A driver’s licence is an official document that authorises you to operate a vehicle on public roads. A driver’s licence issued by Ontario is valid for 5 years and then expires unless it’s renewed. ServiceOntario handles the renewal process, and you can do it online or in person at one of their locations.
You should receive a renewal application form in the mail before your licence expires. If you have not and your licence will expire soon, call the Ministry of Transportation.
This article will guide you through the process of renewing a driver’s licence in Ontario, the necessary requirements and the 2 possible ways to do it.
The easiest way to renew your driver’s licence is online, and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. The process is simple and straightforward, but you’ll have to meet the following conditions:
Student drivers have a 5-year window to complete the graduated licensing program that ends with a full G licence (or a full M licence for motorcyclists). Once their G1, G2, M1, M2 or M2 with L condition licence expires, a renewal is no longer possible. In this case, the entire program must be restarted regardless of the progress made.
In special cases, students who book their driving test before their licence expires could be granted an extension up to the test date.
The renewal of your Class G or M licence comes with a standard cost of $90 CAD. This fee may vary if you are over 76 years of age or if the renewal period is not for a full 5 years. Those over 80 years old must follow a different renewal process. It comes with a fee of $36, and their licence is valid for only 2 years at a time.
Payment can be made using Visa, Mastercard or Interac Online. Debit cards and cash can only be used at a ServiceOntario location.
To renew your driver’s licence online, you need:
You may wonder what this “trillium number” is all about. The trillium number is different from your driver’s licence number. It is a 7-digit number surrounded by asterisks (“*”) on the back of your driver’s licence. This number uniquely identifies your physical licence card rather than your legal driving privileges. The trillium numbers help track the issuance of multiple driver’s licence cards to the same person; for example, if the licence card is damaged and a replacement licence card must be shipped to the person. The trillium number is named after the trillium, the official flower of Ontario, which has been adopted as a symbol of Ontario. You can see this symbol at the top of the ServiceOntario website.
The estimated time to complete the online renewal process is 8 minutes, but there is no need to rush. When handling important documents, small mistakes are easy to make.
When you are ready, you can access ServiceOntario’s website, navigate to the “Find a service and renew online” section and select either “Renew a driver’s licence” or “Renew a driver’s licence: 80 years and over”.
After the renewal process, your new licence will be delivered by mail within 4 to 6 weeks.
Online licence renewal is not available for everyone. Those who don’t qualify will have to visit a ServiceOntario location where a staff member will handle this request, which will include taking your photograph. Depending on how long your licence has been expired, you might also have to take additional tests.
If your licence is still valid or expired less than a year ago, you can renew it in person without needing to take any additional exams. All you have to do is present your driver’s licence and a form of identification. Payment for the renewal fee can be made with debit card or cash.
For licences that have expired for more than 1 year but less than 3 years, you are required to take a vision test. If your address has changed, be prepared to provide all the necessary documentation, including proof of address.
If your driver’s licence has been expired for over 3 years but less than 10, the renewal process requires you to pass a written knowledge exam besides the vision test. Depending on the results and the type of licence, you might also be required to pass road tests.
Licences expired for more than 10 years require you to start over with the graduated licensing program. This means that you will have to become a student driver again since it has been a long time since you were last evaluated and approved to drive.
For all types of renewals, make sure to settle any outstanding fines and penalties. As your renewal request is processed, you will be issued a temporary licence that allows you to drive during the waiting period. Unlike the permanent licence, the temporary licence does not have your photograph. Therefore, it can only be used as a valid form of identification in situations that don’t require a photo ID. You should have some other photo ID (such as your health card) with you while you wait for your permanent licence to arrive.
If you are outside Ontario, you can request a temporary licence extension to cover your time abroad. This is a special situation, and you should contact ServiceOntario directly. They will guide you through the steps you need to take as they may vary based on your situation.
You can request a temporary licence extension up to 180 days before your licence expires or within a year after it expires.
Drivers over 80 years of age cannot renew their licence outside Ontario because they must take a vision test, pass a written exam and participate in a group education session.