If you receive an invoice

If you are involved in a collision or vehicle fire on a provincial highway or road, you may receive an invoice for fire department services or property damages.

If you receive an invoice from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Claims Unit, you are the:

  • registered owner of the vehicle that was involved in a collision or vehicle fire
  • driver of the vehicle that was involved in a collision or vehicle fire
  • operator of a commercial motor vehicle involved in a collision or vehicle fire

Invoices are covered under third party liability insurance. If your insurance information was provided to the fire department or Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), a copy of the invoice will be sent to your insurance provider.

If you did not have insurance on your vehicle at the time of the collision or fire, you must pay the invoice on your own by:

  • calling your claims officer to arrange payment by credit card — you can find their number in the header of the invoice
  • cheque or money order payable to Minister of Finance and mail to:

    Ministry of Transportation
    301 St. Paul Street 2nd floor
    St. Catharines, Ontario
    L2R 7R4

You cannot pay invoices at Service Ontario.

If you do not pay the invoice:

  • you risk having your driver’s license suspended until payment is made
  • unpaid invoices will be referred to the Ministry of Attorney General for payment

If your vehicle was stolen and you received an invoice, you must call your claims officer, and provide proof by police report that the vehicle was reported stolen before the incident happened. You can find the claims officer’s number in the header of the invoice.

If you were charged by police or transported by ambulance when the incident occurred, those are separate charges and not related to this invoice.

If government property is damaged as a result of an incident involving your vehicle, you may receive another invoice for the cost of those repairs at a later date.

Fire departments have 60 days to gather the incident details and report it to the ministry

How collisions and vehicle fires are responded to

When a collision or vehicle fire occurs on a provincial highway, the fire department is generally required to attend the scene. Fire departments are dispatched by the OPP, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or when someone calls 911. If another person travelling on the road thinks you need help, they can call 911 and report the situation without you knowing — anyone who receives help this way is responsible for the applicable fees.

If your collision or vehicle fire was on municipal streets, fire department services are often covered under your municipal taxes. We only issue invoices for incidents that occur on provincial highways.

Fire services are frequently the first responders on scene and help to ensure the safety of everyone. Fire departments are not limited to but can include any of the following services:

  • extinguishing fire, transporting additional water sources
  • bringing tools for extrication to the scene
  • transporting fire fighters and appropriate equipment
  • controlling traffic, providing vehicle blockers for safe workspaces
  • cleaning up fluids, removing collision debris from the highway
  • stabilizing vehicles
  • assisting MTO at ensuring the highway is a traffic carrying facility free from obstruction

Fire departments can use these units:

  • a pumper truck that pumps water where necessary
  • a tanker truck that transports hoses, ladders and equipment to the scene
  • a rescue truck to act as a command center, transport extrication equipment and tools

Fire departments are paid a minimum of one hour per unit.

Invoices during winter driving conditions

Winter driving can be challenging and drivers have the responsibility to drive according to road and weather conditions. When an incident occurs in winter, the drivers’ actions and speed, according to police, are taken into consideration before creating an invoice.