CA
US
So if you plan to register a car you fancy, it would be wise to do a thorough background check on it by running a VIN check and conducting a mechanical inspection. That way, you can ascertain if the car you intend to register is worth the money and effort.
With that said, it is time to explore the important stuff every car buyer and seller should know regarding Canadian vehicle registration.
Vehicle registration refers to the official process of documenting a motor vehicle with a government authority. This process involves providing necessary information about the vehicle, such as its make, model, year, and VIN, as well as the ownership details, to obtain a registration certificate. The registration certificate acts as a license for the vehicle to be legally operated on public roads and highways.
Vehicle registration is necessary to ensure that vehicles meet safety and environmental standards, and to keep track of legal ownership and usage. It also helps law enforcement identify and locate owners of vehicles in case of accidents, violations, or criminal activities.
In general, business owners of passenger vehicles, trucks, and other commercial vehicles may have additional requirements and regulations to follow when registering their vehicles for business use.
Vehicle registration often requires proof of insurance coverage, as it is a crucial aspect of ensuring that drivers, passengers, and other vehicles are financially protected in the event of an accident or damage caused by the registered vehicle.
The cost of motor vehicle registration varies by province in Canada. The usual determinants are the vehicle type, weight, and age. Each province has its own specific fees and regulations for motor vehicle registration.
Alberta Vehicle Registration
– Registration fees range from $84.45 to $159.45 for one or two years
– Sales tax rate is 5%
British Columbia (BC Vehicle Registration)
– Registration fees range from $18 to $142 annually
– Sales tax rate is 12%
Manitoba Vehicle Registration
– Registration fee is $129 per year
– Sales tax rate is 11%
New Brunswick Vehicle Registration
– Registration fees are based on weight and range from $61 to $189 annually
– Sales tax rate is 15%
Newfoundland and Labrador Vehicle Registration
– Registration fees range from $80 to $125 annually for most people, with seniors paying $45 to $72 annually
– Sales tax rate is 15%
Nova Scotia Vehicle Registration
– A recording fee of $13.20 is charged for registration, and the licence fee ranges from $143.30 to $333.90, renewable every two years
– Sales tax rate is 15%
Vehicle Registration in Ontario
– A $32 vehicle permit fee and a $59 licence plate fee are charged for registration
– Tax rate is 13%
Prince Edward Island Vehicle Registration
– Registration fee is $100 annually
– Tax rate is 15%
Quebec Vehicle Registration
– Registration fees range from $232.74 to $277.74 annually, depending on whether you’re outside or within Montreal
– Tax rate is 14.975%
Saskatchewan Vehicle Registration
– Registration fees vary based on the year, make, and model of the vehicle
– Tax rate is 11%
As with rules involving motor vehicle registration, the duration of vehicle registration and date of expiry may vary from province to province. Check out the list below for the general guidelines regarding the activation period of your local Canada vehicle registration.
Alberta
Vehicle registrations expire on a specific month, depending on your last name or company name. Expiration occurs at midnight on the last day of the prescribed month.
British Columbia
Licensees with Special Authorization who don’t renew their license by the expiry date can still have it renewed by the Registrar if they apply within 7 days after it expires and the Registrar believes the failure to renew was accidental.
Manitoba
No stated need for renewal from the government website if the vehicle is registered once.
New Brunswick
Commercial prorate plates have different expiration dates, Off-Road vehicle plates expire on December 31st. Seasonal plates are only good from April 1st to October 31st. All other registrations expire on March 31st.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Vehicles need to be renewed every year. The original expiration month stays the same, unless the vehicle registration is renewed three months or more after it originally expired.
Nova Scotia
You have to update your vehicle permit every 1 to 2 years, depending on the type of plate you have. If you have commercial plates, you might need to renew them more often. You can renew up to 10 vehicle permits at once, but they have to be in the same name as the plates.
Ontario
Just like renewing your Ontario driver’s license, you have to renew your license plate when you buy a car to keep your registration up to date. You don’t have to pay to renew your license plates in Ontario anymore, but you still need to renew your license every one to two years.
Prince Edward Island
You need to renew your vehicle registration every year.
Quebec
You need to renew your passenger vehicle’s registration every year, and the month you have to do it is based on the first letter of your last name.
Saskatchewan
If it’s been over a year since you last renewed, or your registration got canceled, you’ll have to go to a motor license issuer to renew. You can renew your registration 45 days before it expires.
Alberta
Your vehicle registration can last up to a year and will expire at midnight on the last day of the assigned month.
British Columbia
Vehicle registration, upon issuance, will usually take a year before reaching the expiry date.
Manitoba
Vehicle registration is presumably permanent unless ownership is transferred.
New Brunswick
Depending on the type of vehicle plates. registration may expire until a particular date next year.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Vehicles need to be renewed every year before the assigned expiration month.
Nova Scotia
Vehicle registration may last between 1 and 2 years.
Ontario
Vehicle registration may last every 1 to 2 years.
Prince Edward Island
Vehicle registration can last for one year.
Quebec
Vehicle registration has a duration of approximately one year, but the exact expiration month will depend on the first letter of your last name.
Saskatchewan
Unless your vehicle registration is canceled for some reason, the active duration for vehicle registration is usually one year.
Alberta Vehicle Registration Renewal Requirements
In Person
- contact with an Alberta Registry Agent
- driver’s licence
- proof of insurance (‘pink card’)
- vehicle registration certificate (optional)
- verified Alberta account
- payment for outstanding fines
- insurance details from your pink card
- credit card (VISA, MasterCard or American Express)
- current web browser (Internet Explorer 6 or higher, Firefox, Chrome or Safari)
- Payment for outstanding fees and/or vehicle registration renewal fees
- General or AMA main-in renewal form
- Completed Notice to Renew form
- w/ signature from an authorized signatory at Passenger Transportation Branch
- Required Documentation
- Photocopy of current vehicle registration
- Photocopy of Commercial Vehicle Inspection Report (if applicable)
- Photocopy of company certificate of incorporation / articles of incorporation
- Photocopy of valid British Columbia Financial Responsibility Certificate (if outside BC)
- Payment for fees
Private Sale
- Bill of Sale with names and signatures
- Signed Transfer of Ownership from previous owner
- Valid Certificate of Inspection
- New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS)
- Bill of Sale with names and signatures
- Bill of Sale with names and signatures
- Signed Transfer of Ownership from previous owner
- Valid Certificate of Inspection
- Autopac Insurance Coverage
- Bill of Sale with names and signatures
- Signed Transfer of Ownership from previous owner
- Temporary Registration Permit
- Valid Certificate of Inspection
- Other Proof of Identity / Ownership Requirements
- Vehicle Import Form (if coming from the US)
- New Vehicle Information Statement or equivalent (if coming from the US)
Below are the requirements you need to process registration renewal online;
- Current registration
- Insurance card
- Payment Options
- Vehicle Information
Renew Vehicle Registration Online at MyGovNL.
Nova Scotia Vehicle Registration Renewal Requirements
- Fill out the renewal form online.
- Look for information on what documents you need to include.
- Pay with your form.
- Send in your completed form, documents, and payment.
- You will get an email confirming your renewal from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Keep the confirmation and your old permit in your car.
- The Registry will mail you a new permit and sticker for your license plate.
When you renew:
– You won’t get a sticker anymore
– You don’t have to pay for renewal
– Cops will know right away that your plate is renewed
Prince Edward Island Vehicle Registration Renewal Requirements
You’ll need your current vehicle registration papers, a valid pink liability insurance card (if required), and the payment for the fees to renew your vehicle registration online.
Quebec Vehicle Registration Renewal Requirements
The SAAQ will send you a notice for your vehicle registration renewal each year. You can pay online or by mailing a check to the address below:
Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec Case postale 19100, succursale Terminus Québec (Québec) G1K 8J6
Saskatchewan Vehicle Registration Renewal Requirements
You can renew your vehicle registration at a licensing office or online using MySGI. If you go to an office, make sure to bring your renewal form and the expired registration for your vehicle.
In Canada, the vehicle registration number can typically be found on the vehicle registration documents provided by the provincial or territorial government. Additionally, many provinces offer online services that allow individuals to look up the registration number of a vehicle by entering the vehicle’s VIN or plate number.
Alberta
To transfer ownership, go to a registry agent and bring:
- acceptable ID
- proof of owning the new vehicle
- proof of valid insurance “pink card”
For the Seller
- Please download the APV9T Transfer/Tax Form in PDF format and fill it out using Acrobat Reader or get a copy from any Autoplan broker.
- Take off your license plates from the vehicle you are selling.
- Remove the insurance and registration document (APV250) from the vehicle. The registration portion should be carefully torn off.
- Give the registration document to the buyer with your signature on it.
- Once you have received payment, complete and sign the Transfer/Tax Form. Make sure that all four pages have your original signature.
- To finalize the transfer, bring the registration and Transfer/Tax Form to an Autoplan broker.
- Don’t forget to cancel your insurance or transfer it to a new vehicle.
- Obtain the vehicle registration from the seller, signed by the owner.
- Complete the Transfer/Tax Form (APV9T) PDF with Acrobat Reader, then sign the purchaser’s portion in full.
- You can also get a copy of this form from any Autoplan broker.
- Remember that all four pages must be filled out and original signatures are needed.
- Take these documents to an Autoplan broker to finish the transfer and we suggest going with the seller.
- Fill out the Transfer of Ownership Document (TOD)
- The TOD is a section on the vehicle registration card. The seller must fill in the date, odometer reading, and sign in the space provided. The purchaser must also sign.
- After completion, the seller keeps the left portion of the registration card and gives the right portion (TOD) to the purchaser to use when re-registering the vehicle.
- For unregistered vehicles, an Ownership Document is available upon request. The registration portion of the document is voided and only the vehicle and owner information is printed.
Ownership is transferred through a certain legal process. The registered owner must sign the registration certificate. The transfer document needs the purchaser’s name, address, and birth date.
The purchaser needs to go to an issuing office, surrender the registration certificate, and transfer the vehicle into their name. If the purchaser can’t be there, they need to give written authorization for someone else to do it.
Sales tax and fees need to be paid at the time of transfer. The vehicle can’t be driven until the registration certificate is in the new purchaser’s name.
Motor Vehicle Registration in Newfoundland and Labrador
For the seller
The seller must tell Motor Registration about the sale of the vehicle within 10 days. The Notice of Sale can be found on the back of the vehicle registration permit.
For the buyer
The buyer has 10 days to transfer ownership of the vehicle. They can drive the vehicle during this time if it has valid public liability insurance.
The seller’s vehicle registration permit, bill of sale, and Public Liability Insurance Card must be kept in the vehicle while it’s being driven and must be shown to a traffic officer if asked.
Documents needed:
- Seller’s vehicle registration permit (must be the owner)
- Bill of sale/sworn affidavit
- Completed and signed insurance declaration (back of vehicle registration permit)
- Motor vehicle safety inspection certificate
Transferring vehicle ownership is a legal process that costs $13.20. The seller needs to sign the Certificate of Registration and fill out the Transfer of Title Certificate of Sale. They must also return the Notice of Sale to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Within 30 days, the new owner needs to fill out an Application for Certificate of Registration and pay any necessary taxes and fees.
Ontario
You will have to bring the following documents when you visit a ServiceOntario centre:
- Filled out Sworn Statement for a Family Gift of a Used Motor Vehicle in the Province of Ontario form (if applicable)
- Proof of Ontario Vehicle Insurance
- Ontario Driver’s Licence
- Safety Standards Certificate (not needed for transfers between spouses, but you must complete a spousal declaration)
- Vehicle Ownership Permit with the completed part on the back
- Completed Plate Transfer Declaration if you are also transferring the licence plate (only allowed between spouses, parents and children)
Prince Edward Island
>When transferring ownership of a vehicle, the seller needs to fill out and sign the back of the registration permit. They also need to complete the Notification of Transfer form and mail it within 7 days of the transfer date to:
Registrar of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8
The new owner must transfer the vehicle registration into their name within 7 days of the transfer date. They must provide the vehicle permit signed by the previous owner, a bill of sale, a motor vehicle inspection form, and a valid insurance card.
Quebec
To transfer and register a vehicle online through SAAQclic, certain conditions must be met:
The seller must be the owner or co-owner of the vehicle and be at least 14 years old, while the buyer must be at least 18 years old.
Both the seller and buyer must:
– Use their own SAAQclic accounts to complete the transfer
– Have the legal right to sell or buy a vehicle
– Provide their banking information in the My Financial File section of SAAQclic
The vehicle must meet the following requirements;
– Be registered in Québec
– Be less than 25 years old
– Be a passenger vehicle (automobile, sport utility vehicle, or minivan) with a maximum capacity of 9 occupants
– Be used for personal purposes
Owners who need to update their vehicle registration information, such as a change of address or ownership, can typically do so through the local motor vehicle agency’s website or office.
If license plates are lost or stolen, owners must report the loss to the local provincial authorities and obtain replacement plates in a timely manner to avoid potential legal issues or misuse of the lost plates.
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