Photo: Raysonho, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
To drive a car legally in Ontario, it needs valid insurance, a registration permit with plates in the owner’s name, and tires and equipment in safe condition. This page covers chapter 5 of the MTO Driver’s Handbook: the checks to make before you drive, what you must carry, how plates and renewals work now, and towing basics. It is for G1 and G2 drivers who are getting their own car or borrowing a family one, and for their parents.
Key facts
- Insurance is compulsory in Ontario. You need proof of insurance to register a vehicle or renew its registration.
- Whoever is driving must have an insurance card for the vehicle in the car and show it to police when asked.
- Driving without insurance: a fine of $5,000 to $25,000 on a first conviction, plus a possible licence suspension of up to one year and an impound of up to three months.
- Plates belong to the owner, not the car. Take them off when you sell.
- Most passenger vehicle plates now renew automatically, for free, if the owner has valid insurance and no unpaid fines or tolls.
- Replace a tire when the tread is less than 1.5 mm deep, or when it is more than 10 years old.
Quick vehicle checks every Ontario driver should make
The handbook sets out checks in four stages. None takes long, and they catch most problems before they become breakdowns.
Walking up to the car
- fresh damage, or fluid leaking underneath
- tires that look low or flat
- doors, hood, trunk or fuel cap left open
- loads that are not tied down
- ice, snow or dirt covering lights or windows, or that could fly off onto other drivers
In the driver’s seat, before you move
- a clear view all around the car
- headlights that are burned out or dim
- loose objects that could fly forward if you brake
- dashboard warning lights: they should come on when you start the engine and then go out
While driving
- unusual engine or exhaust noises
- squealing or grinding when you brake
- warning lights that stay on
Before a long trip
- wipers and washer fluid
- tire pressure, condition and wear
- all lights
- with the engine cold: oil and coolant levels, belts, hoses and leaks
- a full inspection by a qualified mechanic
Your owner’s manual says what to check and when routine service is due. Service is due by distance or by time, whichever comes first. Routine service includes oil and filter changes, fluid checks, air and fuel filters, tire rotation and brake inspection. Bigger jobs, such as replacing a timing belt, come up less often.
Ontario tire rules
| Rule | What the handbook says |
|---|---|
| Minimum tread | Replace when tread is under 1.5 mm, or when the wear bars touch the road |
| Heavy vehicles | Over 4,500 kg: replace front tires when tread is under 3 mm |
| Age | No more than 10 years old, even if they have never been used |
| Damage | Replace tires with bumps, bulges, knots, exposed cords, or cuts deep enough to show cords |
| Size | No smaller than the manufacturer’s minimum size, and not so large that they touch the vehicle |
| Matching | Use similar tires on all four wheels |
| Winter | For winter traction, use four winter or all-weather tires with the same tread pattern |
| Studs | Studded tires are legal in northern Ontario |
Tires also have to meet the standards in the federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Correct pressure, regular rotation and smooth driving make them last longer.
Winter kit to keep in the car
- a shovel
- booster cables
- flares or warning lights
- a blanket
- a tow chain
- extra windshield washer fluid
Have a noisy or rattling exhaust checked straight away. A leaking exhaust is especially dangerous in winter, when the windows and vents are closed. More on winter conditions is in winter driving in Canada for new drivers.
What happens if your car is unsafe?
Keep your view clear too. Nothing hung or stuck in the windows may block your view, no window may be coated so that you cannot see out in every direction, and the windshield and front side windows may not be coated in a way that hides the inside of the car.
Driving a vehicle in dangerous condition is illegal in Ontario. A police officer or MTO inspector can examine your vehicle, its equipment and any trailer at any time. If it is unsafe, it can be taken off the road until it is fixed. Before a road test, also run through the road test car checklist.
Car insurance in Ontario: what the law requires
The insurance card (pink slip)
The driver must keep an insurance card for the vehicle in the car at all times and hand it to police when asked. Your own policy’s card also counts if it shows you are insured. Failing to carry or show the card can mean a fine of up to $400.
If you are listed as an excluded driver on the policy for the car you are driving, you need a card that shows you are insured under a different policy.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) lets insurers issue the card electronically if you agree. If you lend the car, the other driver needs their own copy. Some places outside Ontario may still ask for a paper card. Ask your insurer which formats it offers.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Ontario
| Offence | First conviction | Later conviction |
|---|---|---|
| Driving, or letting someone drive, an uninsured vehicle, or showing police a card for a vehicle that is not insured | $5,000 to $25,000 | $10,000 to $50,000 |
| Having or using a false or invalid insurance card | $10,000 to $50,000 | $20,000 to $100,000 |
For driving without insurance, the court can also suspend your licence for up to one year. It can also have the vehicle impounded for up to three months, and the owner pays the storage costs.
Buying insurance safely
- Buy only from a licensed insurer, agent or broker. FSRA and the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario can confirm a licence.
- After a collision, collect details from everyone involved and photograph the scene.
- Be wary of a tow truck driver who pushes you towards a particular body shop, lawyer, paralegal or clinic.
- Never sign blank forms, and ask for itemized repair and medical bills.
What drives premiums for new drivers, and whether you must be listed on a parent’s policy, is covered in car insurance for learner and new drivers in Canada.
Registration, plates and renewal in Ontario
Plates follow the owner
Registration means your licence plates plus a vehicle permit, the green ownership document. In Ontario, plates go with the owner, not the vehicle. If you sell or change cars, remove your plates and keep the plate portion of the permit. You will need it to put the plates on your next car. If you will not use them again, you can return them to a ServiceOntario centre.
Do you still need a plate sticker in Ontario?
Not for most cars. Passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles under 3,000 kg, motorcycles and mopeds renew automatically, with no fee, 90 days before the plate expires. Two conditions apply: the owner must have valid insurance, and there must be no unpaid fines or tolls. The renewal lasts one year, and no sticker is sent.
These plates do not renew automatically, so you renew them online or at ServiceOntario:
- commercial and business vehicles
- motorhomes
- vehicles made before 1983
- buses
- snowmobiles
If a renewal is held up by unpaid fines or a gap in insurance, you can renew after expiry once you clear them.
Registering a car you buy
When you buy a used car privately:
- The seller must give you a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). It shows whether money is still owed on the car.
- You must register the car in your name at ServiceOntario within 6 days of buying it.
- To put plates on it, you need a Safety Standards Certificate from a licensed DriveON inspection centre. The certificate is valid for 36 days.
- Most buyers pay 13% retail sales tax when they register, on the price or the wholesale value, whichever is higher. A gift from a close family member can be exempt.
Light passenger cars no longer need emissions tests, but every vehicle must still meet emissions standards. The full step-by-step, with a worked private-sale example, is in buying your first car in Canada.
Moving to Ontario with a car
New residents have 30 days to register their vehicle at a ServiceOntario centre. Bring:
- a Safety Standards Certificate
- proof of insurance
- Vehicle Import Forms, if the car came from another country
- the permit or ownership from where you lived before
Licence exchange is covered in new to Ontario.
Towing basics for Ontario drivers
- A G1, G2 or G licence lets you tow a trailer with a gross weight of up to 4,600 kg. Bigger loads may need a higher licence class or an oversize permit.
- Towing more than one trailer behind a non-commercial vehicle is illegal.
- A trailer is a separate vehicle. Register it at ServiceOntario (a one-time fee), put the plate on the back where it can be clearly seen, and carry the permit or a copy.
- Trailers weighing 1,360 kg or more, including the load, need brakes that can stop and hold the trailer.
- Every trailer needs:
- a white licence plate light
- a red tail light
- two red rear reflectors, as far apart as possible
- mud guards or fenders
Trailers wider than 2.05 m also need clearance lights.
- Use two separate connections to the car. If you use safety chains, cross them under the tongue.
- Put about 5 to 10 per cent of the trailer’s weight on the hitch, with most of the load in front of the axle.
- No one may ride in a trailer while it is being towed, including house and boat trailers.
- If the load blocks your view behind, fit extra mirrors.
Driving technique, reversing and the rules in other provinces are in towing a trailer as a new driver in Canada.
Scenario: borrowing a parent’s car on your G2
Priya has just passed her G2 and is taking the family car to work. Before she leaves:
- She checks the glovebox for the insurance card. If her parents’ insurer issued it electronically, she needs a copy on her own phone, not theirs.
- She makes sure she is not named as an excluded driver on the policy. If she were, she would need proof of her own separate policy.
- She checks the permit is in the car.
- On the walk-around, she sees a front tire looks low. She checks the pressure against the label on the door frame before driving.
- On the way, a brake warning light stays on. She pulls over safely and calls home rather than driving on.
Common questions
Can I show my insurance on my phone in Ontario?
Yes, if your insurer issues an electronic card. FSRA allows this with your consent. Anyone else driving the car needs their own copy, so keep a paper card in the car for borrowers and for trips outside Ontario.
Do I need to renew my licence plate every year?
For most cars, renewal is now automatic and free, every year, if the owner has valid insurance and no unpaid fines or tolls. Watch for reminders if your vehicle type is on the manual list, or if a renewal is blocked.
What happens to my plates when I sell my car?
You keep them. Take them off before the buyer drives away, and keep the plate portion of your permit. You can register them to your next vehicle or return them to ServiceOntario.
Can a G1 driver register or insure a car in their own name?
The registration rules on ontario.ca ask for proof of insurance and your Ontario driver’s licence, and they do not exclude G1 holders. Whether an insurer will cover you as a G1 owner, and at what price, is up to the insurer. Your G1 conditions still apply every time you drive (see Ontario G1 rules).
How deep does tire tread have to be in Ontario?
At least 1.5 mm on a car. For vehicles over 4,500 kg, front tires need at least 3 mm.
Are winter tires mandatory in Ontario?
The handbook recommends four winter or all-weather tires with the same tread for winter traction. Check the current legal requirement with the Ministry of Transportation. Ask your insurer whether it gives a discount for them.
Do I need a safety certificate to buy a used car?
You can buy and register a car without one. You cannot put plates on it until it has a valid Safety Standards Certificate. A transfer to your spouse is exempt.
Related: snowmobiles, ATVs and off-road vehicles in Ontario and collision reporting rules by province. For the whole G1 to G licensing path, see learning to drive in Ontario.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Getting ready to drive” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Maintaining your vehicle” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Vehicle insurance and registration” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Towing” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.25” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “Renew your licence plate sticker” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “Buy or sell a used vehicle in Ontario” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “Safety standards certificate” (ontario.ca)
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, “Modernizing Automobile Insurance: Approval of Electronic Insurance Card” (fsrao.ca)