The MVRO’s Frank Notte personally thanks Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario’s Finance Minister, for eliminating Toronto’s vehicle tax.
A 19-year Advocacy Battle Crosses the Finish Line
June 10, 2025
The Motor Vehicle Retailers of Ontario (MVRO) is celebrating a major victory with the passing of Ontario’s 2025 Budget, which permanently removes the City of Toronto’s power to impose a vehicle registration tax. The MVRO has made this a top advocacy priority since 2006, when the provincial government granted Toronto the power to impose this tax.
“We are incredibly thankful to Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy for getting rid of this tax for good,” said Brent Ravelle, President of MVRO and a new car retailer based in Listowel, Ontario. “Toronto drivers can move forward without the looming threat of unnecessary vehicle taxes.”
Toronto vehicle owners will save up to $94 million a year – the cost they would have faced if a $100-per-car tax had been implemented, according to a City of Toronto Staff Report.
“After 19 years, it’s fantastic to see Toronto’s vehicle registration tax finally run out of gas,” said Frank Notte, Director of Government Relations for MVRO. “New car retailers and Toronto drivers are no longer threatened by a needless tax that unfairly penalized people for simply owning a vehicle to run their household.”
The Budget – known legislatively as Bill 24, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act, was passed in the Ontario Legislature on June 3, 2025 with 70 MPPs voting in favour and 42 voting against. Bill 24 officially became law on June 5, 2025, when it received Royal Assent – the final step required to bring this legislation into force.
With Toronto’s taxing power officially revoked, Ontario’s 2025 Budget guarantees that no municipality in the province – Toronto included – will have the authority to tax the family car.
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