Ontario’s extension for licenses and carrier products will be valid until December 31, 2021.

But don’t delay- be sure to get your documents renewed as you don’t want to be caught in the new year.

Here is some good news for Ontario based drivers and carriers. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has extended the validity of any driver and carrier products that expired after March 1, 2020. This extension is good until June 30, 2021. This has been further extended past the original extension of July 1, 2020.

This, of course, is to help limit person-to-person contact at Service Ontario locations as much as possible to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

What products and services are extended?

The extension applies to:

• Ontario commercial driver’s licences
• International Registration Plan (IRP) sticker validation and Cab Cards
• Ontario licence plate validation stickers
• Online purchase receipts of validation stickers
• Ontario Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR) certificates,
• Annual oversize/overweight permits***
• Annual and semi-annual inspections
• Extends driver training program time limitations
• Extends 10-day special permits and temporary validation
• Extends requirement to register a vehicle (including snow vehicles) within 6 days
• Extends the Safety Standards Certificate and Structural Inspection Certificate
• Extends expiration dates for receipts from online renewals beyond 14 days

Additional services that have been extended are:

• Amended effective date for mandatory electronic emission test of heavy diesel commercial vehicles from July 1, 2020, to October 1, 2020
• Anyone required to submit a medical or vision report to the MTO, the due date is extended by 60 days or more.

***Annual Oversize and Overweight permit extensions will expire June 1, 2021.

After June 1st all Annual Permit types will need valid dates in order to transport oversize loads. This includes all Annual and Enhanced Annual permits and Special Vehicle Combination permits. You can apply online through the MTO’s Permitting and Registration for International Registration Plan and Oversize/Overweight (PRIO) at https://www.prio.mto.gov.on.ca/ONEnterprise/Login.aspx

If you have one of the above documents that have expired, or will be expiring in the near future, you can cross renewing them off of your list of immediate concerns.

Even if you are driving across the border, you will still be considered legal. The FMCSA has stated that they will recognize expired licenses issued by Canadian provinces. This includes extensions on medical exams and certification or validity of corresponding commercial vehicle driver’s licenses.

If you are making use of the extension be sure to have access to either an electronic or paper copy of the memo issued by the Ministry of Transportation in your cab. You can access the memo here.

As the extension has been extended past the original date of July 1, 2020, now to June  30, 2021, we have updated the waiver here for you to download.

As mentioned above the annual oversize and overweight permits have been extended and are currently taking months to complete. So be prepared to wait!

Self serve options offered

Service Ontario has tried to put as many of their services as possible online for you to do at home. Be sure to check out the Service Ontario website to see what you can do from the comfort of your home.

You can also read the full list of extended services and products for both commercial and private use here.

Get ready for paying back those delayed fees

While the Ontario has extended expiry dates until June of this year, get ready to pay a bigger fee when you do get around to renewing your licences and other driver and carrier products. The government of Ontario is not going to be waiving last years dues. When you do renew be prepared to pay two years worth of fees. Don’t get caught unaware! Put aside what you would normally pay to renew your credentials and then you won’t be caught short in the pocket book when you do renew.

Ontario IFTA is still being processed

Ontario is still processing IFTA registrations, reinstatements, and decals. You will need to be patient as it is being done very slowly. Because of this, Ontario is currently waiving all IFTA credential requirements within the province of Ontario. We have attached a waiver here for your use.

Canadian COVID-19 Protocols by Jurisdiction

For up to date information on how each jurisdiction is extending deadlines you can view a spreadsheet compiled by the CCMTA on their homepage www.ccmta.ca