Overview

Please read these terms of use carefully and keep a copy for your records.

By submitting an application for an HOT permit, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms, and any changes to the Terms. The use of the Permit constitutes your acknowledgement and acceptance of these Terms.

An HOT permit is needed for each motor vehicle driven on the HOT lanes.

When the HOT permit is no longer valid, it must be removed from the motor vehicle.

Definitions

In this document,

“Act” means the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8.

“Application” means the application you submitted for the HOT permit.

HOT lanes” means the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes designated under the HOT Regulation and are located between Guelph Line and Trafalgar Road on the Queen Elizabeth Way, approximately 11 km in the northbound direction and 7 km in the southbound direction between Eglinton Avenue to Clark Boulevard on Highway 410 and approximately 13 km in the eastbound direction and 12 km in the westbound direction between the Highway 407 interchange to Highway 401 on Highway 403.

HOT pilot” means the HOT pilot project established under the HOT Regulation.

HOT Regulation” means Ontario Regulation 227/16 (Pilot Project – HOT Lanes) made under the Act.

HOV lane” means a high occupancy vehicle lane designated under the HOV Regulation.

HOV Regulation” means Ontario Regulation 620/05 (High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes) made under the Act.

“Ministry” refers to the Ministry of Transportation for the Province of Ontario.

“Motor vehicle” means the motor vehicle bearing the licence plate for which an HOT permit is issued pursuant to the HOT Regulation.

“Permit” means an HOT permit issued by the Ministry under the HOT Regulation, and includes a temporary HOT permit.

“Permit period” means the three-month period, except for the initial Permit period of the HOT pilot which may be longer than three months, for which an HOT permit is issued or renewed and is indicated on the HOT permit.

“Terms” refers to the terms of use in this document, the terms in the application form for the HOT permit, and any other documents or communications the Ministry sends or refers to you.

“you” and “your” refer to the holder to whom the Permit was issued.

Motor vehicle with a permit

Once a Permit has been issued, where can a Motor Vehicle be used?

Subject to the Terms and any applicable laws, including the Act and the regulations made under the Act, once a Permit is issued for a Motor vehicle, the Motor vehicle can be used on the HOT lanes with a single occupant (solo driver) for the Permit period.

Permit display and use

How must the Permit be displayed and used?

The Permit must be displayed on the Motor vehicle, in a clearly visible position, as specified by the Ministry as part of your Application.

The HOT Permit will be issued in duplicate:

  • One copy of the HOT Permit must be displayed on the inside of the front windshield, on the driver’s side
  • The other copy of the HOT Permit must be displayed on the outside of the rear windshield, on the passenger’s side

Detailed installation instructions will be mailed with the HOT Permit.

If a temporary Permit is issued, it must be printed and carried in the Motor vehicle bearing the licence plate for which it is issued to access an HOT lane. The temporary Permit will be valid for 14 days from the date of its issue, after which it must be replaced with the corresponding Permit to be displayed as described above.

In addition of being a breach of the Terms, it is illegal to use a Permit in a vehicle other than the Motor vehicle for which the Permit was issued, including a rental vehicle, or that is not displayed in accordance with the HOT Regulation and as specified by the Ministry.

Permit period of validity

For how long is the Permit valid?

The Permit is valid from 00:01 of the first day of the Permit period until 11:59 of the last day of the Permit period. The Permit period is indicated on the front of your Permit.

A Permit is valid for the Permit period unless:

  • it is cancelled or
  • the vehicle permit issued under subsection 7 (7) of the Act for the Motor vehicle for which the HOT permit was issued no longer has current validation.

A temporary Permit is valid for 14 days from the date of its issue.

Requirements upon expiry or cancellation of permit

What do you need to do when the Permit expires or is cancelled?

When the Permit expires or is cancelled, the Permit must be removed from the Motor vehicle.

In addition to being a breach of the Terms, it is illegal to use an expired or cancelled Permit.

Permit fees

What are the Permit fees and how do you pay them?

The Permit fees are set out in the HOT Regulation and are communicated to you as part of your Application.

You must pay all fees in connection with the Permit at the time of Application.

The Ministry reserves the right to modify the Permit fees at any time, without prior notice.

Refunds and credits

Can you get a refund or credit for the Permit?

No refund or credit will be provided for the Permit.

Enforcement

How will the proper usage of the Permit and other requirements under the HOT Regulation or Terms be enforced?

The Ministry may refuse to issue or renew a Permit if any requirements of the HOT Regulation or Terms are not complied with.

When using a Motor vehicle in an HOT lane, unless otherwise authorized under the HOV Regulation, the Permit must be displayed as described in section 3 of these Terms and must be used only during the Permit period.

To enforce the rules of HOT lanes, police officers may demand that you, or any person operating the Motor vehicle for which the Permit was issued, allow him or her to inspect the Permit displayed in or on the Motor vehicle or, in the case of a temporary Permit, surrender the Permit for inspection.

Failure to comply with any of the requirements of the HOT Regulation, including compliance with a request from a police officer, may result in fines or penalties.

Permit cancellation and replacement

  1. What happens if the Permit is lost, stolen or destroyed and needs replacement?

    If the Permit is lost, stolen or destroyed and needs to be replaced, you may request that it be cancelled and that a replacement (new) Permit be issued for the Motor vehicle.

    You must email the Ministry contact (hotpilot@ontario.ca) to request the cancellation and issuance of a replacement Permit. You will be asked to provide the following:

    • your name, email address and telephone number;
    • the licence plate number for the Motor vehicle for which the Permit needs to be cancelled;
    • the reason for the request for the cancellation and issuance of a replacement Permit; and
    • photo evidence of the damaged Permit (if applicable).
  2. What happens if the licence plate for which the Permit was issued has changed or you acquire a new motor vehicle?

    A Permit is not transferable and cannot be used for a Motor vehicle other than the Motor vehicle bearing the licence plate for which it is issued.

    If the licence plate for the Motor vehicle has changed or you replace the Motor vehicle, you may request for the Permit to be cancelled and for a replacement (new) Permit to be issued for the same Motor vehicle or for another motor vehicle for which you hold a validated vehicle permit issued under subsection 7(7) of the Act (“vehicle permit”).

    You must email the Ministry contact (hotpilot@ontario.ca) to request the cancellation and issuance of a replacement Permit. You will be asked to provide the following:

    • your name, email address and telephone number;
    • the licence plate for the Motor vehicle for which the Permit needs to be cancelled;
    • the licence plate for the Motor vehicle or new motor vehicle for which a replacement Permit is requested; and
    • the reason for the request for the cancellation and issuance of the replacement Permit.

Transfer of permits

Can you transfer, sell or give the Permit to another person?

The Permit is not transferable and can only be used for the Motor vehicle and the licence plate for which the Permit was issued.

Changes to information

How do you change the contact information you provided to the Ministry in your Application?

Once you have applied for or have been issued a Permit, the Ministry must have a valid means to contact you, i.e., via email and telephone. You are responsible for ensuring the information you provide to the Ministry is up to date at all times.

This information may be updated during the online Permit renewal Application or by telephone at Toll-free: 1-888-627-7006 .

False information

What are the consequences of making a false statement or including inaccurate information in an Application?

In addition to being a breach of the Terms, it is an offence to make a false statement or include inaccurate information in an Application.

Reproduction of permit

Can the Permit be reproduced?

Except for the purpose of providing photo evidence of a damaged Permit, as required under the Terms, reproduction or replication of the Permit is prohibited.

Collection of personal information and data on HOT lanes usage

  1. Will the Ministry collect personal information from you and for what purposes?

    The Ministry may collect, use, disclose and retain information about you for the purposes described in the FIPPA notice of collection set out below and in accordance with Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.31.

    Personal information provided by you is collected for the administration of the HOT Lanes Pilot Project authorized under Ontario Regulation 227/16 (Pilot Project – HOT Lanes) of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8. For information about the collection of information, contact the Manager of the HOT Lanes Pilot Office, 30th floor, 777 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 2J8, Toll-free: 1-888-622-7006 (TTY: Toll-free TTY: 1-800-268-7095).

    If you provide the Ministry with the personal information of another individual, you acknowledge that you have obtained the consent from that individual to enable the Ministry to collect, use, disclose and retain such personal information in accordance with and for the purposes set forth in the Terms.

  2. What type of data is the Ministry collecting to support the HOT pilot?

    When you apply for the Permit, you are required to acknowledge that the Ministry may request that you provide the Ministry with any data / information about you or your Motor vehicle needed to evaluate the HOT pilot and assess future needs for HOT lanes for up to two years after the Permit has expired or is cancelled.

    When you apply for the Permit, you also agree that the Ministry may refuse to renew your Permit for the following Permit period if, amongst other reasons, you fail to provide the mandatory data / information requested by the Ministry, or provide such information in the form, manner and time period set out in the request.

Changes to the terms

How will you know when changes to the Terms are made?

The Ministry reserves the right to update or modify the Terms at any time, without prior notice.

When the Ministry makes changes to the Terms, the Ministry will alert you by sending you an email notification (a “change notice”) with instructions on how to access the revised Terms.

The continued use of the Permit, after the Ministry provides you with a change notice, constitutes your agreement to be bound by the revised Terms. Whenever the Terms are changed, the “effective date” at the top of the Terms will be deemed to have been updated.

Applicable laws

What laws will govern these Terms?

The laws of Ontario govern the Terms which are to be interpreted by the courts of Ontario.

Inquiries

Who do you contact if you have any questions with regard to the Permit?

You may submit Permit related inquiries to the Ministry contact: