One of the most important responsibilities to maintain when driving is renewing your license plate sticker. Without a valid license plate sticker, you cannot drive legally in Ontario. This process may seem confusing, but we’ve broken down exactly what to bring and expect at your local ServiceOntario.
*Refunds on license plate stickers are now available (Updated March 2022)
ServiceOntario will be eliminating license plate stickers for individually-owned passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks and motorcycles. If in between March 1, 2020 and March 12, 2022 you renewed one of these vehicle’s license plate stickers, you will receive a refund cheque in the mail. The cheque will arrive in late March or sometime in April. In order to receive a refund, you must do the following:
Check the address on your driver’s license. If you see:
- Your current address: No need to update, your cheque will automatically come in the mail.
- An incorrect address: Update today to receive your refund cheque.
You must also pay any outstanding fines, fees, or tolls. The elimination of renewal fees will save vehicle owners $120 a year in Southern Ontario and $60 a year in Northern Ontario.
Be aware of scams and phishing!
ServiceOntario has been made aware of a false text message going around providing a fraudulent link for renewing license plate stickers. As stated in this article, the only ways to receive a refund for your license plate sticker is online or in-person, not through text. They will never contact you individually to receive a refund for your license plate sticker. If you have received this message, inform your local police or report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
To renew your license plate sticker, you’ll need:
- License plate number
- Vehicle permit number
- Insurance company name and policy number
- Odometer reading
- To pay any outstanding fines, tolls, or fees
- To pay for your renewal fees
- An emissions test, if you are renewing for a heavy-duty diesel vehicle
- Find out if you need an emissions test
All renewals are permitted online except for farm or heavy commercial vehicles over 3000 kgs.
To pay for your renewal online, you can use:
- Visa or Mastercard credit cards
- Interac Online
Visa and Mastercard Debit cards are not currently accepted as forms of payment, even if the cards have the Interac logo on them.
If you are paying in person, you can use:
- Cash
- Cheque (personal cheques must be certified, company cheques must have the company’s name pre-printed on them, and cheques must be made payable to the Minister of Finance)
- Money order
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Interac
If you order your renewal online, it will likely arrive within 14 days. When purchasing your renewal in person, you will receive it at ServiceOntario.
We hope this answers your questions about renewing your license plate sticker. Feel free to visit the ServiceOntario website if you have additional questions.
