Toronto 
Starting July 1, 2024, Ontario will implement automatic licence plate renewals, a first in North America, aimed at simplifying the process for over eight million drivers. This change is expected to save vehicle owners more than 900,000 hours annually.
Photo by Andre Furtado from Pexels
The automatic renewal applies to licence plates for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles, and mopeds. The renewal will occur 90 days before the expiry date, provided the vehicle owner has valid insurance and no outstanding fines or tolls. If automatic renewal is not possible, vehicle owners will be notified and must manually renew their plates either online or at a ServiceOntario location.
Until this new system is in place, vehicle owners must continue to renew their plates manually, but at no cost. To monitor the status of their licence plates, Ontarians can visit ontario.ca/platerenewal.
ServiceOntario reminders:
To avoid missing notifications regarding their licence plate renewals, vehicle owners are encouraged to sign up for ServiceOntario reminders. These notifications can be received through email, text, or voicemail. For those who have not opted for digital notifications, paper notifications will be mailed out 90 days before expiry and again 72 hours after expiry. ServiceOntario can be reached for reminders through their website or at 1-800-387-3445.
The system sends notifications at 90, 45, and 10 days before the expiry date and another alert 72 hours after expiry. This proactive communication is intended to help ensure vehicle owners stay informed about the status of their licence plates.
In 2022, Ontario eliminated licence plate sticker fees and stickers for passenger vehicles, which saved drivers up to $120 annually for each car. The new automatic renewal system will not alter the way the province, municipalities, or the 407 ETR collect unpaid fines and tolls.
