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Selling a trailer in British Columbia
A trailer is its own registered vehicle, separate from whatever tows it and separate from anything it carries. That is the part people miss when a boat and its trailer change hands together.
What British Columbia requires
- ✓Trailers register and transfer through ICBC in the same way vehicles do.
- ✓The buyer registers with ICBC within 10 days, along with payment of prescribed fees and taxes on the sale.
Tax
ICBC collects the PST when the trailer is registered, because trailers are subject to the PST rates for vehicles. That is the opposite of a boat, where the buyer self-assesses the tax themselves.
The standard transfer process in British Columbia
- 1Complete the Transfer/Tax Form (APV9T): all four pages require original signatures from both buyer and seller. This form is mandatory; a bill of sale alone is not sufficient.
- 2Complete a bill of sale as supplementary proof of the transaction.
- 3Remove your licence plates before the buyer drives away. Plates stay with you in BC.
- 4Give the buyer the signed APV9T, signed vehicle registration (Owner's Certificate), and bill of sale.
- 5The buyer must submit the completed APV9T to an Autoplan broker within 10 days of the sale date.
- 6Cancel or transfer your ICBC insurance. It does not transfer with the vehicle.
Selling a boat with its trailer
Treat it as two transactions. The boat moves through Transport Canada, and the trailer moves through the provincial registry. The paperwork does not overlap.
Common Questions
Does a trailer need its own registration in British Columbia?
Trailers register and transfer through ICBC in the same way vehicles do.
What does the buyer need to transfer a trailer in British Columbia?
A signed bill of sale and the signed-over registration are the core documents in a private sale. ICBC sets the rest of the requirements.
Is tax paid on a private trailer sale in British Columbia?
ICBC collects the PST when the trailer is registered, because trailers are subject to the PST rates for vehicles. That is the opposite of a boat, where the buyer self-assesses the tax themselves.
Related
Last updated: August 2026
Guidepost is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with ICBC before completing a sale. Full disclaimer.