Can You Drive With an Expired Licence Plate Sticker in Ontario?

If you are stopped by police while driving a vehicle with an expired licence plate sticker, you will receive a fine of $110. Officers can identify expired stickers visually or by running your plate through their system. The fine applies even if your registration is otherwise in order.

As of March 2022, Ontario eliminated the annual renewal fee for passenger vehicles and light-duty commercial vehicles. This means renewing your licence plate sticker costs nothing for most drivers. Despite this change, the requirement to keep your registration current remains in effect and the $110 fine still applies if your sticker has lapsed.

Plate sticker renewal in Ontario can be completed online through ServiceOntario, at a ServiceOntario centre in person, or by mail. You will need your current plate number and vehicle identification information. Even though the renewal is free, you still need to complete the process to receive your new sticker and keep your registration active.

The fee elimination applied specifically to passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles. Commercial trucks, trailers, and other specialized plate classes may still have associated renewal fees. If you operate a commercial vehicle, check the current ServiceOntario fee schedule for your specific plate class.

An expired plate sticker is distinct from lapsed auto insurance. Driving without valid insurance in Ontario is a much more serious offence with fines of $5,000 to $25,000 for a first conviction. Make sure both your registration (plate sticker) and your insurance are current before driving. ServiceOntario ties valid insurance confirmation to plate renewal, so if your insurance has lapsed you may not be able to renew your sticker.