If you need to replace your Ontario driver’s licence, you might not know how to do it or what options are available to you. The good news is that the process to replace a lost or stolen driver’s licence is the exactly the same. Let’s take a look at the step-by-step process below.
Lost driver’s licence
If you are in Ontario
According to ServiceOntario, if you are in Ontario when you lose your licence, you will need to replace it in-person at a ServiceOntario centre. A fee of $35.75 will apply.
You will need to bring a personal identification document verifying:
- Your name
- Date of birth
- Your signature (for example, a valid passport or a valid photo health card and birth certificate issued by a Canadian province or territory)
The clerk will give you a temporary driver’s licence and your new driver’s licence will arrive in the mail within four to six weeks.
If you are outside Ontario
If you are outside of Ontario, you can replace a lost or stolen driver’s licence by:
- Submitting a request by mail or fax
- Submitting a request online
You also need to pay the $35.75 fee by either:
- Mailing a cheque or money order
- Mailing or faxing a credit card authorization form
If you have any questions as you replace your driver’s licence, you can contact ServiceOntario at 416-235-2999/1-800-387-3445 (toll-free in Canada only).
Need to renew your Ontario driver’s licence? Get the full rundown here.
Stolen driver’s licence
The process to renew or replace your licence is similar. However, if your driver’s licence is stolen, it can cause more serious problems. Having your purse or wallet go missing with your licence in it may present thieves an opportunity to steal your identity. A stolen purse may contain a trove of material for a fraudster to work with. They’ll also gain access to your driver’s licence, which can cause a variety of issues. Here’s what to do if your wallet is missing:
- Call your bank(s) and report the theft: Your card issuers can freeze your cards, preventing any additional purchases to be made. And if you happen to find your wallet, banks can unfreeze your cards.
- Set up a fraud alert for your lost wallet: As soon as you hang up with the banks, contact either TransUnion or Equifax, Canada’s two largest credit bureaus and set up a fraud alert:
- TransUnion: Call 1-800-663-9980 or click here to go to their self-service website.
- Equifax: Call 1-800-465-7166.
- Call the police: With an official police report at hand, you will be able to convince banks to refund your fraudulent purchases, and even waive fees to replace your card.
- Contact ServiceOntario: It’s always a pain to replace those documents, and it’s going to take time and potentially money. So, the sooner you get on it, the better.
- Tell the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Federal law enforcement needs to keep tabs on fraudulent activity, too. That’s why it’s always a good idea to call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as well at 1-888-495-8501, which the RCMP helps manage.
Thieves can utilize your driver’s licence to create a fake one, open accounts in your name, avoid traffic tickets or collect government benefits, such as unemployment checks.
Common questions about lost or stolen driver’s licences
How long does it take for a new licence to come in the mail?
It will usually take four to six weeks in Ontario.
Can you go to jail for driving without a licence in Ontario?
What happens if I am outside of Ontario when my driver’s licence is lost?
If you are outside of Ontario when it was lost or stolen you will have to go through a different process:
- Returning to the province within six months: You can contact ServiceOntario and arrange to have a temporary paper licence mailed to you. Once you return to Ontario, you will have to visit a ServiceOntario location to have a new licence issued.
- Returning to the province later than six months: You will have to pay, through mail, for a new full licence card to be mailed to you.
A lost or stolen driver’s licence can be a headache, especially if it was in your wallet at the time. Don’t panic. While it may be a hassle, replacing your driver’s licence is a relatively simple process. Our easy-to-follow guide will help get you back on the road in no time!
