Province reinstates drivers license, license plate sticker renewal requirements

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Ontario government is warning people with expired driver's licenses, license plate stickers, photo cards, and health cards to renew their documents, as they reinstate renewal requirements. 

The province announced last Wednesday (Sept.1) that most licences, license plate stickers, Ontario photo cards, and health cards would need to be renewed by Feb. 28, 2022. 

The government said the extended deadline is to ensure everyone has enough time to renew their documents. 

“The majority of Ontarians have continued to renew their documents during the pandemic, despite unprecedented challenges,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “It's critical that drivers and vehicle owners have up-to-date documents for work, access to service and travel, and to keep our roads safe. I strongly encourage those who have deferred their renewals – approximately 17 per cent of Ontarians – to plan ahead and new their documents online.” 

The extension on renewing government identification cards and plate stickers that expired after March 2020, was initially implemented by the provincial government during the peak of the pandemic as a way to deter people from gathering at Service Ontario locations, prevent the spread of COVID-19 and provide relief for residents. 

While most documents have a renewal deadline for next year, heavy commercial vehicle owners will need to renew their vehicle validations by Dec. 31, 2021

Novice licence holders (class G1, G2, M1 or M2) will have until Dec. 31, 2022, to requalify for or upgrade their novice driver's license. 

The government said people who have not renewed their products during the extended validity period will be required to pay the fee for previous years, in addition to the current year renewal fee. 

The province has temporarily waived requirements for people to renew their driver's license in person, including those aged 80 and over. Driver's licences can be renewed online at the Service Ontario website. 

A complete list of renewal deadlines can be found at www.ontario.ca/renewaldeadlines.