How to Buy a Car Privately in New Brunswick (2026)
This page is the free New Brunswick guide. No sign-in. Read on.
Facts checked September 2026 · See what changed · How we check
Private car sales in New Brunswick can save you thousands, but without a dealer warranty, due diligence is on you. This guide covers lien checks, what to inspect, and exactly how to register the car after purchase.
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Step 1: Check for Liens
Open this section ↓A lien means the seller borrowed money against the car and hasn't paid it back. If you buy a car with an undisclosed lien, the lender can legally repossess it from you, even though you paid in good faith. This is the single most important thing to do before buying.
Run a lien search at New Brunswick PPSA Search
Search by VIN. Takes 5 minutes. Costs under $15 in most provinces.
Search New Brunswick PPSA Search →The New Brunswick lien search page explains how to run the search yourself and what a result does and does not tell you.
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Step 2: Inspect the Vehicle
Private sales are "as-is": once you hand over money, what you have is what you get.Open this section ↓Private sales are "as-is": once you hand over money, what you have is what you get. Always inspect before you buy. Consider hiring a licensed mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection ($100–$200 at most shops).
↑ Close this sectionExterior
- □Body panels: look for rust, mismatched paint, or filler (run a magnet along panels)
- □Panel gaps: uneven gaps suggest collision repair
- □Glass: chips, cracks, delamination
- □Tires: tread depth (insert a quarter: if you can see the top of the crown, replace soon), uneven wear
- □Lights: all headlights, taillights, signals working
Under the Hood
- □Oil: dipstick level and colour (black/gritty = overdue, milky = coolant leak)
- □Coolant level and colour in reservoir
- □Belt condition: cracking, fraying
- □Battery terminals: corrosion
- □Look for fresh oil or coolant around hoses and the engine block (leak signs)
Interior
- □Seat belts: retract and latch properly
- □Warning lights: turn key to ON before starting: all lights should illuminate then go off
- □AC and heat: both work at all settings
- □Windows: all roll up and down
- □Odometer vs. wear: does the wear on pedals, steering wheel, and seats match the mileage?
Test Drive
- □Cold start: listen for knocking or rough idle
- □Brakes: firm pedal, no pulling to one side, no grinding
- □Steering: no play, no vibration at highway speed
- □Transmission: smooth shifts (automatic) or clean clutch engagement (manual)
- □Listen for: clunking over bumps (suspension), whining (wheel bearings), rattles
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Step 3: Review the Documents
Open this section ↓- ✓
Vehicle registration certificate
Confirm the seller's name matches their ID. The name on the registration must match the person signing the bill of sale.
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Bill of sale
Get a signed bill of sale with the VIN, sale price, date, and both parties' full names and addresses. Keep your copy.
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Vehicle history report (optional but recommended)
CARFAX Canada (carfax.ca) sells a vehicle history report showing accident and damage history, odometer readings, service records, unfixed safety recalls, and previous ownership. Its more expensive tier adds a Canada-wide lien search. Check current pricing on carfax.ca. Some provinces also have free VIN checks (Saskatchewan SGI, for example).
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Step 4: Get Insurance Before You Drive
Open this section ↓You need insurance before you can drive the vehicle home.Contact your insurer before the purchase meeting to add the vehicle to your policy or get temporary coverage. In New Brunswick, arrange insurance with your provider before picking up the vehicle.↑ Close this section5
Step 5: Register the Vehicle at Service New Brunswick
Open this section ↓- 1Complete a bill of sale: New Brunswick has no standard form, so a written bill of sale with date, VIN, year/make/model, sale price, and both parties' full names and signatures is sufficient.
- 2Sign the back of the vehicle registration to release ownership.
- 3Give the buyer the signed registration + bill of sale.
- 4Remove your licence plates.
- 5The buyer registers at a Service New Brunswick location. The vehicle must carry a valid NB inspection certificate before the registration can be transferred, whatever the vehicle's age; a passing passenger-vehicle sticker is good for two years (one year for taxis). The 30-day rule people mention is narrower: Service New Brunswick requires proof of an NB safety inspection completed within the past 30 days only where the bill of sale value is $1,000 or less.
New Brunswick-specific things to know
- •The seller does not need to provide an inspection certificate, but the buyer will need a valid MVI to register the vehicle regardless of its age. Let buyers know in advance.
- •Private sales are taxed under the Provincial Vehicle Tax (PVT) at 15%, charged on the greater of the sale price or the Red Book / Blue Book value, not HST on the sale price.
- •No standard provincial form exists for the bill of sale. Any written agreement with the required information is valid.
What happens if you miss the registration deadline in New Brunswick
The vehicle cannot be driven or permitted to be driven until the registration certificate is recorded in the new purchaser's name.
No dollar penalty is published.
Official source: Service New Brunswick →Filling in your own half
If the seller buys the package with Sign Together, where each of you signs online from your own device through a private link, they can send you that link and you type your own details in yourself rather than reading them out in a driveway. You both end up with the same finished file. What the seller sees →
↑ Close this sectionReceiving a vehicle as a family gift?
Sign a Family Gift Affidavit in person at a Service NB location (per Bulletin PVTB-104). The donor must have already paid tax. Not valid if another family gift on this vehicle occurred in the past 12 months. Note: stepsiblings cannot gift each other under this exemption.
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Common Questions
How is transfer tax calculated in New Brunswick?Open this section ↓How is transfer tax calculated in New Brunswick?
In New Brunswick, transfer tax is calculated on the higher of the actual sale price or the average wholesale book value. The registry checks both. You can't save on tax by understating the price.
What if the VIN doesn't match the registration?
Walk away. The VIN on the dash, the door jamb sticker, and the registration must all match. A mismatch can indicate a stolen vehicle or a tampered plate.
Is a private sale "as-is"?
Generally yes. Private sellers are not bound by dealer warranty laws. However, sellers cannot actively misrepresent the vehicle. If a seller tells you the car has never been in an accident and it has, that's misrepresentation and you may have legal recourse.
What's the safest way to pay?
Bank draft or certified cheque for large amounts. They cannot bounce. For e-transfer, confirm funds are in your account before handing over the keys. Never pay cash for a large vehicle purchase unless you can verify the seller's identity thoroughly.
↑ Close this sectionGet your complete New Brunswick buyer's package: checklist, lien guide, bill of sale, registration steps.
Get package →
Our lien search service is not available for New Brunswick yet. You can search the registry yourself here: New Brunswick PPSA Search.
When you are ready
Buyer's checklist & PPSA package$12
- Lien check guide + every buyer step for your province
- Helps avoid buying a vehicle with an outstanding loan
Instant download · 30-day money-back guarantee
Built by Nathan, nine years in the Canadian Army, paperwork done the hard way first.
Also see: buying a car in other provinces
Informational guide only. Guidepost is not a law firm. This guide explains the typical process and is not legal advice. Requirements can change. Verify current rules with the relevant government authority or a qualified professional before you act.