From what to do with old licence plates to how to get a temporary licence plate, many drivers have questions about licence plates. One such question is: How much is a custom licence plate?. Custom licence plates can be a fun way to express your individuality and make your car more unique. However, they come at a price, which we outline below.
Personalized licence plates
First thing’s first, what is a personalized licence plate? A personalized or custom licence plate is a licence plate number that is requested by the driver. In exchange for paying a fee, a driver is able to choose a combination of letters and numbers that they want their licence plate to read, rather than simply using the licence plate number issued by the Ministry of Transportation in their province.
Custom licence plates, also known as vanity plates, give drivers a chance to create a message or slogan using the letters and numbers of their choice. That said, drivers cannot choose any combination they want. First, the combination has to be available, and second, it must not go against any of the restrictions or rules set in place by the province. These restrictions vary but generally, your custom licence plate is likely to be rejected if it is deemed too sexual, violent, crude, or religious.
How much does a custom licence plate cost?
The cost of a custom licence plate varies depending on what province you live in, though they are typically between $100 and $350. We break down the cost of purchasing a custom licence plate in Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba below:
Ontario
Ontario is one of the most expensive provinces in which to purchase a vanity licence plate. The cost varies depending on the number of characters and whether or not you wish to include a graphic. A custom licence plate in Ontario will run you anywhere between $310 and $336.40:
- 2 to 8 characters (letters and/or numbers) without a graphic for cars = $310
- 2 to 6 characters (letters and/or numbers) with a graphic for cars = $336.40
- 2 to 5 characters (letters and/or numbers) without a graphic for motorcycles = $310*
*Please note that custom licence plates cannot be registered to limit speed motorcycles in Ontario.
Further, it is worth noting that custom licence plates can be paid for online. However, as of November 3, 2023, Interac Online is no longer an accepted payment method, which means you must pay for your licence plate with a credit card, Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Licence plates are typically delivered in the mail and they can take up to four weeks to arrive.
For more information on licence plates in Canada, such as driving with out of province plates in Ontario or driving with out of province plates in Alberta, contact BrokerLink.
Lastly, is it worth noting that the cost of your personalized licence plate must be paid on top of all other fees relating to your vehicle, such as the cost of buying car insurance , which is mandatory in Canada. To learn more about how much car insurance costs per month in Ontario or how mandatory coverage, like third party liability car insurance, protects you, give BrokerLink a call.
British Columbia
In British Columbia, personalized licence plates cost $100 upfront, as well as a subsequent $40 fee due annually. This will be due at the time that you renew your licence.
Manitoba
The cost of a personalized licence plate in Manitoba is similar to that of British Columbia. Drivers must pay $100 upfront (plus GST) for a vanity plate. An additional $25 fee (plus GST) will be charged to replace a personalized plate that is lost or damaged or to transfer an existing plate number to a new plate.
How to buy a custom vehicle licence plate in Ontario
If you are interested in purchasing a custom licence plate, then you will be pleased to discover that doing so is relatively simple in Ontario. Nowadays, you can complete the transaction online or over the phone by calling 1-800-AUTOPL8. However, you can also visit a Service Ontario centre if you prefer.
In order to buy a personalized plate, you will need a copy of your driver’s licence , your driver’s licence number or your registrant identification number (RIN). You should also have an idea of what numbers and characters you would like your custom licence plate to contain. Please note that before you can order a custom plate in Ontario, you are required to pay any outstanding fines or Highway 407 toll fees.
Once any applicable fees and fines are settled, the process for obtaining a vanity plate typically looks like this:
- Enter your driver’s licence number or RIN online or relay it to the person on the phone or at Service Ontario.
- Select the type of licence plate you wish to order, the options being a personal plate, a commercial plate, or a motorcycle. Choose the type of plate that applies to your vehicle.
- Decide if you want your custom licence plate to include a graphic or not note that the fees for plates with graphics are higher.
- Enter the licence plate numbers and/or characters you want. You will be able to enter three different options.
- Check the availability of each option.
- If the custom licence plate of your choice is available, select it and confirm your purchase.
- Complete the purchase process by paying for your custom plate. As noted above, custom licence plates in Ontario can only be paid for with a Visa or Mastercard credit card.
- Await the arrival of your custom licence plate, which should arrive in the mail within four weeks of completing your purchase.
Contact BrokerLink to learn more about the cost of purchasing a custom licence plate
If you want to purchase a custom licence plate anywhere in Canada, it’s important to understand how much it will cost you, especially considering all of your other car insurance-related costs, like paying to add collision car insurance, accident forgiveness coverage, or comprehensive car coverage to your policy. Further, if you are involved in an accident, this can raise your car insurance Toronto rates, making it even more expensive to own and operate a vehicle.
A BrokerLink insurance specialist can also explain how to get a pink slip for your car and the difference between title and registration . So what are you waiting for? Contact us to have your car insurance questions answered! BrokerLink can be reached by phone, email, or in person. You can also use our online quote tool to request a free car insurance quote.
Finally, if you want help saving money on car insurance, BrokerLink is here. We can explain the cost benefits of purchasing multiple auto insurance policies or how adopting the following safe driving tips can lead to a car insurance discount. Contact us to begin your car insurance journey today.
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