Selling a trailer in Ontario
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.
1
What Ontario requires
Open this section ↓- ✓A trailer is considered a separate vehicle from your car or truck, so it has its own registration.
- ✓You can only register it in person at a ServiceOntario centre.
- ✓Registration is one time: stickers are not needed because drivers only have to register them once, and the registration does not expire.
- ✓The cost to get a plate, permit and validation sticker is $72.
2
What the buyer brings
Open this section ↓- ·The vehicle portion of the trailer permit, signed over by the seller
- ·The bill of sale
- ·Identification
3
Tax
Applicable taxes are paid at registration: Retail Sales Tax (RST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).Open this section ↓↑ Close this sectionApplicable taxes are paid at registration: Retail Sales Tax (RST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
4
The standard transfer process in Ontario
Open this section ↓- 1Purchase a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) from ServiceOntario ($20). You are legally required to provide it to the buyer; failure carries a $140 fine (as of January 2026).
- 2Optionally obtain a Safety Standards Certificate from a licensed inspection station ($80–$135). Without one, the buyer must get their own before plating the car.
- 3Complete the bill of sale. Both parties keep a signed copy.
- 4Sign the vehicle portion of the permit (the green ownership document) on the back.
- 5Hand over: signed permit + bill of sale + UVIP + SSC (if obtained).
- 6Remove your licence plates before the buyer drives away. Plates stay with you in Ontario.
5
Selling a boat with its trailer
Treat it as two transactions.Open this section ↓Treat it as two transactions. The boat moves through Transport Canada, and the trailer moves through the provincial registry. The paperwork does not overlap.
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Common Questions
Does a trailer need its own registration in Ontario?Open this section ↓↑ Close this sectionDoes a trailer need its own registration in Ontario?
A trailer is considered a separate vehicle from your car or truck, so it has its own registration.
What does the buyer need to transfer a trailer in Ontario?
The buyer brings: The vehicle portion of the trailer permit, signed over by the seller; The bill of sale; Identification.
Is tax paid on a private trailer sale in Ontario?
Applicable taxes are paid at registration: Retail Sales Tax (RST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
Related
Facts checked September 2026
Guidepost is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with ServiceOntario before completing a sale. Full disclaimer.