How to renew your Ontario driver's licence

April 14th, 2023  |  Auto

Every Ontario driver must renew their licence by the expiry date. It’s the law.

But the process is straightforward, and as an added bonus you may be able to renew both your licence and health card if they expire at the same time when a new photo isn’t required.

Here are the key points:

• You need to renew every five years, and get a new photo every 10 years
• You cannot renew if you have outstanding fines or penalties
• Not everyone can do so online, such as if you have a G1 or G2 licence
• You must renew in person if your licence expired or has been suspended or cancelled for more than 12 months

How to renew online:

You can do so on the ServiceOntario website if you:

• have a full licence (G, M or GM class) that isn’t cancelled or suspended
• have a combination class of G1M, G2M, GM1, or GM2
• haven’t updated your address within the last 90 days
• don’t need tests (vision, written, or road)
• are not removing a vision condition
• have no new medical conditions that may prevent you from driving
• have no outstanding fines or penalties (this does not include parking tickets or highway toll fines)

Note: If your licence expired on or after March 1, 2020 (during the COVID extension), you may still be eligible to use this method.

What you’ll need:

• your driver’s licence number
• the 7-digit trillium number found on the back of your driver’s licence
• postal code
• health card (if you are renewing it)

What if I can’t renew online?

If you’re not eligible, visit a ServiceOntario centre. You may be able to book an appointment. What you need is the same as above.

Can I renew my driver’s licence early?

Yes. It is recommended you sign up for ServiceOntario digital reminders because the province no longer sends paper renewals to most Ontarians with products expiring after February 2022. You can also sign up for automated voice calls or text reminders by calling toll-free at 1-800-267-8097.

What does it cost?

The fee is $90 for a 5-year licence. This can vary if you are over the age of 76 or if the renewal period is not for five years. You can pay by either Visa, Mastercard or Interact.

What is a temporary driver’s licence validation?

Your new driver’s licence card – and health card if applicable - will arrive in the mail within 4 to 6 weeks. If you renew online you will receive a temporary driver’s licence validation document if your driver’s licence has expired or you renew with 28 days of your current licence’s expiry date. You must download, print and keep this document with your old licence until you receive the new one in the mail.

If you can’t print it, lose it or the validation is about to expire, visit a ServiceOntario centre.

If you recently moved, you need to update your address with the Ontario government. You cannot renew your driver’s licence online within 90 days of changing your address. Instead, you must either:

visit a ServiceOntario centre to update both your address, and driver’s licence

update your address online and visit ServiceOntario in person

What if I need a new photo?

A driver’s licence photo must be updated every 10 years. Headwear worn for religious or medical reasons can be worn but must not cover your face. You may be asked to remove any head or face wear (i.e., eyeglasses) when taking a photo for government-issued ID.

For a new photo, visit a ServiceOntario centre and bring your current driver’s licence and a personal identification document verifying your name, date of birth and signature.

You can expect your new licence within 4 to 6 weeks.

Can I change my sex designation?

Yes. To change your designation on your driver’s licence from M (male) to F (female) or F (female) to M (male), go to a ServiceOntario centre near you and bring either:

• an original, valid birth certificate (this includes birth certificate with parental information)
• a certified copy of birth registration

If you don’t have the above, you can order one online. Learn more about what you need to change your sex designation.

To change the sex designation on your driver’s licence to an X (gender neutral), visit a ServiceOntario centre. You don’t need any supporting documents.

What happens if I drive with an expired licence in Ontario?

You are not legally permitted to drive with an expired licence and could face a fine from $200 to $1,000. You can still renew after it expires, but if you wait more than one year, you may need to take a vision test and additional testing may be required.

Can I renew an expired driver's licence?

If your licence has expired for less than a year you can still use the online method if:

• You have a full G licence. (If you are a novice driver with an expired permit, you must start the process over.)
• You don’t need to have your photo or address updated and haven’t updated your address in the last 90 days.
• You don’t need to take any tests (vision, written, road) or update a restriction.
• You don’t have any outstanding fines or penalties.

Note: If your licence expired or was cancelled before March 1, 2020, you cannot use the online method.

The process is different if your licence has been expired more than a year. Generally speaking, you must pay any applicable renewal or test fees and may be required to get a new photo. For more information, visit here.