Red Licence Plates in Ontario Explained

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Article Contents
Picture of By <span>Aren Mirzaian</span>
By Aren Mirzaian

Updated on February 20, 2025

Visit author page
Picture of By <span>Aren Mirzaian</span>
By Aren Mirzaian

Updated February 20, 2025

Visit author page

2 minute read

Article Contents

Ontario’s red licence plates serve a unique function, helping quickly identify vehicles with specific roles. These plates are not meant for private use. They are reserved for auto dealers and foreign diplomats.

Recognizing these plates can be useful for drivers, businesses, and those interested in Ontario’s vehicle regulations. In this article, you’ll explore their significance, differences, and why they matter.

Red Licence Plates in Ontario At a Glance

  • If you’re not a dealer or a diplomat, you can’t legally drive a car with a red plate as they are strictly for business and official use.
  • Car dealers use red plates on their used cars to facilitate business operations like test drives and vehicle transfers, while diplomatic plates mark official government vehicles from embassies and international organizations.
  • Red plates don’t come with lifetime use – owners must renew them regularly to stay compliant. On top of that, dealers need to maintain their registration and meet provincial requirements to keep using them legally.

What Do The Red Licence Plates Mean in Ontario?

In Ontario, red licence plates signal that a vehicle has a special role beyond everyday driving. You won’t see them on regular cars because they’re reserved for specific groups, like dealers and diplomats. The red colour allows authorities and the public to quickly identify these vehicles.

Unlike regular licence plates that stay with a single vehicle, red dealer plates can be switched between cars, and dealers usually use them on used cars they bought. This flexibility allows dealerships to use one plate for multiple vehicles, making test drives and deliveries easier.

Two Types of Ontario’s Red Licence Plates

There are only two types of Ontario’s special red plates, classified by their owners and intended use. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between them:

In Ontario, red dealer plates give registered auto dealerships the freedom to operate vehicles without needing full private registration. You’ll often see them on cars used for test drives, demos, or short-term use at auto dealerships. Instead of registering each vehicle separately, car dealers can use a single plate across multiple cars, making it easier to showcase inventory and move vehicles around. 

To qualify for this plate, you must be a licensed motor vehicle dealer under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act, whether you’re new to the industry or already established.

Getting a dealer plate is a straightforward process. Once you’ve obtained your Dealer Number Certificate from the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), bring these key requirements to a ServiceOntario centre to apply for one:

  • Driver’s licence or two pieces of identification
  • Your Dealer Number Certificate
  • The required fee for the plate, paid via current accepted payment methods

Unlike dealer plates, which have red lettering on a white background, diplomatic plates have the opposite colour scheme – white lettering on a red background. Diplomatic plates in Ontario are reserved for vehicles belonging to foreign embassies, consulates, and international organizations.

If you see a vehicle with a diplomatic plate, it belongs either to a diplomat, a consular official, a non-diplomatic embassy staff member, or a foreign head of mission with diplomatic status. People using these plates typically receive benefits like relaxed parking rules in line with international agreements.

2 Types of Ontario Red Licence Plates

How To Differentiate Between The Two

Dealer and diplomatic plates have unique markings that make them easy to differentiate:

Dealer plates have a dealer ID tied to the issuing dealership, while diplomatic plates feature a unique code linking the vehicle to an embassy or international organization.

Dealer plates are meant for commercial use, including test drives and demos, whereas diplomatic plates are exclusively for official foreign mission vehicles.

Dealer plates offer perks like flexible registration for multiple cars under one dealership, while diplomatic plates come with immunities and benefits based on international agreements and Ontario law.

Key Advice From MyChoice

  • If you’re using a red dealer plate, keep your travels within Ontario. These plates aren’t recognized in other provinces, meaning you could run into legal trouble if you take one across the border.
  • Avoid misuse of red plates if you have access to them. These plates come with strict regulations, and using one improperly can lead to fines or legal trouble.
  • While auto dealers enjoy some flexibility when switching red plates for their dealership cars, this doesn’t mean that they can be used for just any purpose. Dealers can only use them for business activities, and breaking these rules can lead to fines, legal penalties, or having the plate revoked altogether.

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