If your birthday is on or after Sept. 1 it’s going to cost you more to drive in Ontario.

The fees for licence plate stickers for regular and commercial vehicles will be going up, as well as new driver licences and licence renewals, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) says.

In southern Ontario, the fee for licence plate stickers for regular vehicles, and commercial vehicles being driven for personal use, is increasing from $98 to $108 dollars – that’s about a 10 per cent increase. The fee is going from $49 to $54 for those who live in northern Ontario. The fee will be $108 for business-use commercial vehicles in both parts of the province.

It will also cost slightly more for drivers to get new licences or renew them, from $80 to $81.50.

The MTO says several other fees are going up later in the fall. On Nov. 1, replacing a driver’s licence will now cost $28, up from $25.

Government officials say the fee increases are for the upkeep of transportation infrastructure, maintaining road safety and supporting key public services in the province.

Click here for the fee changes.

Hefty fines for distracted driving

Also starting on Tuesday, drivers using their smartphones while behind the wheel could face bigger fines as a handful of new road regulations go into effect.

The new set fine for distracted driving will be $400 plus a $90 victim surcharge, three demerit points and a 30-day suspension for novice drivers. Along with the new fine, a judge could further increase the amount up to $1,000, if the case goes to court.

The Making Ontario Roads Safer Act, which was approved unanimously in June, cracks down on distracted driving, including hiking fines and increasing demerit point penalties.

Under the act, drivers will also face a charge for “dooring” – when a driver or passenger in a car opens their door into the path of a cyclist. Doing so will result in a $365 fine, which includes the victim surcharge, and three demerit points.

The fine for not moving over a lane on the highway for emergency workers is also being raised to $490, which includes the victim surcharge.

Vehicles must also maintain, when possible, a one-metre distance when passing bicyclists. Drivers caught disobeying this rule will be fined $110, which includes the victim surcharge, and two demerit points.

Click here for a list of the fee changes.