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Register your out-of-province vehicle in Canada

This page is the free guide. No sign-in. Read on.

Moved to a new province and brought your vehicle with you? Every province has its own inspection requirement, time limit, and registration agency. Pick your new province for a free step-by-step guide.

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    Looking for a form to download? There isn't one.

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    Out-of-province registration is not a form you fill in at home. You bring your documents to your new province's registration agency, and the inspection, the time limit, and the agency itself are different in every province. That is why the real first step is picking the province you moved to.

    Ontario →British Columbia →Alberta →Saskatchewan →Manitoba →Quebec →New Brunswick →Nova Scotia →Prince Edward Island →Newfoundland & Labrador →

    Moved a while ago and never re-registered?

    You're past your new province's time limit, but the fix is the same as doing it on time: pick your province below and start the steps today. Your old plates and insurance don't become valid by waiting, and an inspection requirement doesn't go away, being late just means starting now instead of later. If your inspection report has its own validity window (Alberta's is void after 14 days), you may need a fresh one.

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    What every province requires

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    ✓Out-of-province ownership or title document
    ✓Provincial auto insurance (before or at registration)
    ✓Government-issued photo ID
    ✓Vehicle inspection (type varies by province)
    ✓Registration fee (amount varies)
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    Pick your new province

    Inspection types, time limits, and agencies are different in every province, and three provinces (BC, SK, MB) bundle mandatory auto insurance with registration.Open this section ↓

    Inspection types, time limits, and agencies are different in every province, and three provinces (BC, SK, MB) bundle mandatory auto insurance with registration.

    ONOntarioBCBritish ColumbiaABAlbertaSKSaskatchewanMBManitobaQCQuebecNBNew BrunswickNSNova ScotiaPEPrince Edward IslandNLNewfoundland & Labrador
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    Province-specific rules to know

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    • BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba: Mandatory auto insurance is bundled with vehicle registration through the public insurer (ICBC / SGI / MPI). You register and insure in one step. Do not use a private insurer for basic coverage.
    • Quebec: SAAQ covers public bodily-injury insurance only. You must also purchase a separate private policy for liability and property damage. The process starts with a phone call to SAAQ. No official day-count has been published. Contact SAAQ for the current deadline.
    • Alberta: Registration is handled by private registry agents; there is no government office. The Out of Province Vehicle Inspection (OOPVI) report is void if not presented within 14 days.
    • New Brunswick: Registration is required as soon as you become a resident; the commonly cited “90 days” is not the official standard.
    • Manitoba: The deadline is 3 months (not “90 days”). Alberta's Mechanic Fitness Assessment is not accepted as a substitute for a Manitoba Certificate of Inspection.
    • Nova Scotia: Two separate deadlines. Usually 90 days to register - but the Motor Vehicle Act allows only 30 days if you became a resident by working or studying in NS rather than by living here more than 90 days in a year. And 30 days from the vehicle's entry to complete the MVI, which must be done before titling; the Registry can issue a letter granting an extra 10 days after registration. Nova Scotia titles vehicles, so what you receive is a Certificate of Title rather than a registration alone.
    • PEI: No official registration day-count has been published. Contact Access PEI for the current deadline.
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    Related guides

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    Change of Address

    Update your address with CRA, health card, driver's licence, and every agency when you move.

    Buy a Car Privately

    Lien check, bill of sale, and registration steps when buying a used vehicle in Canada.

    Sell Your Car

    Bill of sale, transfer steps, and disclosure requirements for a private car sale.

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Facts checked September 2026

Guidepost is not a law firm. This guide is for general information only. Full disclaimer