Changes to Farm Licence Plate Requirements

Starting January 1, 2015, vehicle owners wishing to purchase or attach farm plates to a new commercial vehicle over 3000 kg will need to provide documentation to demonstrate that they have a farm business.

Only those clients purchasing or attaching new farm plates to a vehicle will be required to show proof of farm business as of January 1, 2015. The new requirements will not affect any current farm plate owners who are renewing their farm plates.

What documentation do I have to show to prove I have a farm business?

A Farm Business Registration (FBR) number is proof that you run a farm business and any one of the following documents will prove that you have an FBR or are exempt:

1. A farm organization membership card;
2. A Gross Farm Income Exemption Certificate;
3. A letter from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal indicating religious exemption;
4. A letter from Agricorp with your FBR number; or
5. A letter from the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario confirming that the producer has met the FBR eligibility requirements.

Why is the Ministry of Transportation making these changes?

Ontario’s Auditor General (OAG), in its 2012 annual report on the Drive Clean Program and the 2013 annual report on ServiceOntario, noted an increasing number of vehicles with farm plates and was concerned that no verification is required to obtain farm plates. In both audit reports, the OAG recommended the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) review the requirements for obtaining a farm plate, to ensure that no abuse of the system was taking place.

As a result, MTO is implementing new requirements for issuing or attaching farm plates to a commercial vehicle. This will ensure that only qualified farmers obtain farm plates and receive the benefits associated with having a farm plate.

For more information:

• about the Farm Business Registration program, please contact Agricorp. Their Contact Centre is open Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling 1-888-247-4999 or TTY: 1-877-275-1380. Their email address is: contact@agricorp.com
• about farm licence plates, visit a Service Ontario location near you or contact them at https://www.ontario.ca/serviceontario, or by phone at 1‑800-387-3445.

Source: OntarioPork