Alberta · Driving and vehicles
Licence plate sticker and registration in Alberta
Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked
Short answer
To register a vehicle in Alberta, take proof of ownership, proof of insurance and acceptable ID to a registry agent. Vehicles bought outside Alberta must pass an inspection first. Registrations expire in a month set by your surname and can be renewed online with a verified Alberta.ca Account, by mail, or at a registry agent. Plate stickers are no longer needed.
Who handles it
Alberta registry agents (Government of Alberta)
They handle it in Alberta.
New registrations and plates are done at a registry agent; renewals can also be done online or by mail.
Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.
Who can apply
Anyone 18 or older can register a vehicle. Someone under 18 who is not self-supporting or married needs a parent's or guardian's consent the first time.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
Steps
A vehicle bought elsewhere in Canada must pass an Alberta Out of Province Vehicle Inspection before it can be registered. Get an Inspection Request from a registry agent before you go to the inspection station.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
You can renew online if nothing on the registration has changed. You need a verified Alberta.ca Account, your registration certificate, insurance details from your pink card and a credit card.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
What you need
Bring proof of ownership such as a bill of sale or lease, proof of valid insurance in your name, acceptable ID, and any required inspection report to a registry agent.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
How long it takes
New Alberta residents must switch their vehicle to an Alberta registration within 90 days of moving.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
Passenger vehicle and motorcycle registrations last from 1 to 2 years, and they expire in a month assigned by your surname.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
Where to go
You can also renew at any registry agent with your driver's licence and pink insurance card, or by mail with a cheque or money order if the registration expires in 30 days or more.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
Good to know
You cannot register a vehicle if you have unpaid fines.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
Expiry stickers have not been needed on Alberta licence plates since January 1, 2021.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
Questions people ask
Can I renew my Alberta vehicle registration online?
Yes, if there are no changes and you have no unpaid fines. You need a verified Alberta.ca Account. Allow 10 business days for the account activation code to arrive by mail.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
When does my Alberta vehicle registration expire?
In a month assigned by your surname. Check the registration expiry date chart or your registration certificate.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
How much does vehicle registration cost in Alberta?
Alberta lists renewal fees in its Registry Agent Product Catalogue rather than on the renewal page. Registry agents can tell you the amount for your vehicle.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
Do I need to register my car in Alberta if I am only staying a short time?
No. If you are in Alberta for less than 183 days and your vehicle is registered somewhere else, you do not have to register it here.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
Can someone else register or renew my vehicle in Alberta for me?
Yes. They need a valid Alberta driver's licence or ID card, your proof of ownership and insurance, and an Authorization for Vehicle Services form that you have signed.
Source: alberta.cachecked #
In every province and territory
The same service across Canada: who handles it and the official link. Alberta is marked.
| Province or territory | Who handles it | Official link | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | ICBC (through Autoplan brokers) | Register a vehiclechecked | Register and get plates at any Autoplan broker; B.C. plates no longer need a renewal decal, you renew the insurance. |
| AlbertaThis page | Alberta registry agents (Government of Alberta) | Register a vehiclechecked | New registrations and plates are done at a registry agent; renewals can also be done online or by mail. |
| Saskatchewan | SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance) | Renew your registrationchecked | Register or renew at a motor licence issuer, or renew online in MySGI. |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) | Register a vehiclechecked | Register, get plates and renew at any Autopac agent or MPI Service Centre. |
| Ontario | ServiceOntario (Ministry of Transportation) | Register a vehiclechecked | Most passenger vehicle, motorcycle and moped plates now renew automatically at no cost; commercial and some other vehicles still renew each year. |
| Quebec | Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) | Register a vehiclechecked | |
| New Brunswick | Service New Brunswick | Renew registration onlinechecked | Plate stickers stopped on April 1, 2026, but registration must still be renewed every year. |
| Nova Scotia | Registry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia) | Renew your vehicle permitchecked | Renewals can be done online; first registration and plates are done at an Access Nova Scotia or RMV office. |
| Prince Edward Island | Access PEI (Highway Safety Division, Government of PEI) | None on record | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Motor Registration Division (Government Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador) | How to register a vehiclechecked | |
| Yukon | Motor Vehicles (Government of Yukon) | None on record | New registrations are done at a Motor Vehicles office; renewals can be done online. Yukon no longer issues plate stickers. |
| Northwest Territories | Driver and Vehicle Services (Department of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories) | Renew a vehicle registrationchecked | |
| Nunavut | Motor Vehicles Division (Government of Nunavut) | Register a private vehiclechecked |
Cite this page
Canada Service Map, "Licence plate sticker and registration in Alberta", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vehicle-registration/alberta