Ontario License Plate Renewal: Everything You Need to Know

Do I Still Need to Renew My Licence Plate in Ontario?

Yes. While the sticker program has been eliminated, renewing your licence plate remains a legal requirement in Ontario.

According to the Ontario Government, any vehicle driven in the province must have valid licence plates and active insurance coverage. In the past, drivers were used to renewing their plates by paying a fee and applying a new sticker every 1 or 2 years. That’s no longer necessary—but plate renewal still is.

Part of the renewal process involves connecting your insurance information to your vehicle. You’ll need to provide your insurer’s name and your policy number. This allows law enforcement to quickly verify that your vehicle is insured and registered properly.

So while there’s no longer a sticker or fee for most passenger vehicles, the requirement to keep your licence plate registration up to date still applies.

How Do I Renew My Ontario Licence Plate?

Renewing your licence plate can be done online in just a couple of minutes through the Ontario licence renewal website.

You're renewing your plate, not your sticker—because stickers are no longer issued for passenger vehicles. That means no physical sticker to receive in the mail, and no payment required for most personal-use cars and motorcycles.

To complete the renewal online, you’ll need:

• Your licence plate number

• Your vehicle permit number (found on the back of your green 'ownership' slip)

• Your insurance company name and policy number

• Your vehicle’s current odometer reading

Ensure All Outstanding Fees Are Paid Before Renewing

Before you can renew your Ontario licence plate, you must clear any outstanding fees tied to your vehicle or driver’s licence. This includes speeding tickets, toll charges, defaulted payments, and any administrative monetary penalties you may have received.

These are all tracked in the provincial system. If anything is left unpaid, your renewal will be blocked until the full amount is settled. It’s a good idea to check for any outstanding fines or penalties before you start the renewal process so you're not caught off guard.

Can I renew my Ontario license plate sticker online & is there an HST charge?

Yes, and you should. The process is simple, fast and easy, and you don’t even have to leave your house. This saves you time and money and basically makes you a genius. Just visit the Ontario licence renewal page (we linked to it above) with proper documentation in hand, and you’ll have a confirmation email in a matter of minutes.

Don’t wait for a new plate sticker in the mail though, as you won’t receive one.

Can I remove old stickers from my license plate?

By the way, you can remove old stickers from your plate if you like, but you don’t have to.

If you’d prefer to renew your licence plate in person, you’ll need to visit a Service Ontario location. You can search for a location near you, as well as its hours of operation, here at the ServiceOntario page.

License Plate Address Change

Keeping your address current on your vehicle registration helps avoid fines and ensures you receive renewal reminders. To update your address, go to ServiceOntario—either online through your ServiceOntario account (often linked to your Driver’s Licence), by phone, or in person. You’ll need required documents, including your driver’s licence or ID showing your correct address, as well as your plate number and permit number. This ensures that future communications, including expiry notices or text message alerts, are sent to the right place.

Is there HST on licence plate renewal in Ontario?

No. Since there are no fees to renew your licence plate in Ontario, there’s no HST applicable.

 

While renewal for most passenger vehicles is now free, certain vehicle types—including commercial and heavy-duty vehicles—still follow a different process and may incur fees.

Renewing License for Light Commercial Vehicles

For light commercial vehicles—typically light duty trucks and vans used for business—renewal largely follows the same steps as private cars. You can renew licence plate online or in-person at ServiceOntario. You'll need your existing plate number, permit number begins (usually found on your current sticker), and to pay licence plate renewal fees, which vary based on vehicle owners’ registered gross weight and purpose of usage. For some, an emissions test may be prompted if the vehicle isn’t already exempt. Be sure to clear any outstanding fees or outstanding fines before renewal.

Renewing License for Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Heavy commercial vehicles require a more thorough renewal process at ServiceOntario. These are vehicles whose registered gross weight exceeds typical passenger limits (often above 4,500 kg for trucks, buses, and school buses). When renewing, gather required documents which include your existing registration, permit number, plate number, and recent emissions test results if applicable. Expect to pay higher licence plate renewal fees based on weight class and total vehicle configuration. If you have any outstanding fines—like speeding tickets or administrative monetary penalties—or unpaid outstanding fees, you must settle them in full. In some circumstances, ServiceOntario may suspend your plates and apply a reinstatement fee before you can fully renew.

Did you get a refund for your past licence plate sticker fees?

In the spring of 2022, many Ontario drivers got a refund cheque in the mail, reimbursing them for a portion of the fees they paid for their last licence plate sticker the last time they renewed it. The sticker program (and associated fees) were cancelled as of March 13, 2022, saving drivers between $60 and $120 per year. 

There are exceptions, however. Certain types of vehicles will still have to pay a fee when renewing their plates, and don’t qualify for a refund. These vehicles include trailers, snowmobiles, buses and commercial vehicles.

Do You Get Money Back for Returning License Plates in Ontario?

Yes—when you return your existing sticker and license plates in Ontario (for example, when you’ve sold or scrap a vehicle), you may qualify for a direct refund of the validation fee and remaining months of your vehicle registration. To initiate this, bring your plates to any ServiceOntario centre (you can also renew licence plate online, but plates must be physically returned). You’ll need your permit number, vehicle plate number, and expiry date. You'll be instantly aware of any reimbursement—though if you have outstanding fees or outstanding fines, including speeding tickets or an administrative monetary penalty, those will automatically be deducted from your refund.

Ontario licence plates vs. driver’s licence

Remember that the cancellation of fees and stickers applies to licence plates in Ontario, not driver’s licences. An Ontario driver’s licence is good for 5 years, after which time you’ll need to pay a $90 fee to renew it for 5 more years.

Here’s more on taking your G test in Ontario.

Automatic Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR)

According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), ALPR is a traffic safety enforcement program that allows for the detection of drivers who are driving illegally on Ontario roads. 

With the ability to scan thousands of plates per hour, the system compares passing licence plate numbers with a ‘hot list’ data file that contains millions of licence plate numbers in poor standing. 

Used to track down drivers with suspended licences, stolen vehicles or outstanding warrants, the ALPR program can also detect expired plates. 

What Do Red License Plates Mean in Ontario?

In Ontario, farm plated or red plates are issued to those who own agricultural vehicles—farm plated plates allow farmers to legally operate motorized snow vehicles, light farm vehicles, and other following vehicles used solely for agricultural purposes. They are typically restricted to plant or crop-related transport and not regular road use; for road travel, they must meet conditions specified on their permit. Unlike regular plates, they’re not designed for light commercial vehicles or light duty trucks outside farming operations.

Can I be fined if I don’t renew my plate?

Driving with an invalid (expired) driver’s licence can carry a fine of $260 and void your insurance coverage. Driving without a validated licence plate can carry a fine of up to $1,000.

You won’t be sent reminders about renewing your plates unless you opt in for reminders, which you can do by visiting the ServiceOntario digital reminders page here.

Ensure your vehicle licence plate is visible

Remember: your rear licence plate needs to be visible clearly at all times, which is why your vehicle has special lighting designed to illuminate your plate at night. Be sure this lighting is in proper working order from time to time, replacing bulbs as necessary. If a police officer isn’t able to read your plate, you may be fined. 

Before installing any licence plate cover, protector or frame, be sure to check that it doesn’t impede or block any portion of the plate (or its displayed text) for the same reason.