Renewal requirements for driver, vehicle and carrier products and other documents extended due to COVID-19
Learn about the new renewal dates for driver's licences, vehicle and carrier products and other documents with expiry dates that were extended due to the covid 19 pandemic.
Overview
We are reinstating renewal requirements for driver’s licences, licence plate stickers, other driver and vehicle products, Ontario Photo Cards and Ontario health cards that were temporarily extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drivers and vehicle owners with products that expired on or after March 1, 2020, are now required to renew your:
- driver’s licence
- licence plate sticker
- other driver, vehicle and carrier products
If your Ontario Photo Card expired on or after March 1, 2020, you must renew it by February 28, 2022.
If your Ontario photo health card is expired, you have until February 28, 2022, to renew it.
In order for your driver, vehicle and carrier products and services, Ontario Photo Cards and Ontario health cards to remain valid, you must renew your documents and pay all applicable fees by the following deadlines.
Renew online
We strongly encourage you to renew your documents online using ServiceOntario’s easy-to-use, fast, and convenient online services.
More than 40 services are available online 24/7, and products will be mailed directly to you.
Book an appointment at ServiceOntario
If you need to visit in-person, enhanced health and safety measures are in place at ServiceOntario centres.
More than 40 ServiceOntario centres offer appointment booking to reduce wait times and ensure speedy service. You can book an appointment before you go by visiting ontario.ca/Appointment.
Licence plate stickers
Online validation receipts for licence plate stickers are still valid for 14 days. If you have not received your sticker after 14 days or it arrived damaged, call
Heavy Commercial Vehicle Owners
Licence plate stickers for heavy commercial vehicles, including International Registration Plan (IRP) cab cards, must be renewed by December 31, 2021.
Get more information on HCV fees.
Heavy commercial vehicle owners must pay a portion of the renewal fee either as a one-time payment or via a payment plan.
More information on the payment plan and how to apply for an exemption will be available in early 2022. The Ministry of Transportation will contact affected owners directly.
Passenger Vehicle, Light-Duty Truck and Motorcycle Owners
Licence plate stickers for all other vehicles must be renewed by February 28, 2022.
If you did not renew your licence plate sticker(s) during the Extended Validity period, you will be required to pay the renewal fee for the previous year(s) and the current year renewal fee.
For example, if your licence plate sticker expired on April 15, 2020, and you decided to renew it on September 15, 2021, you will have to:
- pay for your sticker to cover the time from April 16, 2020, to April 15, 2021
- pay for the future one or two year period, which began on April 16, 2021
Drivers licences
Drivers under age 80 (Class G/M)
Class G/M drivers under 80 years of age with driver’s licences with expiry dates between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022, must renew their driver’s licence or Enhanced Driver’s Licence (EDL) by February 28, 2022.
We have waived the requirement to update your driver’s licence photo if your driver’s licence would have expired between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022. This means you can now renew your driver’s licence online. You don’t need to go in person to ServiceOntario to take a new photo.
Regular driver’s licence renewals will resume March 1, 2022.
Senior drivers aged 80 and over (Class G/M)
Senior drivers aged 80 and over with driver’s licences with expiry dates between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022, must renew their driver’s licence by February 28, 2022.
We have paused the Senior Driver’s Group Education Session program and waived the requirement for drivers aged 80 and older to visit a ServiceOntario centre in person to renew your licence. This means that you can renew your licence online.
Regular driver’s licence renewals for senior drivers aged 80 and above will resume March 1, 2022.
Novice drivers (Class G1, G2, M1, or M2)
Novice drivers with licences that would have expired between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, will have until December 31, 2022, to complete testing to maintain or upgrade their licence.
Regular expiry dates for Class G1 and G2 novice driver’s licences will resume January 1, 2023.
If you enrolled in a Beginner Driver Education (BDE) course between March 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021, will have until December 31, 2022, to complete the course.
Commercial drivers (class A, B, C, D, E and F)
Commercial drivers with driver’s licences with expiry dates between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022, must renew their licences by February 28, 2022.
If you need to schedule a road test or for more information, visit DriveTest.ca or call
Regular commercial driver’s licence renewals will resume March 1, 2022.
If you are a Class B and E driver’s licence holder who completed the road test before December 31, 2021, you will have until June 30, 2022, to complete the School Bus Driver Improvement Course (SBDIC).
Driving Instructor and Beginner Driver Education course providers
People who applied for Driving Instructor certification between March 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, will have until December 31, 2022, to complete all requirements.
If your Driving Instructor licence expired after March 1, 2020, you must renew it by February 28, 2022.
Carrier products
On June 1, 2021, Ontario reinstated the renewal requirements for certain carrier products that expired on or after March 1, 2020. If you have not renewed the following products, you must do so in order to continue operating in Ontario:
- Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration (CVOR) certificates
- Annual and semi-annual vehicle inspection certificates
- Annual oversize/overweight permits
- Garage licences
Vehicle registration and safety inspections
Safety Standard Certificates that expired between March 1, 2020, and September 1, 2021, will be valid until October 6, 2021.
Temporary registrations and special permits that expired between March 1, 2020, and October 5, 2021, will be valid until October 6, 2021.
Vehicles owners who moved to Ontario after March 1, 2020, and before September 1, 2021, must register their vehicle in Ontario by October 6, 2021.
Vehicle owners who purchased a used vehicle on or after March 1, 2020, and before September 1, 2021, must transfer the vehicle into their name and attach plates by October 6, 2021.
If you require name and/or address changes, or vehicle modifications on your vehicle ownership, you must update your vehicle registration by February 28, 2022.
All motorized snow vehicle registrations, name and/or address changes, or vehicle modification requests must be completed by February 28, 2022.
Ontario Photo Cards
Ontario Photo Card holders with expiry dates between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022, must renew their cards by February 28, 2022.
Ontario Health Cards
If your Ontario photo health card is expired, you have until February 28, 2022 to renew the card.
Accessible Parking Permits
Permanent and subject to change accessible parking permits with expiry dates between March 17, 2020 and February 28, 2022 must be renewed by February 28, 2022.
Fees to renew licence plate stickers
Passenger Vehicle, Light-Duty Truck and Motorcycle Owners
If you did not renew your licence plate sticker(s) during the Extended Validity period, you will be required to pay the renewal fee for the previous year(s), in addition to the current year renewal fee.
For example, if your licence plate sticker expired on April 15, 2020, and you decided to renew it on September 15, 2021, you will have to:
- pay for your sticker to cover the time from April 16, 2020, to April 15, 2021
- pay for the future one or two year period, which began on April16, 2021
Heavy Commercial Vehicle Owners
Heavy commercial vehicle owners with licence plate stickers that expired on or after March 1, 2020, and have not renewed, will now be required to renew, and will be required to pay a portion of the renewal fee either as a one-time payment or via a payment plan.
Get more information on HCV fees.
More information on the payment plan and how to apply for an exemption will be available in early 2022. The Ministry of Transportation will contact affected owners directly.
Find rest area information with new Ontario 511 features
Ontario is providing more safe places to stop and rest for those travelling across the province. You can now find information on truck-friendly restaurants, facilities and rest areas using Ontario 511’s interactive map and text reports.
Truck drivers travelling within Canada and the United States
If you are a truck driver travelling outside Ontario, you should renew your driver’s licence and ensure that your vehicle and carrier products are up-to-date.
Ontario reinstated the requirement to update Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration (CVOR) certificates, annual and semi-annual vehicle inspection certificates and annual oversize/overweight permits on June 1, 2021.
Get or renew a CVOR certificate.
If you need to schedule a road test or for more information, visit DriveTest.ca or call
If you were not able to renew your documents before leaving Ontario, we recommend having this validity extension memo (PDF) on hand as proof of the extended validation period for driver, vehicle and carrier products.
You can either:
- access it electronically
- carry a printed copy with your government issued documents
Each jurisdiction makes their own decisions about extensions and waivers in response to covid 19. You can find important information on more extensions and waivers at the following websites: