Some Ontario drivers still need to renew their licence plates or risk a fine of up to $2,500

It's been six months since the Ontario government introduced automatic licence plate renewals, a major change that has already saved millions of drivers time and stress.

But did you know that not all plates renew automatically? And if you're caught with an expired licence plate in Ontario, you could face fines of up to $2,500.

Ontario's new automatic licence plate renewal system, which kicked off in July 2024, applies to most passenger vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds and light-duty trucks under 3,000 kilograms, as long as you've got valid insurance and no unpaid fines or tolls. Automatically renewed plates are valid for one year, with no stickers or fees required.

If you're in the clear, your licence plate renews automatically 90 days before it expires, and you won't even get notified when it happens. However, if something's off, you'll need to renew manually — and that's where it gets tricky for some drivers.

Under the new system, certain vehicles like motorhomes, heavy commercial trucks, buses and even snowmobiles aren't eligible for automatic renewal. Owners of these vehicles still need to handle the process themselves, either online or at a ServiceOntario location.

You also won't be eligible for automatic renewal if you have any unpaid fines or tolls or if there are any issues with your insurance. So you'll want to make sure you square up any parking tickets or highway tolls as soon as you receive them!

However, drivers with non-renewable plates must stay on top of their expiry dates to avoid hefty penalties.

The stakes are high if you don’t stay on top of this. Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, driving with an expired plate could land you a hefty fine. While most infractions result in penalties ranging from $100 to $1,000, commercial vehicle owners can face fines as high as $2,500.

The good news is that if your plate doesn't renew automatically, you'll get reminders through text, email or even regular old mail, depending on how you're set up with ServiceOntario.

These notices start rolling out 90 days before your plate expires and keep coming until 72 hours after the expiry date. After that, it's on you to fix any issues — whether it's unpaid fines or an expired insurance policy — before renewing manually.

If you’re unsure about your plate status, checking online is quick and easy for vehicles under 3,000 kg, including passenger cars, motorcycles and mopeds. For heavier or commercial vehicles, you’ll need to visit ServiceOntario in person to get things sorted. For extra peace of mind, you can also sign up for digital reminders to avoid missing deadlines altogether.

With automatic renewals now simplifying the process for many, it's easy to assume everything's covered. For those whose plates are eligible for automatic renewal, this change has eliminated the hassle of annual stickers and saved Ontarians up to $120 a year per vehicle since licence plate sticker fees were scrapped in 2022.

But if you own a vehicle that's not part of the program — or if you have any unpaid tickets or toll bills lying around — it's worth double-checking to avoid a costly mistake. After all, skipping out could cost you a lot more than just time!

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