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How to Check Vehicle Registration Status in Alberta

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How to know if your license plate is expired

As an upstanding citizen of Alberta, you always want to stay on the right side of the law. Something that might seem trivial, like driving with an expired vehicle registration might get you in trouble with penalties, like paying fines and even licence suspension.

Unfortunately, your vehicle registration certificate has an expiry date and failing to renew it beforehand, might be a costly mistake to amend. There are ways to prevent that from happening. One way is to check your vehicle registration status and find out if your vehicle registration is active before it’s too late. In this post, we will go through the process from A to Z.

How to Check the Status of Your Vehicle Registration

You have six options if you’d like to check the status of your vehicle registration.

Before we start with the five options, let’s go over the requirements for vehicle registration renewal.

What you need for online vehicle registration renewal in Alberta and driver’s licence plate:

Valid insurance

Current vehicle registration certificate

Updated web browser

Credit or debit card

Once you visit the Goldkey Registry website and provide all the information needed, you will get a digital download of your vehicle registration certificate. If you have any fines, you can still finalize your registration on time. We’ll send you a secure payment link through the GoldKey renewal form so you can pay them quickly and continue your renewal without delay.

Goldkey also has an auto-renewal service. Turn on auto-renewal, and we will take care of the rest. We renew eligible vehicles one month before expiry. If you have unpaid fines, we will send an early reminder for you to pay them on time and keep everything on track. Never miss a vehicle registration deadline again, with Goldkey.

Here is how to check if your vehicle registration is expired or active.

1-Find Your Vehicle Registration Certificate

You can check the status through the vehicle registration certificate. In most cases, you will find it in the glove compartment of your car. If it’s missing, look around inside the vehicle.

What a Vehicle Registration Certificate Typically Includes:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
License plate number
Owner’s name and address
Vehicle details (make, model, year)
Registration expiry date

2-Find the Expiry Date of Your Vehicle Registration

Check the expiry chart here. Your vehicle registration expiry date is based on the first letter of your last name or your company’s name. For example, if your last name is Norton, your registration expiry month would be May. This means you must renew your vehicle registration before midnight on May 31.

3-Check Online Through Your Alberta.ca Account

You can check the status of your vehicle registration or renew it through the online website provided by the Alberta government. You need a verified Alberta.ca Account
Once you provide all the information needed, you will get a digital download of your vehicle registration certificate.
Note that you can’t use this online system to renew your vehicle registration if you have outstanding fines or need to change the name or address of registered owner.
Also note that not all motor vehicles require registration. Types of cars that require registration include a passenger vehicle, off highway vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and farm vehicles.

Note: This is slower than other options, as you may have to wait for weeks to receive a response.

4-Contact Your Registry

Need to find out if your vehicle registration is expiring soon? Give us a call at 403-934-2375 or send us an email, we’d be happy to assist you!

5-Request a Vehicle Information Report (VIR)

A Vehicle Information Statement is a non-protected report that provides details about a vehicle registered in Alberta only. When you request a vehicle information report, you can find the following information:

A description of the vehicle, including the year, make, model, body style, colour, and fuel type
The current status of the vehicle (such as active, rebuilt, or salvaged)
The odometer reading, if one has been provided
The date and location of registration
The number of registered liens, if applicable

How to Request a Vehicle Information Report

To obtain a vehicle information report, you’ll need:

The vehicle identification number (VIN), as well as the year, make, and model of the vehicle.
The fee for a vehicle information report is $25, inclusive of service charges.
Request it through the Alberta eServices Portal or the Goldkey Registry.
Alternatively, you can visit a registry agent office in person for assistance.

Read More:

6-Visit a Registry Agent Office in Person

Visit GoldKey Registry to take care of everything in one place. Our team can help you find the information you need, pay any outstanding fines, and process address changes.

When visiting our office, please bring the following documents:

- Driver’s licence
- Proof of insurance (pink card)
- Vehicle registration certificate (optional)

Why You Need to Check the Status of Your Vehicle Registration

Knowing how to check the status of your vehicle registration certificate can be especially helpful in the following situations:

- You’re unsure of your vehicle registration or licence plate renewal date
- You’re enrolled in an auto-renewal service and want to confirm your registration was renewed on time
- You’ve recently transferred ownership of a vehicle and want to ensure the information was updated correctly
- You’ve made a change of address and want to confirm it was processed properly
- You’re unsure whether outstanding fines may prevent renewal
- You’ve misplaced your registration documents and want to confirm your registration is still valid before requesting replacements
- You’re concerned that your vehicle registration may be suspended for any reason
- You’re planning to purchase a used vehicle and want to verify that its registration is valid

How to Find the Expiry Date of Your Vehicle Registration

In some cases, you don’t need to purchase a vehicle information report to check the status of your vehicle registration. If you’re confident there are no outstanding fines or liens, all you need to know is the expiry date so you can renew your registration before it expires.

You can find your registration expiry date using the expiry chart, which is based on the first letter of your last name or business name. Each letter corresponds to a specific month.

For example, if your renewal month is May, your registration must be renewed by midnight on May 31 to remain valid.

What Happens If You Don’t Renew Your Vehicle Registration on Time

Driving without a valid vehicle registration is illegal. If you’re caught operating an unregistered vehicle, you may face the following consequences:

The fine for driving without a valid registration in Alberta is typically around $230 but may vary.
Law enforcement may impound and tow your unregistered car. You will have to register the car and pay any associated fees- in addition to towing fees- to retrieve your car.
Driving a car with expired registration may void your insurance in some car insurance policies.
If your unregistered car is involved in an accident, the insurance company may deny your claim.

To Wrap Up

Driving without a valid vehicle registration can lead to unnecessary trouble, but the good news is it’s easy to avoid. One of the best ways to stay compliant is by regularly checking the status of your vehicle registration and renewing it on time.

With GoldKey Registry, you can quickly check your registration status and renew it before it expires, online or in person. Drive with confidence and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re following the rules of the road.

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