The Villager

A: When it comes to losing a licence plate, automatic car washes seem to be one of the most popular places.

Sometimes those large spinning brushes can grab a loose-fitting licence plate, antenna or mirror causing the item to tear away from the vehicle perhaps with a bit of damage to the paint along the way. With different body shapes and styles, some vehicles can be problematic in a car wash.

If you discover a licence plate missing (usually the front plate) and you have recently visited a car wash, there is a good chance you will find it there if you return and see the attendant. If it's lost for good then there is a bit of a process involved to get a replacement from the Ministry of Transportation.

First, the lost plate must be reported to the police. Some police services will take the report over the phone while others insist on the loss being reported in person at the station.

Licence plates remain the property of the Ministry of Transport, however they are 'owned' by individuals and only 'registered' to a specific vehicle. This allows owners who purchase a new or different vehicle to move their licence plates from one vehicle to another.

The officer will require proof of ownership of the plate so the person reporting the loss should bring the vehicle registration slip to the police station for examination. The officer will complete a Lost Licence Plate occurrence form and provide the person with an occurrence number required by the ministry.

The officer will then complete and hand to the person filing the report a replacement declaration, which is proof the lost plate has been reported to the police.

The replacement declaration must be submitted to the licencing office when applying for a replacement set of licence plates.

When attending the licencing office to obtain the replacement licence plates, be sure to bring in the remaining licence plate and the registration slip as ministry staff will immediately cancel those licence numbers from the system and replace them with new numbered plates. There is a cost for replacement licence plates, usually in the $10 to $20 range.

Vanity plates can also be replaced, but at a higher cost.

Some tips to avoid losing licence plates?

While car washes are usually vehicle friendly, it doesn't hurt to check for loose items before going for a wash. Make sure the front licence plate is firmly in place with at least two bolts attaching it to the bumper. Plastic licence plate holders are a good way of avoiding any paint damage if the plate does become separated from the vehicle.

And by the way, for those who drivers who simply never seem to get around to reporting and replacing their missing licence plate, driving with only one licence plate is an offence in the Highway Traffic Act that carries a fine of $115.