If you either own or lease a vehicle in Ontario, one of the first and most important requirements is to have it registered. All cars in Ontario must be registered to drive legally on the road. You will be given an Ontario vehicle permit — a green piece of paper — once you purchase the vehicle. If your address or vehicle information needs to change, you should update your permit within six (6) days.

How to register a new vehicle

If you are buying a brand-new vehicle, the registration will mostly be processed by the dealer, as well as other essentials in vehicle registration, including licence plates, if needed. Other necessary documents include:

• Certificate or proof of ownership
• A passed Drive Clean emissions test (depends on the year of the vehicle)
• Insurance papers
• An Ontario safety standards certificate (if the vehicle is used)

How to register a used vehicle

If you are buying a used vehicle, you will need to register it at a ServiceOntario center. Some dealerships also offer to process the paperwork for used vehicles. Make sure your used vehicle is registered within six (6) days of purchase.

Here are some of the requirements needed to register a used car at a ServiceOntario station:

• Bill of sale, together with a full used car information package
• Proof of coverage from your insurance company
• Valid driver’s licence (or your registrant identification number (RIN) if you don’t have a licence)
• Filled-up transfer portion of the original vehicle permit by the seller
• The permit’s plate portion (only if you already have licence plates to attach)

The Digital Dealership Registration (DDR)

In March 2022, the Ontario government launched the Digital Dealership Registration (DDR) to make vehicle purchasing transactions faster and more convenient. At full implementation, over 7,000 dealerships would have access to an online program that reduces paperwork and ServiceOntario appointments.

Right now, the program is available only to select dealerships. It allows dealerships to provide registration and licence plates directly to customers. At full implementation, DDR should cover registration of pre-owned vehicles, transfers, and permit replacements — improving accuracy while keeping data security and privacy.

How much does a vehicle registration cost in Ontario?

The cost of a vehicle permit for all vehicles is $32. Retail tax for the vehicle’s sale will be collected when you register. Permits, once approved, are issued immediately.

How to recover a lost, stolen, or damaged vehicle permit

If you encounter a problem such as a lost or damaged vehicle permit , you can go to a ServiceOntario center to resolve it. The cost would be $32. You would need to bring:

• Proof of identification (passport, Ontario Photo Card, driver’s licence, etc.)
• One of these two documents:
  1. Licence plate number
  2. Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• You must be the vehicle owner. If not, a Letter of Authorization from the owner can be used.

Applying for a special permit

If you need to drive in Ontario for a short time but don’t want to register your car, you can apply at a ServiceOntario center for a ten-day special permit.