Provincial Offences
What happens if you do not pay a traffic fine in Ontario?
Last updated October 8, 2026.
An Ontario traffic fine is due 15 days after it is imposed. If any part is still unpaid 15 days after that due date, the fine is in default: a $40 late fee is added, your driver's licence can be suspended, your licence plate permit can be refused, and the fine can be sent for civil enforcement, a collection agency or a credit report. You can ask the court for more time to pay at any time.
Unpaid fines cause more licence suspensions than many drivers expect, often because the notice went to an old address. Our page on help with provincial offences and traffic tickets covers the wider picture. This guide follows a fine from the day it is imposed to the day it is enforced, and sets out what you can do at each stage.
How does an unpaid fine get enforced, step by step?
The rules come from Part VI of the Provincial Offences Act (the POA) and from sections 7 and 46 of the Highway Traffic Act. Here is the usual order of events.
- The fine is imposed. That happens when you pay a ticket, plead guilty, are convicted after a trial, or are convicted without a hearing because you did not respond to a ticket within 15 days. A victim fine surcharge is added to every fine imposed in a Part I or Part III case (POA, s. 60.1), and the amount depends on the size of the fine (O. Reg. 161/00).
- The fine becomes due. A fine is due and payable 15 days after it is imposed unless an extension or agreement says otherwise (s. 66(1)). If you are in court, the justice must ask whether you want more time (s. 66(2)). If the fine was imposed without you, the clerk must send you notice of the fine, its due date and your right to apply for more time (s. 66(5)).
- The fine goes into default. A fine is in default if any part of it is due and unpaid for 15 days or more (s. 69(1)). An administrative fee is then added (s. 70). For fines imposed on or after January 1, 2016, that fee is $40 (O. Reg. 679/92).
- Your licence is suspended. For a fine under the Highway Traffic Act or another Act listed in section 46, an order or direction can be made that your driver's licence be suspended until the fine is paid (HTA, s. 46(2); POA, s. 69(2) and (5)). The Registrar then suspends the licence (HTA, s. 46(3)).
- Your plate permit can be refused. An order can also stop the Ministry from validating or issuing a vehicle permit until the fine is paid (HTA, s. 7(10) and (12.0.1)). The province's defaulted fines page says defaulted driver fines must be paid in full before you can renew your licence or order a plate, and that plates only renew automatically if you do not owe fines, fees or tolls.
- Collections can start. The clerk can file a certificate that turns the unpaid fine into a court judgment for civil enforcement, and enforcement costs are added (s. 68(1) and (4)). A municipality's collection agency costs can also be added, up to an amount the municipality approves (s. 70.1). After 90 days in default, the Ministry of the Attorney General may tell a consumer reporting agency your name, the amount and the default date (s. 69.1).
- A default hearing is the last step. If other reasonable ways of collecting have failed or are unlikely to work, a justice can issue a summons or warrant to bring you before the court (s. 69(6) and (7)). At that hearing you must show you are unable to pay within a reasonable time (s. 69(10)).
| When | What happens | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Day the fine is imposed | Fine plus victim fine surcharge; court asks about time to pay if you are present | POA ss. 60.1, 66(2) |
| 15 days after imposition | Fine is due and payable | POA s. 66(1) |
| 15 days or more after the due date | Fine is in default; $40 administrative fee added (fines imposed since January 1, 2016) | POA ss. 69(1), 70; O. Reg. 679/92 |
| After default | Driver's licence suspended until paid; plate permit validation refused | HTA ss. 46, 7(10), 7(12.0.1); POA s. 69(2) to (5) |
| After default | Civil enforcement as a court judgment; collection agency costs added | POA ss. 68, 70.1 |
| 90 days in default | Possible disclosure to a consumer reporting agency | POA s. 69.1 |
| Other methods failed | Summons or warrant for a default hearing | POA s. 69(6) to (17) |
How much is the victim fine surcharge?
The surcharge is set by a table in O. Reg. 161/00 and goes to the victims' justice fund account. Payments go to the fine first and then to the surcharge (POA, s. 60.1(3)). The court's guide for defendants says a justice of the peace has no power to waive or reduce the surcharge or court costs.
| Fine | Surcharge |
|---|---|
| $0 to $50 | $10 |
| $51 to $75 | $15 |
| $76 to $100 | $20 |
| $101 to $150 | $25 |
| $151 to $200 | $35 |
| $201 to $250 | $50 |
| $251 to $300 | $60 |
| $301 to $350 | $75 |
| $351 to $400 | $85 |
| $401 to $450 | $95 |
| $451 to $500 | $110 |
| $501 to $1,000 | $125 |
| Over $1,000 | 25% of the fine |
Can you get more time to pay?
Yes. A defendant may apply "at any time" for an extension, or a further extension, of the time to pay by filing the prescribed form in the court office (POA, s. 66.0.1(1)). The clerk can grant it if satisfied the request is made in good faith and will not be used to evade payment, or can send it to a justice (s. 66.0.1(2)). When a court considers the request, it must extend the time unless it finds bad faith or a likely attempt to evade payment, and it can do so by ordering periodic payments (s. 66(4)).
In Hamilton, the City's court office uses the Application for Extension of Time to Pay Fine (POA 0800). A separate application is needed for each fine. It can be emailed or mailed to Provincial Offences Administration, Room 110, 50 Main Street East, and the City suggests checking on its status after seven business days. More on that office is on our Hamilton Provincial Offences Court page.
What changes the answer?
Whether you knew about the conviction
Many defaults start with a conviction entered without a hearing. If you could not attend, or never received a notice, through no fault of your own, you can apply within 15 days of becoming aware of the conviction to have it struck out (POA, s. 11). See how to reopen a conviction entered without you. Paying the fine does not undo the conviction.
What kind of fine it is
Licence suspension under section 46 applies to fines for offences under the Highway Traffic Act and the Acts in its Schedule, which include the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, so a large driving without insurance fine can suspend a licence too. Plate denial under section 7(11) covers parking infractions, red light camera convictions and some school bus offences. Since August 2015, Hamilton parking tickets have been penalty notices under the City's Administrative Penalty By-law 17-225, handled outside the court, as explained on our Hamilton camera and parking tickets page.
Driving after the suspension
Driving while your licence is suspended for an unpaid fine is a separate offence, with a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 for a first offence (HTA, s. 53(1)(a)). A 2026 law (S.O. 2026, c. 7, Sched. 5) will raise those fines on a day still to be named; it was not in force when this page was written. Our page on penalties for driving while suspended has the detail.
Getting the licence back
The Registrar reinstates the licence once the fine and any reinstatement fee are paid, unless another suspension or unpaid amount is outstanding (HTA, s. 46(4)). The province lists a $281 reinstatement fee. Its defaulted fines page warns that paying does not guarantee you are eligible to drive, since other suspensions may apply.
Inability to pay
At a default hearing, if the justice is satisfied you cannot pay within a reasonable time, the justice may extend the time, set a payment schedule or, in exceptional circumstances, reduce the fine or order that it need not be paid (POA, s. 69(15)). The warrant and jail provisions do not apply to anyone under 18 (s. 69(20)).
Rules passed but not yet in force
The POA contains amendments from 2017 (S.O. 2017, c. 34, Sched. 35) that would replace the late fee with an administrative monetary penalty and require older defaulted fines to be paid first. e-Laws shows both as not in force, so the $40 fee still applies.
A worked example
For example, imagine a Hamilton driver named Malik who gets a ticket, means to deal with it, and then moves apartments. He updates his address with ServiceOntario but not with the court office, which the province says are separate. With no response after 15 days, he is convicted without a hearing and a fine is imposed. Suppose the fine is $200: under the surcharge table, $35 is added. The notice of the fine and due date goes to his old address.
About a month later the fine is in default and the $40 fee is added. Malik learns of all this when the Ministry tells him his licence is suspended. He looks up the case on the province's ticket portal using Hamilton's ICON location code, 4760, and the offence number. Because he did not receive the notices through no fault of his own, he could apply within 15 days to reopen the conviction. If he decides instead to pay, he can pay the defaulted fine online with the offence number and then deal with the $281 reinstatement fee. Either way, he does not drive until the licence is reinstated. Malik is a made-up person, and this is not a real case or a result anyone obtained.
Common mistakes people make with unpaid fines
- Assuming ServiceOntario tells the court you moved. The province says changing your address through ServiceOntario does not update it with the provincial offences courts.
- Waiting until the fine is in default to ask for time. The application can be made at any time, and it is easier before enforcement starts.
- Paying and thinking the record is cleared. Payment ends the debt, not the conviction. Any demerit points stay; see how demerit points work.
- Driving before the licence is reinstated. Paying online does not always make you eligible to drive right away, and driving while suspended carries its own fine.
- Missing the reopening window. If you never knew about the conviction, the 15 days to reopen start when you find out.
- Ignoring a default summons. Our article on the consequences of failing to appear explains why missing court makes things worse.
What to do this week
- Find the offence number on your ticket, notice of fine or fine order, and the ICON court location code (Hamilton is 4760).
- Check the status of the fine on the province's ticket and fines portal.
- Check your licence status online if you have had any letter from the Ministry.
- If you cannot pay in full, file an application for an extension of time to pay with the court office named on your ticket.
- If you only now learned of a conviction you knew nothing about, consider a reopening application within 15 days.
- Update your address directly with the court office, not just with ServiceOntario.
- If you are facing a default hearing or a suspension that affects your work, get advice from a licensed paralegal.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay a fine in instalments?
The court can extend the time to pay by ordering periodic payments (POA, s. 66(4)). Ask through an application for an extension of time, which in Hamilton is form POA 0800.
Can I go to jail for not paying a traffic fine?
Only at the end of a long process. A warrant or summons for a default hearing can be issued only if other reasonable methods of collection have failed or are unlikely to work (POA, s. 69(6)). A justice who finds you cannot pay within a reasonable time can extend the time instead.
Will an unpaid fine show up on my credit report?
It can. Once a fine has been in default for at least 90 days, the Ministry of the Attorney General may disclose it to a consumer reporting agency, and must tell the agency when it is paid in full (s. 69.1).
Where do I pay a defaulted fine?
The province says defaulted driver fines can be paid online using your driver's licence number and the offence number, or in person at a ServiceOntario centre. Vehicle fines such as parking and red light camera fines are paid when you renew your licence plate.
Does paying the fine late add demerit points?
No. Points come from the conviction, not from payment, under O. Reg. 339/94. The late fee and enforcement steps are separate from the points.
Can the justice waive the surcharge?
The court's guide says a justice of the peace has no power to waive or reduce the victim fine surcharge or court costs. In exceptional circumstances at a default hearing, a justice may reduce the fine or order that it need not be paid (s. 69(15)).
Can a licensed paralegal help with an unpaid fine?
Yes. A licensed paralegal may advise on and represent you in Provincial Offences Act matters before the Ontario Court of Justice, including extension applications, reopening applications and default hearings (Law Society of Ontario By-Law 4, s. 6).
Sources
- Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33, ss. 11, 60.1, 66, 66.0.1, 68, 69, 69.1, 70, 70.1 (Ontario e-Laws)
- Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, ss. 7, 46, 53 (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 161/00, Victim Fine Surcharges (Ontario e-Laws)
- O. Reg. 679/92, Fee for Late Payment of Fines (Ontario e-Laws)
- Paying defaulted fines and driver's licence reinstatement (ontario.ca)
- Reinstate a suspended driver's licence (ontario.ca)
- Check the status of traffic tickets and fines online (ontario.ca)
- Provincial offences court locations, ICON codes (ontario.ca)
- Guide for Defendants in Provincial Offences Cases (Ontario Court of Justice)
- Provincial Offences Notice: extension of time to pay (City of Hamilton)
- Parking Penalty Notice (City of Hamilton)
- By-Law 4, Licensing, s. 6 (Law Society of Ontario)
Need help with a provincial offence? Contact us today for legal support.
This page gives general information about Ontario law, not legal advice for your situation. Cheddar Paralegal PC is a paralegal firm licensed by the Law Society of Ontario; licensed paralegals can help only with matters the Law Society allows paralegals to handle.