Special permit

Overview

A special permit can be used to drive a vehicle in Ontario for 10 days starting from the date it is issued. It can’t be ordered in advance or renewed online.

You can only apply for 2 special permits in 12 months (for passenger vehicles).

With a special permit, you can temporarily:

• drive or transport a passenger vehicle through Ontario without registering it in the province
• exceed the weight limit displayed on the permit for a commercial vehicle, if you are relocating it for business purposes (e.g., an auto auction or to and from dealerships)

Note: When you’re using a special permit, don’t display any other plate on your vehicle or trailer in a position that could confuse the identity of the special permit.

Passenger vehicles

You can get a special permit for a passenger vehicle, if you:

• import the vehicle from outside the province or country and do not intend to register it in Ontario
• are a new resident to Ontario and recently bought the vehicle (you have 30 days to register the vehicle in the province)
• are moving the vehicle to or from an auto auction
• have a “fit” vehicle that is at least 20 years old and doesn’t have the necessary documents to satisfy the retail sales tax registration requirements

Commercial vehicles

You can get a special permit for a commercial vehicle, if you are:

• transporting a vehicle or trailer
• towing a vehicle or trailer
• carrying goods
• carrying more than 2 passengers (buses only)

Register at a ServiceOntario centre

To get a special permit, you need:

• the current vehicle permit, indicating that the vehicle’s status is “fit” or a “tmp” vehicle permit with a valid safety standard certificate
• the back of the vehicle permit (the ownership) signed by the owner (if you do not own the vehicle)
• the name of your insurance company and the policy number
• identification document proving legal name, date of birth and signature
• a completed application for special permit (also available at any ServiceOntario centre)

Find a ServiceOntario centre

Cost and delivery

Cost

• Passenger vehicle: $23.50
• Commercial vehicle (gross weight under 4500 kgs): $23.50
• Laden commercial vehicle (gross weight over 4500 kgs) or bus, without trailer: $116.25
• Laden commercial vehicle or bus, towing a trailer: $205

You need to pay fees to purchase a special permit. Fees vary based on vehicle class.

Payment

Visa, Mastercard, debit, cash, certified cheque

You will get the Special Permit at the ServiceOntario centre.

Importing a vehicle

If you import the vehicle from another province

You must provide the original vehicle title (For example: Certificate of Origin, Certificate of title, New Vehicle Information Statement, etc.)

If you import the vehicle from outside Canada

You must provide the registrar of imported vehicles (RIV) form 1 with both stamps. This ensures that the vehicle meets the federal inspection requirements. You also need to provide the original vehicle title (For example: Certificate of Origin, Certificate of title, New Vehicle Information Statement, etc.)

Contact us

If you need more information please call us Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at:

• 1-800-387-3445 if you’re outside of Toronto but within North America
• 416-235-2999 if you’re within the GTA or outside of North America
• TTY: 416-325-3408 (TTY/Teletypewriter)