Toronto, Ontario — The Automotive Recyclers of Canada has revealed details regarding planned upgrades to the Retire Your Ride program.
On Wednesday, Wally Dingman, executive director of the ARC, said the modernized digital platform for the long-running Retire Your Ride program will streamline the vehicle recycling processes and enhance the user experience for both recyclers and consumers. He added that the new platform marks a significant step forward for the organization.
“We’re transitioning these programs to a modern platform with greater flexibility, improved filtering and bidding options and an enhanced consumer experience,” said Dingman. “It will bring the program into the 20th century.”
The new platform will undergo a soft launch in July, giving users a chance to test the system and provide feedback. A full hard launch is expected in August, coinciding with a national promotional push.
The ARC has run the Retire Your Ride vehicle recycling program since 2003. It was based on a federal government initiative to remove high-polluting vehicles from Canadian roads. The ARC took over many of the legacy components from the original program.
“The ARC is looking forward to modernizing the platform and expanding the program. With the update and a more aggressive marketing approach, we expect to start adding more recyclers to the platform,” said Dingman. “That’s important because the program has proven effective and continues to serve its environmental goals and the industry.”
The updated system, accessible through RetireYourRide.ca, introduces several new features designed to improve collaboration between recyclers across Canada. One major improvement includes the ability to filter search results by region, allowing recyclers to locate and bid on vehicles more efficiently across provincial boundaries.
Originally created as an environmental initiative to remove older, high-emission vehicles from Canadian roads, the Retire Your Ride program has evolved to support both sustainability and the circular economy. With the launch of this new platform, ARC aims to make vehicle retirement easier, more transparent, and more beneficial for all stakeholders involved.
This isn’t the first time the ARC has altered the program since taking control of it from the Canadian government. Previously, vehicles recycled through the program were prohibited from having their engine components resold. The ARC has now relaxed this restriction, signalling a shift toward increased flexibility for recyclers. Under the updated policy, vehicles can be resold unless they are specifically marked as “parts only.”
