When It Expired Less Than 1 Year Ago (or Will Soon Expire)?
First, when your license is due for renewal, you will receive a notification in the mail around 90 days before the expiration date. If you need to take a driver’s license test or provide any additional documentation during your renewal, your letter will have further instructions to follow.
If your driver’s license expired less than 12 months ago or has yet to expire, you can renew your license online if you meet the following conditions:
- You have a full G license (not only a G1 or G2)
- You do not need to have your photo or address updated and haven’t updated your address in the last 90 days
- You do not need to take any tests (vision, written, road) or update a restriction on your vision
- You do not have any outstanding fines
To renew your license online, you will need your Driver’s License number (red box below), the 7-digit Trillium number (green box), postal code, and a valid credit card to pay the renewal fee.
If you are not eligible for online renewal then you will need to visit a ServiceOntario Centre and bring the following:
- Original ID that has your legal name, date of birth and your signature such as your current driver’s license
- Pass any required tests, including vision, written or road tests
- Pay $90, plus the cot of any tests you may need to take
If you want to find the nearest ServiceOntario Centre you can use their Locations Finder.
Useful Tip!
The 7-digit Trillium number is found on the back of your driver’s license.
When It Expired More Than 1 Year Ago
If your driver’s license expired more than 12 months ago, you will have to go through a different process to have it renewed. The exact process you have to complete depends on how long your license has been expired:
- 1 to 3 years — you must take a vision test
- 3 to 10 years — you must take a vision test, written knowledge test, and two road tests (G1 and G2) 10+ years — you have to complete the entire Graduated Licensing Program as a new driver
If your license expired more than a year ago then you cannot renew it online, and you must visit a DriveTest Centre or the ServiceOntario location in Toronto at College Park. You must bring an original ID with your legal name, date of birth and signature. The cost to renew is the standard $90 renewal fee plus the cost to complete any required tests. You can find a list of all the DriveTest Centre locations here.
When my G1 or G2 License is Expired?
If you only have a G1 or G2-level driver’s license, you cannot renew it once it has expired. Instead, you will have to restart the Graduated License Program from the very beginning, which includes:
- Passing a written test to obtain your G1 license then waiting 8-12 months
- Passing a driving exam to get your G2 license then waiting 12 months
- Passing another driving exam to get your full G license
For more information, you can consult our guide on Ontario’s Graduated License Program.
When I’m More than 80 Years Old?
Once you turn 80 years old in Ontario, you are required to renew your driver’s license every 2 years. Here are the main steps you can expect to complete the process:
1. You will receive a renewal application form (with the steps required to renew) in the mail 90 days before your license expires.
2. Watch a senior driver education video and review the Official Ministry of Transportation Drivers’ Handbook
3. Book an appointment for a senior driver group education session.
- call 1-800-396-4233 (toll free) or 416-235-3579 (in the Greater Toronto area)
- The current Contact Centre hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding Statutory Holidays. Please note that Mondays are normally our busiest day, as a result, you may experience longer than normal wait times on Mondays, and Tuesdays after a long weekend.
- provide your driver’s license number
- tell them about any language barriers
- tell them if you require accommodations such as a sign-language interpreter
When you call, you will get the date, time and location of your session. Sessions are held at various locations across the province.
If you can’t attend the day of your session, you may reschedule your appointment. If the next available appointment is after your driver’s license expires, you may be eligible to get a temporary driver’s license extension.
4. Attend a senior driver group education session.
What to bring to the renewal session:
- your driver’s license (or temporary driver’s license)
- the license renewal application, if available
- corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses you use for driving as well as any used for reading
- hearing aids, if needed
At the session, you will:
- have an opportunity to watch the educational video if you were not able to watch it before attending
- complete a vision assessment
- complete a 5-minute in-class screening exercise
Below are instructions for the screening exercise.
- Draw a large circle.
- Put all the numbers in to make it look like the face of a clock.
- Draw in the hands of the clock to set the time at ten minutes after eleven.
- Stop when completed. The form will be collected after five minutes.
Select a language below to see the instructions translated.
After the session, you may need to:
- renew your driver’s license by paying a $36 renewal fee at ServiceOntario
- before renewing, you may also be asked to complete one or more of the following:
- pass a road test
- follow up with your doctor and submit medical information
- provide additional vision information from a doctor or optometrist
This will depend on how well you performed on the in-class screening components and a review of your driving record.
If additional medical information is required, you will be notified by mail.
A driver improvement counsellor at the group education session will tell you the next steps.
5. Receive a new card
After you complete the renewal requirements you may renew your license online or if necessary, visit a ServiceOntario centre. If you renew your driver’s license at a ServiceOntario centre, you may need to bring original identification that shows your legal name, date of birth and signature if your license has already expired.
Find a ServiceOntario centre near you
Useful Tip!
You can find more details on what is involved in these Renewal Sessions here, including information about the eye exam, screening exercises, and group education session.
When I’m Outside Ontario?
If you are going to be outside of Ontario when your license would normally expire, you can renew it up to 180 days before the expiry date at a ServiceOntario centre or up to 90 days before expiry online.. There are two different ways to renew your license in this scenario, depending on how long your license will have been expired by the time you return to Ontario.
Should your driver’s license expire while you are out of the province, you can request a temporary license valid for up to 6 months, as long as it has not been suspended or expired for over one year.
If you will be returning to Ontario more than 6 months after your license’s expiration date, you will have to call Service Ontario at 416-235-2999 or toll-free at 1-800-387-3445 (within Canada). They will run you through alternative options in regards to renewing your license.
Did You Know?
If you moved out of the province, or just stopped driving at all, but your Ontario driver’s license will still be valid then you might be eligible for a partial refund of your license fee. You can find out more here.
When My License Was Stolen or Lost?
If you lost your driver’s license or it was stolen, you can get it replaced for a replacement fee. You will have to visit a ServiceOntario location with an ID that has your legal name, date of birth, and signature. They will issue you a temporary driver’s license until you receive your new license card in the mail, which usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks.
If you are outside of Ontario when it was lost or stolen you will have to go through a different process. If you will return to the province within 6 months you can contact ServiceOntario and arrange to have a one-time, temporary license mailed to you if your driver’s license is valid (not cancelled or suspended). Once you return to Ontario you will have to visit a ServiceOntario location to have a new license issued. If you will return to the province later than 6 months you can submit a request online or by mail or fax to have your license replaced with your current photograph and expiry date, as long as it is still valid (not cancelled or suspended).
When I Need to Update My Personal Information?
If you need to update your personal information that is on your current license card, you can do so for free. Your address you can change online, but other types of information require you to visit a ServiceOntario location or a DriveTest location. You should visit a ServiceOntario location if you want to change the following:
- Your legal name
- Your date of birth
- Your height
- Your sex designation
If you want to change any condition or restriction on your licenses, such as the need to wear corrective lenses or glasses, you will have to visit a DriveTest Centre and pass any required test. For any change of information, you will need to present your current driver’s license along with any supporting documentation necessary for the specific change, such as a letter from an optometrist (if applicable).
When My License Was Suspended?
If your license was suspended and you want to have it reinstated, there are three steps you need to complete: pay all fines that you still owe, complete all court processes and programs to have the suspension cleared, and then collect all necessary legal documents that prove the suspension was cleared.
After those steps are completed you can get a new license by visiting a DriveTest location along with an ID that has your legal name, date of birth and signature. If your license has been suspended for more than 1 year, you will also have to complete various testing:
- 1 to 3 years — you must take a vision test
- 3 to 10 years — you must take a vision test, written knowledge test, and the same two road tests (G1 and G2) y
- 10+ years — you have to complete the entire Graduated Licensing Program,as if you were a new driver
If your license was suspended for non-medical reasons, you will have to pay a fee as well. Regardless of the reason, you will have to pay any fees for tests you must complete.
Did You Know?
You can submit your request for the reinstatement fee using the Ministry of Transport’s online application form here.
Summary
There are many different types of scenarios where you would have to renew, replace, or reinstate your Ontario driver’s license, with a different process for each depending on your exact situation. This guide will hopefully help you figure out what you have to do or at least point you in the right direction. If you have any questions not answered in the guide you can contact a ServiceOntario Centre. Good luck!
You might also be interested in these guides:
Getting Your Ontario Driver’s License
Exchanging Your Foreign Driver’s License
Guide to Ontario Driver’s License Tests
