Obstructing Licence Plates in Ontario, Canada
Posted date : Sep 10, 2026.
Interesting Bird Talk about obstructed licence plates in Florida.
In your comment, you failed to note that it is illegal to obstruct licence plates in Ontario as well. Mind you, the fine and penalties are a lot less. In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act requires that licence plates must be kept free from dirt and obstruction, ensuring that the entire number plate is plainly visible at all times. According to Section 13(2), any obstruction, such as a promotional licence plate cover or modifications, can lead to fines ranging from $75 to $110 for obstructed plates. If a police officer observes an obstructed plate, he or she may issue a ticket, which can be contested if the officer’s discretion is questioned.
Are your licence plates legal??
Jim Hajas
Huntsville, ON
Ed.: Section 13(2)? Are you a retired police officer? Thanks for the input, Jim. It is probably a bad idea to have an obstructed licence plate in any jurisdiction in North America, including Ontario and Florida. We should also remember to remove the expired renewal tags from our Ontario licence plates to avoid confusion when we are driving outside of the province.
