Hamilton/IBNS: Ontario has become North America’s first jurisdiction to start automatic licence plate renewals.

Making life easier and more convenient for more than eight million drivers, the change effective on July 1, 2024, will save vehicle owners time, amounting to more than 900,000 hours every year.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is making life more affordable and convenient for drivers. First, we eliminated licence plate sticker fees for passenger vehicles…now, we’re saving drivers valuable time and making their lives easier by automatically renewing licence plates,” Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation has said.

Subject to the vehicle owner’s having valid insurance and no outstanding fines or toll,  license plates for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds would be automatically renewed 90 days before expiry.

In case of the failure of automatic renewals of the licence plate, the vehicle owner will be notified and required to manually renew online or in person at ServiceOntario.

“The automatic licence plate renewal program stems from our government’s unwavering commitment to deliver modern, seamless and time-saving services,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. “By utilizing innovative technological solutions to streamline and improve government services, we are saving Ontarians precious time and money.”

Until automatic licence plate renewals take effect, vehicle owners are required to manually renew their plates at no cost.

Ontarians can check their licence plate status at ontario.ca/platerenewal.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)