Key Takeaways:
- Following the elimination of licence plate renewal costs in Ontario, one driver who received a $495 ticket informed others about a provision he was unaware of.
- While the province would cover the costs, people will still need to renew their licence plates, according to the administration.
- According to a ministry spokesman, drivers in Ontario still need to renew their licence plates, and they can do so for one or two years.
After the province eliminated license plate renewal fees, one Ontario driver who received a $495 ticket alerted people about a provision he was unaware of.
Mathias Rousseau of Brampton claims he received a $489 ticket in April in Gatineau, Que., for driving with an expired license plate. When the province eliminated the fees & stickers required, he assumed renewal was no longer required.
“I had no idea I would have to go through the process again,” Rousseau remarked. “They could’ve been more specific. Because there was no longer a fee connected, I assumed it was no longer required.”
“It’s possible we could have been better educated on this.”
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In March, the province eliminated the taxes and stickers, claiming that the reform would save drivers $120 per year. According to the administration, while the province would be eliminating the costs, people would still need to renew their license plates.
“It is the law for car owners to update their license plate at free cost every one or two years to prove their automotive insurance is valid and pay any unpaid fees, fines, or tolls,” a Ministry of Transportation official told CTV News Toronto in an email on Wednesday.
“Enforcement action against expired license plates will continue.”
Rousseau plans to appeal the citation because he believes the government misled residents about whether or not they are required to renew their license plates in light of new changes.
The province recently stopped sending out paper renewal letters to persons with expired driver’s licenses and license plates, including health cards, instead directing them to sign up for a digital reminder.
According to a ministry official, drivers in Ontario still have to update their plates, who added that they could apply for a one- or two-year renewal. Renewal is completely free.
Drivers in Ontario can renew their license plates online or by mail through ServiceOntario.
Source: CTV news
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