The plates stay with you
Ontario uses a plate-to-owner system. The plates move with the owner, not with the vehicle, so a seller should remove them when the vehicle is sold.
Do not allow the car to leave with your plates attached, even if it is being loaded onto a tow truck.
Keep the plate portion of the permit
The Ontario vehicle permit has vehicle and plate portions. The seller completes the required transfer section for the vehicle and keeps the plate portion associated with their licence plates.
Keep copies of the bill of sale and completed transfer records with the sale date and buyer information.
Reusing your plates on another vehicle
Ontario allows eligible existing plates to be attached to another vehicle when it is registered. Bring the plate portion of the permit and the other required documents to ServiceOntario.
Do not attach the plates to another vehicle until its registration and insurance requirements are complete.
Returning plates you no longer need
If you do not plan to reuse the plates, Ontario says they may be returned to a ServiceOntario centre. Store them securely until they are reused or returned.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Check current ServiceOntario instructions for your specific situation.