You can renew your Ontario driver's license up to nine months before it expires

ServiceOntario lets you renew your licence starting nine months before the expiry date printed on your card. If your licence expires on March 15, you can renew it as early as June 15 of the previous year. The renewal takes effect when ready — your new licence will have a new expiry date nine years from the day you renew, not from your old expiry date.

This nine-month window exists so you can plan ahead without losing time on your current licence. Many people renew early to avoid the rush near their expiry date, or because they know they will be busy closer to the important date. You do not have to wait until a specific time within that window; you can renew on the first day it becomes available if you want to.

Key Takeaways

  • You can renew your Ontario licence nine months before it expires, and your new expiry date will be nine years from the renewal date, not from your old expiry date.
  • Renewing early does not shorten the life of your new licence — you get the full nine-year term regardless of when you renew within the window.
  • You can renew in person at a ServiceOntario office, by mail, or online through the ServiceOntario website if you meet the requirements for each method.
  • Your current licence remains valid until the expiry date on the card, even after you renew early and receive your new one.

How to find your renewal window

Look at the expiry date on your current Ontario driver's licence — it is printed on the front in the bottom right corner. Count back nine months from that date. That is the earliest day you can renew.

For example, if your licence expires on December 10, 2025, you can renew starting March 10, 2025. You do not need to contact ServiceOntario to confirm you are in the window; the system will straightforward reject your renewal request if you try before nine months out, so you will know when ready if you are too early.

Renewing in person at ServiceOntario

You can walk into any ServiceOntario office and renew your licence once you are within the nine-month window. Bring your current Ontario driver's licence, a piece of government-issued photo identification (such as a passport), and proof of your current address (a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last three months). You will also need to pass a vision test at the office.

Processing takes a few minutes, and you will receive a temporary paper licence on the spot that is valid for 30 days while your plastic card is mailed to you. The plastic card usually arrives within two weeks. ServiceOntario offices are located across Ontario; you can find the one nearest you and check its hours on the ServiceOntario website.

Renewing by mail

You can mail in your renewal if your licence is not expired and you have not had any medical suspensions or convictions since your last renewal. read the DL 44 form from the ServiceOntario website, fill it out, and mail it along with your current licence and a cheque or money order for the renewal fee to the address listed on the form.

Mail renewal takes four to six weeks from the time ServiceOntario receives your package. You will not receive a temporary licence, so your current licence remains your only valid ID during this time. If you need to drive before your new card arrives and your current licence is close to expiring, renewing in person is a safer choice.

Renewing online

ServiceOntario offers online renewal through its website if you meet specific conditions: your licence must not be expired, you must not have had any medical suspensions or convictions since your last renewal, and you must have a valid Ontario health card. You will need to log in with your Ontario.ca account or create one.

Online renewal is the fastest option — you can complete it in minutes, and your new licence will be mailed to you within two weeks. You will receive a temporary digital licence on your phone that you can show to police if stopped while you wait for the plastic card. Not all licence types can be renewed online; the system will tell you during the process if yours cannot.

What happens to your old licence after you renew early

Your old licence remains valid until the expiry date printed on it, even though you have already renewed. You do not need to destroy it or turn it in. Some people keep it as a backup form of ID, though police will recognize your new licence as the current valid one.

If you lose your new licence before it arrives, or if it is damaged in the mail, you can use your old licence as proof of identity until the replacement arrives. Once your new plastic card is in your hands, the old one has no legal standing, but there is no harm in keeping it.

The renewal fee and payment methods

The renewal fee for a standard Ontario driver's licence is set by the province and changes periodically. Check the ServiceOntario website or call 1-800-387-3445 to confirm the current fee before you renew. The fee is the same whether you renew early, on time, or late.

In-person renewals accept debit, credit, and cash. Mail-in renewals require a cheque or money order. Online renewals accept debit and credit cards. If you are renewing by mail and do not have a cheque or money order, you can renew in person or online instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I renew nine months early, do I lose time on my licence?

No. Your new licence will expire nine years from the day you renew, not from your old expiry date. If you renew nine months early, your new licence will actually expire nine months later than it would have if you had waited. You get the full nine-year term no matter when you renew within the window.

Can I renew if my licence is already expired?

No, you cannot renew an expired licence through the standard renewal process. You will need to reapply as a new driver, which involves a written test, vision test, and in-person appointment. Contact ServiceOntario to find out what documents and fees are required for reapplication.

What if I have a medical condition or recent conviction?

You can still renew in person at a ServiceOntario office. Mail and online renewal are not available if you have had a medical suspension or conviction since your last renewal. The in-person process is the same; the restriction only affects which method you can use.

How long does it take to get my new licence in the mail?

In-person renewals result in a plastic card arriving within two weeks, with a temporary paper licence valid for 30 days in the meantime. Mail-in renewals take four to six weeks total. Online renewals also result in a card within two weeks, plus a temporary digital licence you can use when ready on your phone.

Can I renew if I am out of province?

You can renew online or by mail from anywhere. Online renewal requires an Ontario health card and an Ontario.ca account. Mail renewal requires you to send your current licence and the completed form to the ServiceOntario address. In-person renewal requires you to visit a ServiceOntario office in Ontario.