Overview

Your vehicle must have a valid licence plate and be insured to drive legally in Ontario. 

When your licence plate automatically renews:

  • it will be valid for 1 year
  • law enforcement will be instantly aware your licence plate was renewed
  • we will not contact you to confirm your plate was renewed
  • you will not receive a sticker
  • you will not have to pay a fee

Licence plates that do not automatically renew

Licence plates will not be automatically renewed for:

  • commercial and business vehicles
  • motorhomes
  • vehicles manufactured before 1983
  • buses and school buses
  • snowmobiles

If you own 1 or more of these vehicles, you must continue to renew your licence plate online or in person at a ServiceOntario location.

Eligibility for automatic renewal

For your passenger vehicle, light commercial vehicle under 3,000 kg, motorcycle or moped licence plate to automatically renew, you must:

Check your licence plate status

Online

You can check online to find out if your plate is currently valid or if it’s expired if the vehicles weigh 3,000 kg or less and are:

  • passenger vehicles
  • light commercial vehicles under 3,000 kg
  • motorcycles
  • mopeds

Check your licence plate expiry date.

In person at ServiceOntario

Visit a ServiceOntario centre if you cannot check your plate status online.

Find a ServiceOntario centre.

If your plate will not renew automatically

Step 1: We will contact you

We will contact you if your licence plate can’t be automatically renewed because you have an issue with your insurance or outstanding fines or tolls.

Text, email or phone

If you have signed up to receive renewal reminders by text, email or phone call, you will be notified 90 days, 45 days and 10 days before your licence plate expires.

Mail

If you have not signed up for digital renewal reminders, we will mail you a letter 90 days before your licence plate expires.

Make sure you update your address within 6 days after you move so you receive mail from ServiceOntario.

Step 2: Fines, tolls and insurance

After we contact you, you will need to take action.

  1. Pay defaulted driver fines and fees
  2. Pay outstanding vehicle fines, penalties or tolls
  3. Make sure you have valid vehicle insurance

Step 3: Renew manually

After you make sure your insurance is valid and pay your fines or fees, you must renew your licence plate manually.

You can renew your plate:

online

in person at a ServiceOntario centre

Manage your licence plate with an account

Create an account with ServiceOntario that can:

  • manage your Ontario products and services
  • view a history of your orders
  • get notifications and alerts

Create or log in to an account

If you don’t take action before your plate expires

You will receive a final reminder or letter in the mail 72 hours after your licence plate has expired.

If your licence plate has expired, you can still renew online or in person after you pay your fines or tolls and you have valid insurance.

Renew other plate types

Automatic licence plate renewals are only for some vehicle types.

You must renew your: