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Ontario reinstates renewal dates for driver's licences and plate stickers

They were temporarily waived for COVID, but now most will be due in February 2022

Jil McIntosh
Sep 02, 2021  •  September 2, 2021  •  2 minute read  •  Join the conversation
Ontario has reinstated its licence renewal dates
Ontario has reinstated its licence renewal dates Photo by Ontario Ministry of Transportation

If you’ve been driving in Ontario with an expired licence or vehicle plates due to the pandemic, your grace period is up. The provincial government had temporarily extended renewal requirements, but they’re now back in force, with most renewals now due by February 28, 2022.

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It’ll be easier for some licence holders, who won’t have to visit a test centre as they normally would — but tougher for many trying to get their first driver’s licence, due to a backlog caused by the pandemic shutdowns.

The renewal date will depend on what type of licence you have. For most drivers whose licence or vehicle renewal stickers expired on or after March 1, 2020, and who didn’t renew during the temporary waiver, the new renewal date is February 28, 2022. Changes to the licence, including name or address, must also be done by this date. This also applies to health cards and Ontario Photo Cards that have expired.

However, the Ministry said that if you didn’t renew your licence or stickers during the extended period, then in addition to buying your new stickers or licence, you’ll also have to pay the fees you would have been charged during those previous years.

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Owners of heavy commercial vehicles will have to renew their vehicle validations by December 31, 2021. Those who hold novice licences — class G1, G2, M1, or M2 — have until December 31, 2022 to re-qualify, or to upgrade the novice licence. The regular expiry dates for G1 and G2 licences will resume on January 1, 2023.

Eligible accessible parking permits with expiry dates between March 17, 2020 and February 28, 2022 must be renewed before March 1, 2022.

Vehicle Safety Standard Certificates, temporary registrations, and special permits with expiration dates between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2021, will be valid until October 6, 2021. If you bought a used vehicle on or after March 1, 2020, or moved to Ontario with your vehicle after that date, the vehicle must be transferred into your name and plated, or registered with an Ontario licence plate, by October 6, 2021.

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The Ministry is asking people to renew online at ServiceOntario.ca if possible, rather than visit a Service Centre. To help facilitate this, Ontario has temporarily waived the requirement for some drivers to renew their licences in person, including those who are age 80 or older. The Ministry has paused the Senior Driver’s Group Education Session for this age group until March 1, 2022.

The ServiceOntario.ca online option now includes more than 40 services. When renewing, drivers can print proof of their renewal from the site, and the stickers or licences are mailed to them. For those who must visit a ServiceOntario centre, more than 40 locations have online appointment booking. Those who must book a road test can do it online through DriveTest.

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