Change information on a vehicle permit

Overview

Your vehicle permit also known as the vehicle ownership is the green piece of paper that you get when your vehicle is registered with ServiceOntario. It is proof that you are the registered vehicle owner.

It is important to:

• sign the plate portion of the permit
• keep the original vehicle permit safe (you can leave a hardcopy of the original signed permit in the vehicle)
• make sure information on the vehicle permit is up-to-date

When to update your vehicle permit

You need to update your vehicle permit if you:

• moved
• changed your name
• lost your plate, it was stolen or damaged
• sold your vehicle or transferred ownership from single to joint or vice-versa
• have to change the status of your vehicle
• altered the physical appearance of your vehicle
• see a typo

Change your address

You need to change your address within 6 days of moving. Even though you change your address online, you must still visit a ServiceOntario location to exchange your existing permit for one showing your new address. A replacement fee may be charged if you do not bring your existing permit but wish to receive a new one.

For more information, take a look at how to change an address online.

Change your name

You need to change your name on your vehicle permit within 6 days of receiving proof of name change. For example, if you got married, you can update your name on your vehicle permit once you get your marriage certificate.

To change your name on your vehicle permit, you need to go to a ServiceOntario location and bring:

• a piece of ID (for example, your Ontario driver’s licence)
• original vehicle permit
• supporting documents (if required)
  • If the name on your ID is different from the name you want on your vehicle permit, you need to bring in one of the documents as proof.

Change vehicle information

You can change the following information at a ServiceOntario location:

• status of plate (lost, stolen, damaged)
• status of vehicle (sold)
• vehicle status from unfit to fit
• vehicle colour

Note: Depending on the information you are changing, you will need to bring different documents. Please review the section that applies to your situation to learn more about the documents you will need to bring.

Status of your plate

You can change the status of your plates if they were:

• lost, stolen or damaged (for a stolen declaration, police services information is required – visit your local police services or if you have a telephone or online report, include the occurrence number on the form)
• reported and returned by police
• detached or returned for a refund

You need to go to a ServiceOntario location and bring your original vehicle permit to update the information.

Status of your vehicle

You can change the status of your vehicle when:

• you sell your vehicle
• your vehicle has been inspected by a licensed mechanic

If you sell your vehicle, you will need to change the status of your vehicle to “sold”. You need to go to a ServiceOntario location and bring a letter that includes:

• the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• when the vehicle was sold
• to whom it was sold

Change vehicle status from unfit to fit

When you get in an accident and the damage to your vehicle is significant, or your vehicle is inspected by police and deemed unsafe, the police will record your vehicle as unsafe and unfit to drive. The status of your plate may change and you may need to get new plates.

After your vehicle has passed a safety inspection, you can change its status back to fit so you can drive it again.

To change the status of your vehicle to fit, you need to go to a ServiceOntario location and bring:

• original vehicle permit

• your insurance company name and policy number
• Safety Standards Certificate, SR-E-214, signed by authorized mechanic

Change your vehicle colour

You need to change the colour information on your vehicle permit within 6 days. To change the colour on your vehicle permit, you need to go to a ServiceOntario location and bring:

• a piece of ID
• original vehicle permit

Make corrections to your vehicle permit

If any information on your vehicle permit is not accurate, you need to make the changes as soon as possible at a ServiceOntario location. You will need to bring:

• piece of ID (for example your Ontario driver’s licence)
• original vehicle permit
• supporting documents (if required)

Cost and delivery

Cost

$0

There is no cost to make corrections or changes to your vehicle permit when you present the current original permit.

Delivery

You have to pick up your vehicle permit in-person at a ServiceOntario location.

Supporting documents

When correcting information such as the make, model, year or VIN of the vehicle, you will need one of the following documents:

• original vehicle manufacturer’s warranty
• copy of manufacturer’s invoice
• original or copy of the bill/certificate of sale from the original selling dealer
• letter from an authorized dealer for your make of vehicle verifying the correct vehicle registration number of the vehicle
• copy of certificate of title/certificate of origin
• copy of new vehicle information statement