Ontario is becoming the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce automatic licence plate renewals. The change takes effect on July 1, 2024 and will save vehicle owners time, amounting to more than 900,000 hours every year.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is making life more affordable and convenient for drivers,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, in a press releaae.
“First, we eliminated licence plate sticker fees for passenger vehicles, saving drivers $120 a year for every car they own. Now, we’re saving drivers valuable time and making their lives easier by automatically renewing licence plates.”
Licence plates for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds will renew automatically 90 days before expiry if the vehicle owner has valid insurance and no outstanding fines or tolls, Provincial officials say.
If a licence plate cannot be renewed automatically, the vehicle owner will be notified and required to manually renew online or in person at ServiceOntario.
“The automatic licence plate renewal program stems from our government’s unwavering commitment to deliver modern, seamless and time-saving services,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, in a press release.
“By utilizing innovative technological solutions to streamline and improve government services, we are saving Ontarians precious time and money.”
Until automatic licence plate renewals take effect, vehicle owners are required to manually renew their plates at no cost.
Ontarians can check their licence plate status at ontario.ca/platerenewal.
Provincial officials say vehicle owners can ensure they do not miss digital notifications about issues related to automatic renewal by signing up for ServiceOntario reminders at https://reminders.ontario.ca/en or 1-800-387-3445.
Vehicle owners who have signed up for ServiceOntario digital notifications will be sent notifications through email, text, or voicemail if their licence plates cannot be renewed at 90, 45, and 10 days before expiry, and again at 72 hours after expiry.
Vehicle owners who have not signed up for digital notifications will be sent paper notifications by mail 90 days before expiry and 72 hours after expiry.
In 2022, the Ontario government eliminated licence plate sticker fees and stickers for passenger vehicles, saving drivers up to $120 a year for every car they own, Provincial officials added.
The introduction of automatic licence plate renewals will not change the way the province, municipalities or the 407 ETR collect unpaid fines and tolls.
In May 2024, the Get It Done Act received Royal Assent allowing for the transition to automatic renewal of licence plates.
