Is It Possible To Register a Car With Outstanding Fines in Manitoba?
You cannot register or renew the registration of a vehicle in Manitoba if you have outstanding fines or other debts owed to the provincial government. Manitoba Justice can place a hold on your driver's licence and vehicle registration when provincial fines or traffic tickets remain unpaid. This enforcement action is administered through Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), the Crown corporation responsible for vehicle registration and driver licensing services in the province.
Outstanding Fines and Registry Services Suspension
The provincial collection program enforces payment of all debts owed to the government of Manitoba. When fines, penalties, or other amounts become overdue, the program implements enforcement actions that include suspension of motor vehicle and driver licensing services through Manitoba Public Insurance.
The collection system operates under the authority of the Provincial Offences Act, the Highway Traffic Act, and the Family Support Enforcement Act, providing broad powers to restrict access to government services as a mechanism to encourage payment compliance. Manitoba Public Insurance cannot remove the hold from your account until all outstanding amounts have been paid in full to Manitoba Justice or the appropriate enforcement agency.
Types of Fines That Block Registration
The following categories of outstanding debts will prevent vehicle registration and renewal in Manitoba:
- Traffic violation tickets - Issued under the Highway Traffic Act for speeding, distracted driving, improper lane changes, driving without insurance, and other traffic offences
- Provincial offence fines - Penalties issued under various provincial statutes including municipal by-law violations
- Criminal Code fines - Court-ordered monetary penalties resulting from criminal convictions
- Default conviction penalties - A $100 penalty added when you fail to respond to a ticket by the final response date shown on the ticket
Registry Services Affected
When you have outstanding debts to the provincial government or unpaid family maintenance obligations, you will be unable to access the following services through Manitoba Public Insurance:
- Vehicle registration for newly acquired vehicles
- Vehicle registration renewals
- Transfer of vehicle ownership
- Driver's licence renewals
- Driver's licence reinstatements following suspension
- Replacement driver's licences
- Replacement licence plates or decals
- Off-road vehicle registration (Snopass)
- Manitoba Identification Card issuance
Payment Options and Processing Times
Online Payment Methods
Outstanding traffic violation tickets and provincial offence fines can be paid through several convenient channels:
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Manitoba Justice Online Fine Payment portal - Provincial offence tickets can be paid online at gov.mb.ca/justice/tickets/finepayment.html. Only full payments can be made online using Visa or MasterCard. You will need your ticket number, date of offence, and original fine payable amount to complete the transaction. Payments made online are usually processed within 24 hours. There is no fee to pay your fine online.
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E-transfer payment - Provincial Offences Court now accepts e-transfers for ticket payments. Refer to the notice regarding e-transfer payments for specific instructions and details.
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Telephone inquiry service - Call 204-945-3156 in Winnipeg or toll-free 1-800-282-8069 (extension 3156) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). While you cannot make payments by telephone, court staff can provide information about your outstanding fines and payment options.
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In-person payment locations - Payments are accepted at the following locations:
- Provincial Court offices throughout Manitoba
- Manitoba Public Insurance Service Centres
- Autopac broker locations across the province
Accepted payment methods for in-person transactions at Provincial Court offices include cash, debit card, Visa, MasterCard, cheque, and money order. Court offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays.
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Payment by mail - Send a cheque or money order in Canadian funds, payable to the Minister of Finance, along with a copy of your ticket or the ticket number written on the cheque or money order. Do not mail cash or post-dated cheques. You must pay in full (no partial payments). Mail to:
Provincial Offences Court
373 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4S4
Allow sufficient mailing time for the payment to reach the court office by the final response date shown on your ticket.