The province has scrapped its renewal program for licence plate stickers for 8.5 million vehicles in Ontario and the cheques for those that qualify will be in the mail soon, according to the province.
Premier Doug Ford eliminated the yearly tags that could cost the treasury more than $1 billion but save drivers up to $120 annually.
The billion-dollar move first reported by the Star in February comes just months ahead of the June 2 election.
“It’s actually your money … the worst place to give your money is to the government,” said Ford during the announcement last month.
Here’s how it will work:
Who qualifies for a refund?
If you’re a motorist and have already paid renewal fees for your licence plate sticker for an individually owned passenger vehicle, light-duty truck, motorcycle or moped for the period of March 1, 2020 to March 12, 2022, you qualify for a refund.
What do I need to do in order to get a refund?
Ensure the address on your driver’s licence is accurate and up to date and pay off any outstanding balances owing for defaulted fees, fines or tolls.
When do I get my refund?
You will receive a refund cheque in the mail starting at the end of March and throughout the month of April.
If you paid outstanding fines or tolls or updated your address after March 7, your refund cheque will arrive later, some time in the summer or the fall.
Who doesn’t qualify for a refund?
Vehicles registered to companies or businesses do not qualify. The province says motorized snow vehicles like snowmobiles are not eligible for the current validation sticker refund.
Drivers can only get a refund for a snow vehicle validation sticker if the sticker has never been used. The refund will be issued by cheque and could take four-to-six weeks.
How much will I get back?
Your refund amount will depend on when you last renewed and how much you paid. Southern Ontario motorists paid $120 for a one-year sticker and $240 for a two-year renewal, while drivers in Northern Ontario paid $60 for a one-year renewal and $120 for two years.
So, for example, if you purchased a valid licence plate sticker from March 2020 to July 2021, and renewed your sticker for one year in July 2021, you will receive a refund of approximately $280, according to the province, breaking down to 28 months at $10 per month.
Beware of scams
Service Ontario is warning people about about text message phishing scams. The text message asks people to click on a link in order to receive their licence plate sticker refund.
“Individuals should not open or click on any links as this message is not authorized by ServiceOntario and is a scam,” says the province.
The provincial government will not contact you directly to get a licence plate sticker refund.
Ivy Mak is a team editor on the Star's breaking news desk, based in Toronto. Reach her via email: ivymak@thestar.ca
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