In Alberta, vehicle registration expires annually. Sometimes in life, things get a bit busy and chaotic.
It is easy to forget to renew your registration and get caught driving without it. It could be handy if there was a grace period for renewal.
Is there a grace period for vehicle registration in Alberta?
The answer is no, there is no grace period for vehicle registration in Alberta.
When your registration expires, you must not drive without renewing it first.
You can setup automatic reminders that let you know with plenty of notice ahead of time. Ask your local registry office for assistance with this.
Check out our other article on: How to register a car in Alberta?”
What Happens if I get Caught Driving with an Expired Vehicle Registration in Alberta?
If you are pulled over by the police and have expired registration, you will be given a fine of a few hundred dollars. In most cases you will be allowed to drive away with the fine, but in some instances, your vehicle may be towed.
When Does Vehicle Registration Expire in Alberta?
In Alberta, you can register a motor vehicle for 1 Year or 2 years. In either case, you must renew your registration by the end of the month it expires.
You have until midnight on the last day of your renewal month.
Your renewal month is correlated with your surname. Here is a chart of surnames and renewal months.
Can I Renew My Vehicle Registration Online in Alberta?
Yes, you can renew your vehicle registration online in Alberta. You can do that online here.
In order to do this you will first need to get a myalberta Digital ID if you don’t already have one. If you don’t know what that is, please see our other post What is the MyAlberta Digital ID.
You can renew an existing registration that has expired, but you can not get new registration online.
In this case, you would have to visit a local registries office in person, or submit documentation by mail.
Also note that online vehicle registration renewal will only be possible online if you do not have outstanding tickets or fines.
That being said, it is possible to pay your tickets online as well. However, this requires at least a couple days to process the payment before you can proceed with your online vehicle registration process.
In Summary
- There is no grace period for renewing your vehicle registration in Alberta. As soon as it expires, you are now driving illegally.
- There are hefty fines for getting caught with an expired registration.
- You can renew your registration online using MyAlberta Digital ID eservices, but only if you do not have outstanding fees or tickets. This is renewal only. You can’t create a new registration online.
