ServiceOntario is responsible of supplying driver’s licences, plate stickers, health cards, birth certificates and other services, as provided by the Ontario government. When you change addresses, it is imperative to notify ServiceOntario of your new address, so as to make sure your driver’s licence and/or vehicle permit are updated.
Download this printable Ontario address change checklist that includes governmental agencies, service providers, as well as organizations, all of which you should advise of your move.
Featured in this articleIt is advised to provide ServiceOntario with your new address within 6 days of a move.
Can you get fined for not changing your address on your driving licence?In most Canadian provinces you are given up to 14 days to make address changes on your driving license. This time limit is to prevent you from getting fined unnecessarily, as the law states that you must inform the necessary authorities of an address change when moving. Fines are as low as $50 and go up to $172 for not changing your address on your driving licence.
Your driver’s licence will arrive in the mail 4 to 6 weeks by the time you changed your address. For your vehicle permit, on the other hand, you will have to pick it up in person at a ServiceOntario centre. If you forget to bring your old permit with you or if you need a replacement, you will be charged a $32 fee.
Note that when you update the address on your driver’s licence, you must also update the address on your health card at the same time.
Also note that if you have an Enhanced Driver’s Licence (EDL), you can’t change your address online; you have to do the change in person at a ServiceOntario centre.
What if I move outside of Ontario?
The period during which you are allowed to keep your Ontario driver’s licence depends on the provinces. For example, British Columbia requires you to switch over your licence 90 days after moving to B.C. On the other hand, when someone moves to Ontario, they are required to switch over to an Ontario driver’s licence within 60 days of their move.
As a general rule, know that if you have a valid Ontario driver’s licence, you can drive anywhere in Canada.
That said, if your Ontario driver’s licence happens to expire while you are outside of Ontario, a couple of options are available to you. First of all, you can renew a driver’s licence up to 180 days before the expiry date, so you can plan ahead of time and renew it before leaving Ontario. To do so, you can:
Second of all, if your licence recently expired and you plan on returning within 6 months, you can apply for an extension and receive a one-time, temporary driver’s licence that is valid for up to 6 months. To do so, you can submit a request online, or you can send a signed letter, that includes:
Finally, if you plan on not returning within 6 months, you have to contact ServiceOntario at 416-235-2999 or 1 800 387-3445 (toll-free within Canada), and you can discuss your options directly with them.
What if I move outside of Canada?Every country has different rules regarding driver licensing, so we recommend looking into it beforehand to know whether or not you need an international driving permit.
I am moving to another province temporarily for work, do I need a local driver’s license?Each Canadian province issues its own driver’s license so yes, you will need a local driver’s license, even if you are just staying there temporarily. Most provinces require you to change your license within 60 to 90 days of your arrival in the new province. An extension period may be granted depending on the province so it’s worth checking that out as it could make your transition easier.
