Ontario drivers can now renew licence online

Commuters sit in rush hour traffic on the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto Monday, February 10, 2003. (Kevin Frayer / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO -- The Ontario government says it's become the first province in Canada to allow eligible drivers to renew their licences online.

Drivers who don't need a photo, a test, or have no outstanding fines or other issues can renew at the ServiceOntario website.

While drivers must renew their licences every five years, those eligible to renew online can use their existing licence photos for an additional five years, meaning they will only need to renew in person every 10 years.

The province says when drivers renew online, they can also get licence plate stickers and other driver and vehicle products in the same transaction.

Eligibility will be determined as the user goes through the online application and drivers who do not meet the eligibility criteria will be told to go to a ServiceOntario centre instead.

Those who use the service can use Interac Online as well as major credit cards to pay.

"With the launch of the new online driver's licence renewal service, Ontario becomes the first province in Canada to provide drivers with the option to renew their licence online," said John Milloy, minister of government services.