In Canada, every jurisdiction has different regulations regarding vehicle ownership transfers between the buyer and seller. The most commonly used document is a bill of sale.
What is a bill of sale?
When there is already a meeting of minds between the buyer and seller of a vehicle, the next step would be the signing of a vehicle bill of sale by both parties.
A bill of sale is a legal document that contains all the details of sale between the buyer and the seller. The document paves the way for new ownership and would generally include the following information relative to the vehicle being sold:
- The name of both the buyer and the seller
- The date and place where the sale was consummated
- A brief description of the vehicle and its vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Any specific warranty that may have been agreed upon
- The agreed sale price of the vehicle
What to do with a Bill of Sale?
The completion of forms doesn’t result in anything yet. In order to fully satisfy the requirements of sale, typically the seller also needs to sign off the back of the registration permit and report to the local vehicle registration agency along with other additional documents required by the corresponding jurisdiction.
Once the bill of sale is signed by both parties and notarized by the local vehicle registration agency, they can now come to a new registration under a new owner.
You can start completing your own bill of sale today. Please find the standard bill of sale forms for your province/territory below:
- Alberta
- British Columbia (BC requires a Transfer/Tax Form instead)
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick (A bill of sale is not required. A seller’s affidavit may be provided for additional documentation.)
- Newfoundland (A bill of sale is included on the back of the vehicle registration permit)
- Nova Scotia (A bill of sale is not required)
- Ontario (A bill of sale is included as part of a Used Vehicle Information Package).
- Quebec (Quebec advises a Sale Contract instead but does not require it)
- Prince Edward Island (A general bill of sale is sufficient)
- Saskatchewan
- Northwest Territories
- Nunavut
- Yukon
The table below will help you find the appropriate agency you should approach:
Province/Region |
Agency |
Alberta |
|
British Columbia |
|
Manitoba |
|
New Brunswick |
|
Newfoundland |
|
Nova Scotia |
|
Ontario |
|
Québec |
|
Prince Edward Island |
Prince Edward Island Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy |
Saskatchewan |
|
Northwest Territories |
Northwest Territories Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division |
Nunavut |
|
Yukon |
The most comprehensive Automotive Data & Analytics
- Automotive Market Trends & Insights
- White Papers & Researches
- Auto Market Analytics Articles