An expired driver’s licence is a risky thing to have; driving without a valid licence can lead to serious legal and financial repercussions.
In Manitoba, you are required to pay for your driver’s licence each year and renew your licence every 5 years. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about renewing your licence - and what happens if you don’t.
Renewal and reassessment are similar but distinct processes in Manitoba’s licensing system:
When you do not pay for your driver’s licence before the anniversary date (reassessment), it may not be suspended or cancelled immediately. Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) will send you letters alerting you of the upcoming suspension and telling you to pay the fee. Failure to do so may lead to suspension or cancellation - even if you do not receive the letters. Don’t risk it; pay on time.
In Manitoba, you must renew your driver’s licence every 5 years; it is your responsibility to know when your driver’s licence expires and when you need to renew it. MPI will, however, send you notices to alert you if your driver’s licence has expired.
You can find the expiry date on your driver’s licence; you can renew it up to 45 days prior to the expiry date, it is best to renew it a couple of weeks in advance to ensure that you get your new licence before the old one expires completely. However, you will receive a temporary licence when you renew so you won’t be left in the lurch if you wait until the last day to renew.
In the photo above, you’ll note that the expiry date (2015/12/07) is less than 5 years after the issuing date (2011/02/02). This is because licences can be issued on days outside of the 5-year renewal cycle; for example, if you lost your licence and you need a new one. Trust the expiry date on your licence; it should always accurately reflect the renewal date.
You only need to renew your licence every 5 years; other processes, such as the yearly licence reassessment, are not considered licence renewals. There are, however, several circumstances in which you may want to request a new driver’s licence. These circumstances include:
Changing your name and changing your address both involve a similar process. Your Autopac agent will take a new picture of you, update your name or address on your driver’s licence, and then charge you a $10 fee for a replacement licence.
When you change the gender marker on your driver’s licence, there is no need to pay a fee or get a new photo taken.
Driving without a driver’s licence means that you’re driving in contravention of Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act. This is specifically covered in Section 225(1), which states that no person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway while:
(a) The person's driver's licence is suspended or cancelled;
(b) The person is disqualified from holding a driver's licence;
(c) The person is otherwise prohibited from driving a motor vehicle on a highway; or
(d) The person is disqualified or prohibited from operating an off-road vehicle.
Failing to renew your driver’s licence can lead to it being suspended or cancelled, which makes it illegal for you to drive. The penalty for contravening this law is a fine of not more than $5000, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
These are extremely steep penalties; driving without a licence is a risk you should not take. Always pay your driver’s licence reassessment fee on time, and renew your driver’s licence before it expires every 5 years.
As Manitoba’s sole auto insurer, MPI is responsible for both licensing drivers and insuring vehicles. While driving without a licence does not technically mean you’re driving without insurance (insurance and licensing are handled differently by Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act), it does practically mean you’re driving without insurance.
MPI’s Guide to Autopac states that: “Your physical damage coverage may be refused if the damage or loss occurred when someone was driving without being qualified and authorized by law to drive.” Unlicensed drivers are not authorized by law to drive; neither are drivers with suspended driver’s licences.
These rules extend to third-party liability coverage, which means that MPI can refuse to cover you for liability claims if you were driving without a valid driver’s licence. Liability claims can be millions of dollars.
This combination - lapses in coverage for both physical damage coverage and third-party liability coverage - can be absolutely devastating if you are in an accident with another vehicle. Auto insurance exists because most people cannot afford the cost to replace their vehicle out of pocket. In some circumstances, you may have to pay the cost to repair your vehicle and pay for another person’s property out of pocket, costs that can lead to dire financial consequences.
By renewing your licence every 5 years and paying for reassessment each year, you can avoid a situation where your auto insurance refuses to pay out.
Keeping your licence up to date is important. Without a valid licence, you could end up facing serious fines or even jail time if you drive. MPI may also refuse to cover damage claims or liability claims for accidents that occurred while you were driving without a licence.
At R.A. Hughes, we can help you with your Autopac renewal; we take pictures, process change of address updates, and more. Our brokers can also help you understand your Autopac coverage, ensuring that you’re covered for what matters most to you.
