ServiceOntario / ICBC / registry office letter explained in English

Driver and vehicle licensing. Issues driver’s licences, licence plates and vehicle registration. Each province has its own office.

Letters you may get

• Renewal notice — your driver’s licence or plate sticker ends soon
• Suspension notice — your licence is suspended, for example for unpaid fines or too many points
• Road test or medical review — they want a test or a doctor’s report before you can keep driving

What to do

• Newcomers can usually drive with a foreign licence only for a short time — often 60 or 90 days, depending on the province. Check the rules in your province early.
• In some provinces, unpaid fines can stop you from renewing your licence or plates.
• Find the deadline. Look for “deadline”, “pay by”, “due date”, “within”, “no later than”.
• Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
• If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“notice of objection”, “request for reconsideration”, “appeal”, “objection”, “review”, “dispute”). See the template.

Questions

What is the ServiceOntario / ICBC / registry office?

Driver and vehicle licensing. Issues driver’s licences, licence plates and vehicle registration. Each province has its own office.

How long do I have to answer a letter from the ServiceOntario / ICBC / registry office?

It depends on the letter. Look for words like “deadline”, “pay by”, “due date”, “within”, “no later than” — they mark the deadline. In Canada, many deadlines count from the date printed on the letter, not from the day it arrives — for example, the 90 days to object to a tax notice. Mail can take several days, so check the date on the letter and act early. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“notice of objection”, “request for reconsideration”, “appeal”, “objection”, “review”, “dispute”).

Can I read a ServiceOntario / ICBC / registry office letter in English?

Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in English. Your letter never leaves your device.

Other offices in Canada

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) · Service Canada · Provincial health plan (OHIP, MSP, AHCIP …) · Ministry of Finance / Revenue (your province) · City or town — property tax department · City bylaw enforcement / parking · Police service / Provincial Offences Court