If you’re getting YOM licence plates this summer, please read this whole article. All of it applies to you.
All Ontario YOM licence plate applications must be processed by the Ministry of Government Services in Kingston.
Summer is when people enjoy booking their vacation time, and summer is also the peak volume period for YOM licence plates. This means that YOM applicants can expect roughly 8 weeks processing time to receive their plates and new ownership slip. This is longer than the 2-4 weeks stated on the Ministry website. This typically happens through July and August.
The registration process requires that you send your original vehicle ownership slip with the plates when you apply. You are legally allowed to drive your vehicle with a photocopy of the ownership in the glove box. If your vehicle currently uses regular plates, you can still drive legally while the YOM application process plays out.
If your vehicle does not yet have any plates, we recommend that you acquire a set of regular plates for it first. Then you can make a photocopy of your ownership and drive around while your YOM plates go through the process. The reason: If your vehicle is unplated, and you send your ownership to Kingston with your YOM plates, your vehicle could be idle for 8 or more weeks through the summer, with no plates to legally drive the vehicle in the meantime.
If you’re concerned about your plates while they’re in Kingston, email pso@ontario.ca or call 1-800-387-3445. If calling, mention that you have a Year of Manufacture licence plate application in progress, and you would like to speak with a person in the Kingston Production & Verification Services Office (Renewals Section), of the Ministry of Government Services. You should be transferred to the Kingston office, where you can ask for an update. Please be respectful. These are good, hard-working people who perform a lot of other tasks behind-the-scenes. They need holiday time, just like you.
To read our FAQ about the overall YOM application process, click here.