stickers on your licence plate anymore. The elimination of validation stickers is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to reduce red tape.
If you have paid renewal fees between 1st and 12th March 2022, you will be eligible for a refund. For more information, please visit the website of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.
What are Licence Plate Stickers?
Before March 2022, licence plate stickers were required to be displayed on the front and back of all vehicles in the province of Ontario. The stickers indicated that the vehicle had been registered and was up-to-date with its mandatory annual safety inspection.
It was a legal requirement that the sticker must be visible and legible at all times and must be renewed every year. You were able to purchase and renew a licence plate sticker at any ServiceOntario centre. You were fined if you operated a vehicle without a valid licence plate sticker.
How to Renew Licence Plates Without Sticker Fees?
There are three ways to renew your licence plates in Ontario:
1. Online:
You can renew your licence plate sticker online through the ServiceOntario website. To renew your licence plates online in Ontario, you will need:
- Your vehicle permit (registration certificate)
- Your insurance information
- A valid credit card for payment
Follow these steps to renew your licence plates online:
- Visit ServiceOntario’s website and select Renew Licence Plates.
- Enter your vehicle permit number, which is located on your registration certificate.
- Enter your driver’s licence number or add an authorized user to your account.
- Review and update your vehicle information, if necessary. Make sure the insurance information is up-to-date and accurate.
- Choose the licence plate type you would like for your vehicle from the available options.
- Enter the email address where you would like to receive your confirmation and receipt.
- Enter your payment information and select Submit Payment.
- You will receive an email confirmation and receipt for your licence plate renewal. Please note that it may take up to 14 business days for the new licence plates to arrive in the mail.
2. At Service Ontario Location:
You can renew your licence plate sticker at any Service Ontario location. To renew in person, you will need:
- Your vehicle permit (registration certificate)
- Your insurance information
- Payment by cash, debit, credit card, or cheque
3. By Mail:
You can renew your licence plate sticker by mail. To do so, you will need to fill out the Application for Renewal of Registration form and send it along with payment to the address listed on the form. For more information about renewing your licence plates by mail, please visit ServiceOntario’s website.
Licence Plate Renewal for Commercial Vehicles
If you own heavy commercial vehicles such as heavy-duty diesel vehicle, you need to renew your licence plate sticker every year. The process is the same as for renewing a regular passenger vehicle. You can do it online, by mail, or in person at any ServiceOntario centre. However, you might need to follow some additional protocols and give extra documents :
- Your vehicle must pass the emissions test.
- You need to provide a Safety Standards Certificate.
- If you are renewing a licence plate for a tractor-trailer, you need to provide proof of car insurance.
- The fees for renewing a commercial vehicle licence plate vary depending on the type and weight of the vehicle.
Licence Plate Renewal Fees in Ontario
There is no fees for renewing your licence plates for motorcycles and commercial vehicles in Ontario. This is applicable for both Southern and Northern Ontario. However, vehicle owners will still have to pay $18 for historical vehicles and $15 for snow vehicles in Southern Ontario.
What Happens if You Drive with Expired Licence Plates?
If you are caught driving with expired licence plates, you will be fined. The fine for driving without a valid licence plate sticker is $110. You may also be charged a late fee of $60 if your licence plate sticker is more than 30 days expired.
If you are stopped by police and found to have an expired licence plate sticker, your vehicle may be towed and impounded. The cost of retrieving your vehicle from the impound lot can range from $200 to $400, depending on the municipality where your vehicle was impounded.
Conclusion
It is important to renew your licence plates every year in Ontario for two main reasons: safety and legal compliance.
Safety is the number one concern when it comes to driving, and making sure your licence plate is up-to-date helps ensure that other drivers can see your car on the road. It also helps law enforcement identify vehicles involved in criminal activity.
Legal compliance is also important, as failing to renew your licence plates can result in fines and other penalties. In some cases, you may even have your vehicle impounded.
So make sure you renew your licence plates every year to stay safe and legal on the roads of Ontario! You can renew your licence plate sticker online through the Service Ontario website, by visiting the Service Ontario centre, or by mail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are license plate stickers still extended in Ontario?
Yes, license plate stickers are still extended in Ontario. The Ministry of Transportation has announced that sticker renewals will be free of charge from 13th March 2022. All the people who paid for licence plate sticker renewal between 1st and 12th March are eligible to receive a refund. This is to help alleviate any financial burden during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Do I have to renew my sticker Ontario 2022?
Yes, you will still need to renew your licence plate in Ontario. Only the licence plate sticker renewal fees and stickers have been scrapped. As for commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, and light-duty trucks, you will still need to pay the renewal fees.
What happens if your licence plate sticker gets stolen or damaged?
If your licence plate sticker is stolen or damaged, you need to replace it as soon as possible. You can do this by visiting a ServiceOntario centre or by calling the Ministry of Transportation. If your licence plate sticker goes missing within 30 days of receiving your last sticker, the new one will be provided to you free of cost. However, after 30 days you will have to pay $7.00 to receive a new sticker. This is in case your old sticker gets stolen or damaged.
Who are eligible for a refund cheque on licence plate renewal fees?
The Ministry of Transportation has announced that all the people who paid for licence plate sticker renewal between March 01 and 12 are eligible to receive a refund. This is because the government has decided to scrap the fees for renewing licence plates stickers. You can expect to receive your refund cheque within four to six weeks.
Is there a grace period for license plate stickers in Ontario?
No, there is no grace period for licence plate stickers in Ontario. If your sticker expires, you will have to pay a fine. The amount of the fine depends on how long your sticker has expired. If your licence plate sticker is about to expire, you must apply for a temporary sticker that will be issued by the ministry of transportation immediately. Meanwhile, you can apply for the renewal.
Do licence plate stickers expire on your birthday?
Yes, licence plate stickers do expire on your birthday in Ontario. If you are renewing your vehicle registration, you must also renew your licence plate sticker. You can renew your licence plate sticker online, by mail, or in person at a ServiceOntario centre.
Can I renew my Ontario license plate sticker online?
You can renew your Ontario license plate sticker online through the Ministry of Transportation’s website. You will need to provide your license plate number, vehicle registration number, and credit card information. Once your payment is processed, you will receive a confirmation email, and your new sticker will be mailed to you.
How much does it cost to renew a sticker in Ontario?
The licence plate sticker fees in Ontario can vary depending on your area. In southern Ontario, the renewal cost is $120 for a passenger vehicle, and in northern Ontario, the cost is $60. Plus, you will have to pay for any outstanding fines as well.
Can you renew your licence plate without insurance?
No, you cannot renew your licence plate without insurance. You need to have a valid insurance policy in order to renew your licence plate. If you do not have insurance, you will not be able to renew your licence plate and may face penalties such as having your vehicle impounded.
Do you need to pay outstanding fines while renewing your licence plate?
Yes, you need to pay outstanding fines while renewing your licence plate. If you have unpaid fines, your renewal will be denied, and you will not be able to get your sticker until the fines are paid. The outstanding fines which you might have to pay to include:
- Toll violations
- Parking tickets
- Red light camera tickets
- Speeding tickets
Do you have to renew the licence plate stickers of your snowmobile?
Yes, you have to renew the licence plate stickers of your snowmobile. The process is the same as renewing a regular vehicle’s sticker. You can renew online, by mail, or in person at a ServiceOntario centre.
