Automotive

Plate Renewal in Ontario

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  • Apr 25th, 2018 7:46 am
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Plate Renewal in Ontario

It's that time again and I need to get a new sticker for my cars. Was going to do it online but I forgot so now I have to go to a Service Ontario shop. No big deal.
While I was online, I noticed that there are 2 prices for plate renewal. Southern and Northern Ontario. The price difference is large, it costs twice the price in Southern Ontario compared to Northern Ontario. I know that Drive Clean is not required by the folks that live in Northern Ontario and I guess it is because they have more trees to absorb the pollution that cars and trucks cause.
Anybody know why is is less to get a sticker up north?
https://www.ontario.ca/page/renew-licence-plate-sticker
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Pete_Coach wrote: It's that time again and I need to get a new sticker for my cars. Was going to do it online but I forgot so now I have to go to a Service Ontario shop. No big deal.
While I was online, I noticed that there are 2 prices for plate renewal. Southern and Northern Ontario. The price difference is large, it costs twice the price in Southern Ontario compared to Northern Ontario. I know that Drive Clean is not required by the folks that live in Northern Ontario and I guess it is because they have more trees to absorb the pollution that cars and trucks cause.
Anybody know why is is less to get a sticker up north?
https://www.ontario.ca/page/renew-licence-plate-sticker
Politics, do not want lose votes...

MTO spokesperson Ajay Woozageer gave an answer to The Star:

“There are several reasons that Northern Ontario residents pay reduced vehicle licensing fees. Operating costs for all types of vehicles are substantially higher in the north, as are transportation costs.

“A small population, thinly spread over a large area and a more extreme climate are further contributing factors to an economic disparity between the north and the rest of Ontario.”

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Aug 29, 2011
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One argument I heard many years ago is that less money is spent on road maintenance up north than down here, hence why licence stickers were cheaper (back when the sticker fee actually went into MTO’s road maintenance budget).
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Oct 24, 2016
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Over the years I have heard various reasons for this.

1. The lack of public transit up north makes owing a personal vehicle an absolute necessity and the government wants to provide some subsidy for this.
2. People who chose to live in north despite less inhabitable conditions need every bit of encouragement hence this political gesture of reduced fees.
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mrweather wrote: One argument I heard many years ago is that less money is spent on road maintenance up north than down here, hence why licence stickers were cheaper (back when the sticker fee actually went into MTO’s road maintenance budget).
That's BS. With the weather up there I would be surprised if they don't spend more per car up there then down south. As it typically goes, the wealthy populated areas subsidize the rural areas. Urban areas votes also count for less than rural areas (more people per riding).
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engineered wrote: That's BS. With the weather up there I would be surprised if they don't spend more per car up there then down south. As it typically goes, the wealthy populated areas subsidize the rural areas. Urban areas votes also count for less than rural areas (more people per riding).
Well, I do think they spend more per car up north too as there are fewer cars.
Prices have almost doubled since 2011 and Wynne said it will remain at that level until 2018 so, we re-elect her and the price will go up again :)
"The money from sticker renewal fees goes into general revenues, which support all government investment, including transportation infrastructure"
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-d ... e31536444/
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Drive Clean isn't required outside city boundaries, generally.

Sticker has gone up, but only reverting to where it should've been with inflation I believe. It was low a long long time.
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Pete_Coach wrote: It's that time again and I need to get a new sticker for my cars. Was going to do it online but I forgot so now I have to go to a Service Ontario shop. No big deal.
While I was online, I noticed that there are 2 prices for plate renewal. Southern and Northern Ontario. The price difference is large, it costs twice the price in Southern Ontario compared to Northern Ontario. I know that Drive Clean is not required by the folks that live in Northern Ontario and I guess it is because they have more trees to absorb the pollution that cars and trucks cause.
Anybody know why is is less to get a sticker up north?
https://www.ontario.ca/page/renew-licence-plate-sticker

Why can't you do it online? I missed my renewal by a few weeks and I did it online still.
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amkorp wrote: Why can't you do it online? I missed my renewal by a few weeks and I did it online still.
I wanted my sticker now and didn't want to wait for it in the mail.
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Jan 18, 2013
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Pete_Coach wrote: I wanted my sticker now and didn't want to wait for it in the mail.
Why? Can't you just use the paper receipt if you get pulled over.
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Apr 26, 2010
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Random question but my bike's plate has been expired for a few months now. How does renewing it work, would they somehow price it cheaper?
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lennyandcarl wrote: Why? Can't you just use the paper receipt if you get pulled over.
?? Geez, the topic is the difference between southern and northern Ontario, not why I did what I did. :facepalm:
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RedLego wrote: Random question but my bike's plate has been expired for a few months now. How does renewing it work, would they somehow price it cheaper?
LOL, no. That makes no sense at all. If it did, we'd all "forget" to renew out plates and get cheaper rates.
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engineered wrote: LOL, no. That makes no sense at all. If it did, we'd all "forget" to renew out plates and get cheaper rates.
Actually, I think that the price you pay for the plates will be pro rated to what is remaining till your next birthday.
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Pete_Coach wrote: Actually, I think that the price you pay for the plates will be pro rated to what is remaining till your next birthday.
I've forgotten before and I'm pretty sure I paid full price. You'd only pay less if your car wasn't in service.
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engineered wrote: I've forgotten before and I'm pretty sure I paid full price. You'd only pay less if your car wasn't in service.
I bought a car in October of one year and only paid October till May...my birth month.
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Pete_Coach wrote: I bought a car in October of one year and only paid October till May...my birth month.
That's right, but that's different than being late with your already registered car. It's like missing a rent payment, you still owe money for the time you were there.
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engineered wrote: That's right, but that's different than being late with your already registered car. It's like missing a rent payment, you still owe money for the time you were there.
I am not sure of that.
I would think that if not plated, it is not on the road and plating it would be from the time you get the plates. What if I took my car off the road for 8 months to do some mods and paint or was away, would I be liable for all the time it was not driven?
Anyway, I am not sure but it would seem odd to have to pay for plates like back rent. :)
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You have to pay the full year even if you're 'late' with your payment. The only way I can think of around this is to surrender your plates.
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Pete_Coach wrote: I am not sure of that.
I would think that if not plated, it is not on the road and plating it would be from the time you get the plates. What if I took my car off the road for 8 months to do some mods and paint or was away, would I be liable for all the time it was not driven?
Anyway, I am not sure but it would seem odd to have to pay for plates like back rent. :)
You'd have to de-register your car if you didn't want to pay. Not sure what the process is. Maybe you have to give back your plates and it would cost you more to get new ones when you re-register.
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