Company Name Lettering Size Ontario Trucks — CVOR Requirements 2026
Last updated: March 2026 | Source: Ontario Highway Traffic Act R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 628; MTO Commercial Vehicle Safety Bulletin
The Regulation: What Ontario Actually Requires
Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act and the CVOR registration system administered by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), every registered commercial vehicle over 4,500 kg GVWR must display the following on both sides of the vehicle:
- The CVOR certificate number
- The name under which the operator is registered
- The city of the operator's principal place of business in Ontario
The critical dimension: all characters must be at least 50mm (2 inches) tall. This applies to both the CVOR number and the company name. There is no separate, smaller size permitted for the company name — the 50mm minimum applies to all required markings.
Does the Company Name Have a Maximum Size?
Ontario MTO regulations specify a minimum letter height (50mm) but do not set a maximum. Larger company name lettering is permitted and often desirable for brand visibility. Many fleet operators use company name lettering of 75mm to 100mm height for maximum visual impact while keeping the CVOR number at the minimum-compliant 50mm.
Font Requirements for CVOR Lettering
Ontario MTO regulations do not mandate a specific typeface or font family for CVOR markings. The requirement is that lettering must be:
- At least 50mm in height (measured from baseline to cap height)
- In a colour that contrasts with the vehicle background
- Clearly legible (no script fonts that reduce legibility at a distance)
- Kept clean and maintained in a legible condition at all times
Our standard CVOR decals use a bold sans-serif font that maximises legibility from the roadside. Script and decorative fonts, while permitted by the letter of the regulation, can draw inspector scrutiny if they're judged to reduce legibility — we don't recommend them for compliance markings.
Where Does the Company Name Go on the Vehicle?
The company name, city, and CVOR number must appear on both sides of the commercial vehicle. The standard placement is the cab door panel. For trucks where the door panel is too narrow to accommodate proper lettering, the MTO accepts placement on the area immediately forward or rearward of the door, provided it's on the same side of the vehicle.
| Line | Content | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Company Name | 75–100mm (3–4") |
| Line 2 | City, Ontario | 50mm minimum (2") |
| Line 3 | CVOR: XXXXXXXX | 50mm minimum (2") |
| Line 4 (if applicable) | USDOT: XXXXXXX | 50mm minimum (2") |
Common Mistakes That Fail MTO Inspection
Based on common MTO inspection violations, the following issues trigger compliance flags:
- Company name lettering below 50mm height — the most frequent violation
- Lettering colour same as or too similar to vehicle background colour
- Displaying a trade name that doesn't match the registered CVOR name
- Missing city designation — the city must be explicitly stated
- Lettering on only one side of the vehicle
- Faded, peeling, or damaged decals that reduce legibility
How Long Do Truck Lettering Decals Last?
Our CVOR compliance decals use premium outdoor cast vinyl with a 7-year outdoor durability rating. However, commercial vehicles subject to highway conditions, pressure washing, road salt, and physical contact can see decal wear accelerate. MTO requires that lettering be maintained in a legible condition at all times — a faded or damaged decal that is hard to read is a compliance violation regardless of how recently it was installed.
We recommend inspecting your CVOR door markings annually and replacing any decals that show significant fading, lifting edges, or physical damage. Replacement decals ship same day from our Ontario production facility.
Order MTO-Compliant CVOR Decals
Custom CVOR decals with your company name, city, and registration number. 50mm lettering, premium outdoor vinyl, ships same day from Ontario.
Order CVOR Decals →