Do I need a safety certificate to sell my car in Ontario?

No. Ontario does not require a safety inspection for private vehicle sales. The vehicle can be sold as-is.

What happens if there's a lien on the vehicle?

If you have an outstanding loan on the vehicle, you must pay it off and obtain a lien release before transferring ownership. Selling a vehicle with an undisclosed lien is illegal and exposes you to serious liability. You can check for liens using the Ontario PPSA Search.

How do I handle payment safely?

Bank drafts and certified cheques are safest for large amounts. They cannot bounce. For e-transfer, confirm the funds have arrived in your account before signing anything. Never hand over keys until payment is fully cleared and in your possession.

How is transfer tax calculated in Ontario?

In Ontario, transfer tax is calculated on the higher of the actual sale price or the average wholesale book value. Understating the price to save on tax is illegal and won't work. The registry checks the book value.

Sell my car

How to Sell a Car Privately in Ontario (2026)

This page is the free Ontario guide. No sign-in. Read on, or take the checklist as a PDF.

Facts checked September 2026 · See what changed · How we check

Selling a car privately in Ontario takes a few specific steps and the right documents. This guide covers exactly what you need: no jargon, no guesswork.

Ontario at a glance

Checked September 2026

Plates: Plates stay with you, not with the vehicle.
Safety certificate: You do not have to provide one.A Safety Standards Certificate (SSC) is not required to complete the sale, but if you sell without one the buyer cannot put plates on the vehicle until they obtain one themselves. Providing an SSC makes the sale smoother and is standard practice. If provided, it must be issued within the last 36 days or 3,000 km by a licensed inspection station ($80–$135).
Transfer tax: Tax is calculated on the sale price or the province's assessed value, whichever is higher.
Lien search: Ontario PPSA Search
Gifting to family: A gift to a family member is handled differently from a sale.Use Form 1157E (Sworn Statement for a Family Gift of a Used Motor Vehicle). Must be sworn before a Commissioner of Oaths. Limit: one exempt family transfer of the same vehicle per 12 months.
Vehicle history package: The mandatory history package also lists liens. The lien search is still the authoritative check.

Source: ServiceOntario

Gifting to a family member? →Selling a boat instead? →

Free, on this page

Ontario bill of sale template

Car sale guide: everything below, plus the checklist as a PDF.

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1
What Documents You Need in Ontario
Open this section ↓Close ↑
- Bill of Sale
  Records the transaction: buyer, seller, vehicle, price, date. Both parties keep a signed copy.
- Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP)
  Required in Ontario. Purchase from ServiceOntario for $20. The seller provides it to the buyer. It contains the vehicle's registration history, lien status, and previous damage. The UVIP, explained →
- Signed Vehicle Registration Certificate
  The seller signs the back of the registration. This is what authorizes the transfer at ServiceOntario.
↑ Close this section

2
Step-by-Step Transfer Process in Ontario
Purchase 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).Open this section ↓Close ↑
1. 1
  Purchase 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).
2. 2
  Optionally obtain a Safety Standards Certificate from a licensed inspection station ($80–$135). Without one, the buyer must get their own before plating the car.
3. 3
  Complete the bill of sale. Both parties keep a signed copy.
4. 4
  Sign the vehicle portion of the permit (the green ownership document) on the back.
5. 5
  Hand over: signed permit + bill of sale + UVIP + SSC (if obtained).
6. 6
  Remove your licence plates before the buyer drives away. Plates stay with you in Ontario.
Ontario-specific things to know
- •Plates belong to the seller. Never leave your plates on the car.
- •Transfer tax (RST) is on the higher of the sale price or Canadian Red Book wholesale value. Understating the price saves the buyer nothing.
- •Outstanding lien? You must pay it out and obtain a lien release before ownership can transfer.
- •As of January 2026, the fine for failing to provide a valid UVIP is $140.
Gifting to a family member?
Use Form 1157E (Sworn Statement for a Family Gift of a Used Motor Vehicle). Must be sworn before a Commissioner of Oaths. Limit: one exempt family transfer of the same vehicle per 12 months.
Official source →Full gift-vehicle guide for ON →
Selling a boat instead?
Boats follow federal Transport Canada paperwork plus Ontario's RST rules, a different process from cars.
How to sell a boat in Ontario →
↑ Close this section
3
Common Questions
Do I need a safety certificate to sell my car in Ontario?Open this section ↓Close ↑
Do I need a safety certificate to sell my car in Ontario?
No. Ontario does not require a safety inspection for private vehicle sales. The vehicle can be sold as-is.
What happens if there's a lien on the vehicle?
If you have an outstanding loan on the vehicle, you must pay it off and obtain a lien release before transferring ownership. Selling a vehicle with an undisclosed lien is illegal and exposes you to serious liability. You can check for liens using the Ontario PPSA Search.
How do I handle payment safely?
Bank drafts and certified cheques are safest for large amounts. They cannot bounce. For e-transfer, confirm the funds have arrived in your account before signing anything. Never hand over keys until payment is fully cleared and in your possession.
How is transfer tax calculated in Ontario?
In Ontario, transfer tax is calculated on the higher of the actual sale price or the average wholesale book value. Understating the price to save on tax is illegal and won't work. The registry checks the book value.
↑ Close this section

When you are ready

Bill of Sale & transfer package$12

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Helps avoid a rejected transfer or missing disclosure

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See a full sample (PDF)

Everything in the package, plus Sign Together: your buyer signs online through a secure private link

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Bill of SaleOntario private vehicle sale

Built by Nathan, nine years in the Canadian Army, paperwork done the hard way first.

Private Car Sale Package with Sign Together

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Both of you sign online from your own devices, through a secure private link, and neither of you creates an account.

Sign it together instead

Check for liens before you buy

Run a PPSA lien search before finalizing any purchase. It takes 5 minutes and can save you from inheriting someone else's debt.

Search Ontario PPSA Search →

Sources and other provinces

Official sources

Facts checked September 2026

Also see: selling a car in other provinces

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

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.

Ontario at a glance

Ontario bill of sale template

What Documents You Need in Ontario

Step-by-Step Transfer Process in Ontario

Common Questions

Bill of Sale & transfer package$12

Sources and other provinces