Renewal fees for Ontario licence plate stickers ends today

Ontario drivers are no longer required to pay for their licence plate stickers starting today.

As part of red tape legislation that was introduced last month, the province will begin refunding vehicle owners for any licence plate renewal fees paid since March 2020.

Anyone who paid to renew their stickers since then, and doesn’t have any outstanding fines or tolls, should be receiving a cheque in the mail at the end of March or in April.

The renewal process will still be required to verify insurance information and ensure fines and tolls are paid, but going forward there will be no charge.

While the move will save drivers $120 annually, it’s expected to cost the provincial government around $1.1 billion a year. Officials haven’t said how they plan to make up for the revenue loss.

Taxpayer groups have applauded the move, saying it will provide real relief for people who are facing inflation and soaring cost of living.

—With files from Nick Westoll and Michael Ranger.