Renew Your Health Card and Driver's Licence Online — No Lineup Required
What you will learn: How to renew your Ontario health card (OHIP) and driver's licence online, without visiting a ServiceOntario office — usually in under 15 minutes.
Dorothy, 72, from Woodstock, Ontario. Every five years, Dorothy would plan an entire morning around her health card renewal — drive to the ServiceOntario office on Dundas Street, find parking, take a number, wait 45 minutes, stand for a photo, and drive home. The trip usually took three hours.
Then her son showed her she could do the whole thing online. It took eight minutes. Her new card arrived in the mail three weeks later.
"I had driven to that office six times in my life for renewals," Dorothy said. "I could have been doing this from my kitchen table the whole time."
Most Ontario seniors can renew both their health card and driver's licence online — no office visit, no photo required (your existing photo is reused). The main exception: drivers aged 80 and older must visit a ServiceOntario office to complete a mandatory vision test as part of renewal.
Part 1: Renewing Your Ontario Health Card Online
Your Ontario health card (the green photo card) can be renewed online if it is expired or expiring within 90 days. You will need:
- Your current health card (to find your 10-digit number and version code)
- Your date of birth
- Your current Ontario mailing address
Renewing your health card step by step:
That is it. No photo, no office, no parking. Your new card is on its way.
Some cards cannot be renewed online — for example, if your name has changed or if your card is the older red-and-white style. The website will tell you if you need to visit an office. To find your nearest ServiceOntario location: ontario.ca/page/serviceontario-locations.
Part 2: Renewing Your Ontario Driver's Licence Online
Most Ontario drivers with a valid Class G or Class G2 licence can renew online. You will need:
- Your current Ontario driver's licence
- Your date of birth
- Your postal code
- A credit or debit card for payment (approximately $90 for a 5-year renewal)
If you are 80 or older, Ontario requires you to visit a ServiceOntario office for each renewal — you must complete a vision test and a knowledge screening as part of the process. The online renewal option is not available for drivers in this group. This is a mandatory road safety requirement, not a technology limitation.
Renewing your driver's licence step by step:
Other Things You Can Do at ServiceOntario Online
- Renew your vehicle licence plate sticker — ontario.ca/renewplates. Enter your licence plate number and pay the annual fee. A new sticker arrives by mail.
- Change your address with the Ministry of Transportation — update your address for your licence and vehicle registration records.
- Order a driving record — for insurance or employment purposes, you can order a certified copy of your driving record online.
- Register a death — ontario.ca/deathregistration. Notify the province of a family member's death online, which triggers updates across multiple provincial services simultaneously.
Creating a My ServiceOntario Account (Optional)
You do not need an account to renew your health card or driver's licence — the steps above work without one. However, a free My ServiceOntario Account lets you:
- See all your upcoming renewal dates in one place
- Receive email reminders when renewals are due — no more expired cards
- View your renewal history
To create an account: visit ontario.ca/myserviceontario, click "Create Account," and follow the prompts. You will need your email address and a password.
Health card renewed. Driver's licence renewed. Plate sticker handled. All from home.
The ServiceOntario office is still there for things that genuinely need an in-person visit — but most routine renewals are no longer one of them.
Quick Answers
Yes, if you have the current green photo health card. Go to ontario.ca/renewhealthcard and enter your 10-digit card number, version code (two letters on the back), and date of birth. There is no fee. Your renewed card arrives by mail in 4–6 weeks.
No. Ontario requires drivers aged 80 and older to visit a ServiceOntario office for each renewal to complete a mandatory vision test and knowledge screening. This is a provincial road safety requirement and applies regardless of your health or driving history. Find your nearest office at ontario.ca/page/serviceontario-locations.
The version code is the two-letter code printed on the back of your green Ontario health card, usually in the bottom right corner. It looks like "AA" or "BC" or similar. Each time a new card is issued, the version code changes. You need both the 10-digit number on the front and the version code on the back to renew online.
Some situations require an office visit: your name has changed, your card is the older red-and-white style, your information could not be verified, or your licence has been suspended or expired for more than one year. The website will explain the reason. Call ServiceOntario at 1-800-267-8097 for assistance, or visit an office. Bring your current card and a piece of ID.