A car ownership transfer Ontario requires 3 things: a signed permit, a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP), and ServiceOntario registration. The buyer registers within 6 days and pays 13% Retail Sales Tax (RST) unless the car is a family gift.
The guide covers each step of the 2026 car ownership transfer Ontario requires for sellers, buyers, families, and executors. You get current fees, a quick-reference table, and a plan for moving a car that does not run.
What Does a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Involve in 2026?
A car ownership transfer in Ontario changes the legal owner on the green vehicle permit from the seller to the buyer. ServiceOntario records the change when the buyer registers in person.
The seller signs the Application for Transfer on the back of the vehicle portion of the permit. Seller keeps the plate portion and the licence plates, because plates travel with the driver, not the vehicle.
The seller stays legally liable until the buyer completes registration, which ends the car ownership transfer Ontaprocess in Ontariosigned Bill of Sale with the sale date protects the seller during that gap.
Ontario recognizes 3 common transfer types: private sale, family gift, and estate transfer to a beneficiary. Dealers usually complete registration for the buyer, so the sections below cover the 3 private types. Two people can also share ownership, and both names appear on the permit.
What Documents Do You Need for a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario?
A private-sale car ownership transfer Ontario needs 9 documents split between the seller and the buyer. Gather the full set before the sale date to avoid a second trip to ServiceOntario.
Documents the Seller Provides
The seller provides 4 documents at handover:
- Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) with the vehicle history and lien status
- Signed Bill of Sale with both names, the buyer’s address, the sale date, and the price
- Completed Application for Transfer on the back of the vehicle permit
- Safety Standards Certificate (SSC) when the sale requires one
The Bill of Sale lists the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year, make, and power source (gas, diesel, or electric). Add the body type, colour, price, sale date, and both names.
Write the Bill of Sale by hand or use the template at the bottom of the UVIP. ServiceOntario requires the original Bill of Sale, with narrow exceptions for photocopies viewed alongside the original.
Documents the Buyer Brings to ServiceOntario
The buyer brings 5 items to a ServiceOntario centre:
- Proof of insurance from an Ontario-licensed provider
- Ontario driver’s licence or another accepted identity document
- Seller’s permit with the completed transfer portion
- UVIP with the signed Bill of Sale
- SSC and the odometer reading
Ontario law requires insurance before you attach licence plates, so buy the policy before the visit. Book a ServiceOntario appointment where available to shorten the wait.
Why an Emissions Test Is No Longer on the List
Skip the emissions test for cars, vans, SUVs, and light trucks. Ontario ended that requirement for light passenger vehicles on April 1, 2019. Some older guides still list the test.
Heavy diesel commercial vehicles above 4,500 kg (9,921 lb) still need a valid emissions pass at sale. Examples include transport trucks, delivery vans, buses, and tow trucks.
How to Transfer Car Ownership in Ontario When You Sell Privately
To transfer car ownership in Ontario in a private sale, complete the 5 seller steps before the buyer drives away:
- Match the VIN on the car to the VIN on the permit.
- Check the car for money owing.
- Buy the UVIP.
- Sign the Bill of Sale and the Application for Transfer with the buyer.
- Remove the licence plates and keep the plate portion of the permit.
How to Order the Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP)
To order the UVIP, enter the VIN or licence plate number and your Ontario driver’s licence number online. The package costs $20, payable by Visa or Mastercard.
ServiceOntario mails the package within 5 business days, and delivery takes up to 10 more days. Visit a ServiceOntario centre for same-day issue.
The Highway Traffic Act makes the UVIP mandatory in every private car ownership transfer Ontario sellers complete. The rule covers cars, vans, motorcycles, and light trucks up to 2,200 kg (4,850 lb). Family transfers and registered dealer sales skip the package.
How to Check a Car for Money Owing
To check a car for money owing, read the lien section of the UVIP. A lien gives a lender the right to the car, or the lien amount, from the buyer after the transfer.
Pay off the lien before the sale. Call the Personal Property Security Branch at 416-325-8847 (Toronto) or 1-800-267-8847 (toll-free) for lien details.
How to Complete the Application for Transfer
To complete the Application for Transfer, write the buyer’s name, address, and the sale date. Record the odometer reading and sign.
Give the buyer the vehicle portion of the permit. Keep the plate portion for your next vehicle.
Remove the licence plates before the buyer leaves. Store the plates securely or return the plates to ServiceOntario. Request a refund for full months left on plate stickers where stickers apply.
How to Register a Used Car in Ontario as the Buyer Within 6 Days
To register a used car in Ontario, visit a ServiceOntario centre within 6 days of the purchase. Bring your insurance, identification, permit, UVIP with Bill of Sale, and SSC.
ServiceOntario collects 13% RST on the greater of the purchase price or the car’s wholesale value. A $10,000 purchase price above wholesale value creates $1,300 in RST.
The buyer pays the tax to the government, not to the seller. ServiceOntario issues the permit and the licence plate on the spot. The visit completes the car ownership transfer Ontario law requires.
Attach your existing plates by bringing the plate portion of your permit. Cars 20 years old or older need an appraisal.
Get the car appraised before the transfer when the purchase price sits below the Canadian Red Book wholesale value. ServiceOntario then charges tax on the higher of the price and the appraised value.
How Much Does a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Cost in 2026?
A car ownership transfer Ontario costs $32 for the permit, plus 13% RST and any new plate or inspection fees.
ServiceOntario lists the 2026 fees:
- Vehicle permit: $32 for all vehicles
- Licence plate with permit: $59 for a new plate
- Used Vehicle Information Package: $20
- Retail Sales Tax: 13% of the greater of price or wholesale value
- Safety Standards Certificate: set by each inspection centre
The government does not regulate inspection prices. Each DriveON centre sets the SSC fee, so call 3 centres for quotes.
Outstanding fines in the plate holder’s name add to the car ownership transfer Ontario total at registration. Pay with Visa, Mastercard, debit, cash, or certified cheque.
How to Transfer a Car to a Family Member Without Paying Sales Tax
To transfer a car to a family member tax-free, complete the family gift sworn statement. Then visit ServiceOntario in person. A family gift car ownership transfer Ontario families complete carries no RST.
The form is the Sworn Statement for a Family Gift of a Used Motor Vehicle in the Province of Ontario. The recipient still pays the registration fees, and Ontario charges no gift tax on the car.
Which Family Members Qualify
The RST exemption covers 14 family relationships:
- Spouse, including a common-law spouse
- Parent or step-parent
- Grandparent or step-grandparent
- Son or step-son
- Daughter or step-daughter
- Grandson or step-grandson
- Granddaughter or step-granddaughter
- Son-in-law
- Daughter-in-law
- Father-in-law
- Mother-in-law
- Sibling
- Half-sibling
- Adopted sibling
Ontario allows only 1 exempt transfer of the same vehicle in a 12-month period.
Bring the sworn statement, proof of insurance, your Ontario driver’s licence, the permit, and an SSC. Add a plate transfer declaration when the plate moves with the car.
Ontario allows plate transfers only between spouses, parents, and children. Some Commissioners of Oaths charge a fee to commission the sworn statement.
Spouse Transfers and the Safety Standards Certificate Exemption
To transfer a car to your spouse, skip the SSC and complete a spousal declaration. A spouse car ownership transfer Ontario needs no SSC, and common-law spouses qualify.
Every other family recipient needs an SSC from a DriveON Vehicle Inspection Centre. A car from a spouse or former spouse in a Family Law Act settlement also qualifies for the RST exemption.
Bring a separation agreement, a divorce agreement, or a similar court document for the settlement exemption.
How to Transfer Car Ownership in Ontario After the Owner Dies
To transfer car ownership in Ontario after the owner dies, the executor visits ServiceOntario in person with 7 documents:
- Copy of the will or the Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee
- Death certificate
- Vehicle ownership permit
- Executor’s identification
- Proof of insurance on the vehicle
- Safety Standards Certificate, except for a spouse
- Completed Sworn Statement for the Transfer of a Used Motor Vehicle, plus a plate transfer declaration when plates move
A car ownership transfer Ontario after a death follows the same steps as a family gift. A beneficiary named in the will pays no RST, while a buyer from the estate pays 13%.
A surviving spouse who co-owns the car moves the permit into one name with a death certificate. An estate without a will needs a lawyer’s letter of opinion for the Ministry of Transportation.
Call ServiceOntario at 1-800-387-3445 to confirm the documents for your estate.
How to Move a Non-Running Car During a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario
To move a non-running car during a car ownership transfer Ontario, book a tow truck. A car that cannot start cannot reach a DriveON inspection centre under its own power.
Buyers need an SSC before plates go on the car, and the SSC needs a passed inspection. A car towing service carries the vehicle to a licensed DriveON Vehicle Inspection Centre. The same truck moves the car to a repair garage after a failed inspection.
How to Time the Tow Around the Safety Standards Certificate
To time the tow, finish repairs first, then book the final inspection. An SSC stays valid for 36 calendar days after the inspection date.
Register the car before day 36, or pay for a new inspection. Fit the tow, repairs, and ServiceOntario visit inside that window so the car ownership transfer Ontario finishes on time.
A 10-day temporary licence plate sticker lets an eligible driver take a registered car to a garage for the SSC. Non-running cars skip that option and need a tow.
Flatbed towing protects all-wheel-drive cars, low-clearance cars, and electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3 and the Nissan Leaf.
How to Book a Tow Across the Greater Toronto Area
To book a tow in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), give the dispatcher the pickup address, destination, and vehicle type. GTA Towing and Roadside Assistance operates 24 hours a day.
Coverage includes Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Pickering, and Oshawa.
Book a Toronto tow truck service for city pickups. Book a Mississauga towing service for pickups in Peel Region.
GTA Towing agrees on the service fee before dispatch, so you know the total before the truck arrives. Prices vary by service type, location, and time of day.
What Mistakes Delay a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario?
5 common mistakes delay a car ownership transfer Ontario at the ServiceOntario counter:
- Missing the 6-day registration deadline
- Bringing an expired SSC, valid for only 36 calendar days
- Showing a permit VIN that differs from the dashboard VIN
- Skipping proof of insurance
- Handing over the licence plates with the car
A VIN mismatch needs extra paperwork. Bring the permit, your pink insurance card, and 1 supporting document. Examples include the original manufacturer’s warranty, a dealer letter, and a sworn affidavit from the owner.
Protect yourself from fraud. Never register a vehicle in your name for another person. A car used in a crime and registered to you brings criminal charges against you.
Check that the name on the permit matches the seller’s identification. Inspect the VIN on the car and compare the VIN with the UVIP. Verify the paperwork before the car ownership transfer Ontario sale closes.
Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Quick-Reference Table for 2026
Use the table to track each task, deadline, method, and difficulty level.
|
Task |
Timing | Method |
Difficulty |
| Match the VIN to the permit | Before listing the car | Visual check | Easy |
| Order the UVIP | Before the sale | Online or ServiceOntario | Easy |
| Check for a lien | Before the sale | UVIP or Personal Property Security Branch | Easy |
| Get the SSC | Within 36 days before registration | DriveON inspection centre | Medium |
| Sign the Bill of Sale and Application for Transfer | At handover | Paper forms | Easy |
| Remove the plates | At handover | Seller removes plates | Easy |
| Register the new owner | Within 6 days | ServiceOntario, in person | Medium |
| Pay 13% RST | At registration | Visa, Mastercard, debit, cash, or certified cheque | Easy |
| Claim the family gift exemption | At registration | Sworn statement, in person | Medium |
| Tow a non-running car | Before the SSC inspection | Flatbed or tow truck booking | Easy |
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Ownership Transfer Ontario
Can you complete a car ownership transfer Ontario online?
No. ServiceOntario requires you to complete the transfer in person. You can order the UVIP and download forms online.
Who pays the retail sales tax on a used car?
The buyer pays 13% RST to ServiceOntario at registration. The seller receives no tax payment from the buyer.
Do you need a Safety Standards Certificate to transfer a car?
Yes. Every used-car transfer needs an SSC unless the new owner is your spouse. Without an SSC, the new owner cannot put plates on the car.
Do you keep your licence plates when you sell your car?
Yes. Plates travel with the driver, not the vehicle. Keep the plate portion of the permit for your next vehicle.
How long do you have to register a used car in Ontario?
6 days from the purchase date. Update the permit within 6 days of an address change as well.
Plan Your Vehicle Transfer With GTA Towing and Roadside Assistance
A car ownership transfer Ontario takes 3 core steps. Sign the Application for Transfer, hand over the UVIP, and register within 6 days. Plan the towing early when the vehicle does not run. Call GTA Towing today to book 24-hour towing across the GTA.
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