Buyers finish a car ownership transfer in Ontario at ServiceOntario within 6 days of purchase. The seller signs the vehicle permit and hands over a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). The buyer pays 13% retail sales tax (RST) and receives a new permit.
You will learn the documents, costs, and steps for 5 situations. The situations are private sales, family gifts, scrap sales, liens, and estates. Each section of the Car Ownership Transfer Ontario guide answers 1 question drivers ask before visiting a ServiceOntario center.
What Is a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Drivers Must Complete?
A car ownership transfer changes the registered owner in Ministry of Transportation (MTO) records. Ontario requires a transfer after every private sale, family gift, inheritance, and scrap sale. Dealerships complete most of the paperwork themselves.
The green ownership document is the vehicle permit. Police verify the permit at traffic stops, and insurers pay claims to the person named on the permit.
What Are the 2 Portions of the Ontario Vehicle Permit?
The vehicle permit has 2 portions: the vehicle portion and the plate portion. The vehicle portion lists the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), make, model, and owner. The seller signs the vehicle portion over to the buyer.
License plates stay with the seller, not the car. The seller keeps the plate portion and moves the plates to another vehicle. The buyer either transfers existing plates or buys new ones.
Who Files the Transfer and Who Carries the Risk?
The buyer files the transfer at ServiceOntario and pays the tax and fees. The seller supplies the paperwork. Until the buyer registers the car, the seller is liable for traffic fines, toll charges, and accident claims.
Which Documents Does a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Sale Require?
Each side of a car ownership transfer in Ontario requires specific documents. The seller supplies the vehicle paperwork, and the buyer supplies the insurance and identification.
What Must the Seller Provide?
The seller hands over 4 items to the buyer:
- A $20 UVIP that the seller buys, showing liens, wholesale value, and vehicle history
- A bill of sale with both parties’ signatures, the VIN, the date, and the purchase price
- An Application for Transfer on the back of the vehicle portion
- A Safety Standards Certificate (SSC) for cars returning to the road, valid for 36 days
The Highway Traffic Act makes the UVIP mandatory for light vehicles. Cars, vans, and light trucks weighing 2,200 kg (4,850 lb) or less qualify. Family transfers and dealer sales do not require a UVIP.
What Must the Buyer Bring to ServiceOntario?
The buyer brings 6 items to a ServiceOntario center:
- Proof of Ontario vehicle insurance
- An Ontario driver’s licence
- The signed vehicle portion of the permit
- The UVIP with the completed bill of sale
- The SSC, when the car returns to the road
- Payment for tax and registration fees
Ontario dropped the emissions test for cars, vans, SUVs, and light trucks on April 1, 2019. Heavy diesel commercial vehicles above 4,500 kg (9,921 lb) still need a valid emissions test pass.
How to Complete a Private Sale Transfer in Ontario in 6 Steps
To complete a private sale transfer in Ontario, follow the 6 steps below in order. Each step protects both the buyer and the seller.
- Match the VIN on the car to the VIN on the permit (seller).
- Order the UVIP for $20 and check the lien section for money owing (seller).
- Sign a bill of sale listing the VIN, date, price, and both parties’ names and addresses (buyer and seller).
- Complete the Application for Transfer on the back of the vehicle portion, including the odometer reading (seller).
- Remove your licence plates and keep the plate portion of the permit (seller).
- Register the vehicle at ServiceOntario within 6 days, then pay the tax and fees (buyer).
Use the quick-reference table below to plan each task.
| Task | Timing | Method | Difficulty |
| Order the UVIP | Before listing the car | Online or at a ServiceOntario centre | Easy |
| Get an SSC | Within 36 days before registration | Licensed inspection station | Medium |
| Sign the bill of sale and permit | On the day of sale | In person, both parties | Easy |
| Remove licence plates | Before the buyer drives away | Screwdriver at handover | Easy |
| Register the vehicle | Within 6 days of purchase | In person at ServiceOntario | Medium |
| Pay 13% RST | At registration | ServiceOntario counter | Easy |
| Cancel insurance (seller) | After handover | Phone call to the insurer | Easy |
How to Get a Safety Standards Certificate Before Registration
To get an SSC, book an inspection at a licensed station with an Ontario DriveON sign. The inspector confirms the car met minimum safety standards on inspection day.
The certificate stays valid for 36 days, so schedule the inspection close to the sale. Stations set their own prices, and repairs needed to pass cost extra. A car sold as-is changes owners, but the buyer cannot plate the car until the car passes inspection.
How to Insure the Car Before You Register the Car
To insure the car before registration, call an Ontario insurer with the VIN, make, model, and purchase date. ServiceOntario demands proof of insurance at the counter, so the buyer needs a policy before the visit.
The seller cancels the seller’s own policy after handover. Cancel on the same day to stop paying for a car you no longer own.
What Happens if the Buyer Misses the 6-Day Deadline?
Late registration can bring fines, and the buyer cannot legally drive the car as registered owner until the transfer finishes. The seller carries the bigger risk. The vehicle stays in the seller’s name, so tickets, toll charges, and accident claims still reach the seller. A missed deadline stalls the car ownership transfer Ontario record and exposes the seller.
Protect yourself as the seller. Photograph the signed permit and bill of sale, then call the buyer on day 5 to confirm registration.
How to Transfer Car Ownership to a Family Member Tax-Free
To transfer car ownership to a family member tax-free, file a Sworn Statement for a Family Gift at ServiceOntario. The recipient still pays registration fees. Ontario allows only 1 exempt transfer of the same vehicle every 12 months. Commissioners of Oaths set their own fees to commission the statement. A family gift takes 1 visit when both relatives bring every form.
Which Family Members Qualify for the Tax Exemption?
Ontario exempts gifts between 14 relationship types. Qualifying relatives include spouses (common-law spouses too), parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and siblings. Parents-in-law and children-in-law qualify, plus step-relatives, half-siblings, and adopted siblings.
Aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends do not qualify. Non-family recipients pay the full 13% RST.
What Documents Does a Family Gift Transfer Need?
You bring 6 items to ServiceOntario:
- The completed Sworn Statement for a Family Gift
- Proof of Ontario vehicle insurance
- An Ontario driver’s licence
- The vehicle permit with the back portion completed
- An SSC, except for spouse-to-spouse transfers
- A plate transfer declaration, only for plates moving between spouses, parents, and children
Spouses complete a spousal declaration instead of an SSC. Family transfers require no UVIP.
Which Route Needs the Least Paperwork: Dealer, Private Buyer, or Scrap Buyer?
A dealer needs the least paperwork from you, and a scrap buyer comes second. Every route ends with a car ownership transfer Ontario record, but the workload differs.
- Dealer trade-in: the dealership completes most of the transfer paperwork for you
- Private buyer: you supply the UVIP, bill of sale, signed permit, and SSC
- Scrap buyer: you supply the signed permit and government photo ID
- Family gift: you supply the Sworn Statement for a Family Gift and an SSC (spouses skip the SSC)
A private sale earns the highest price but demands the most work. A scrap sale suits cars that fail inspection, because the buyer never needs an SSC.
How Much Does a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Cost in 2026?
A buyer in a car ownership transfer in Ontario pays 13% RST plus a $32 permit fee. ServiceOntario charges $59 when the buyer also needs new license plates. Fees vary by location and vehicle class, so confirm the amount at your ServiceOntario centre.
RST applies to the higher of the purchase price or the Canadian Red Book wholesale value. ServiceOntario collects the tax at registration, so the buyer never pays the seller. Vehicles 20 years old or older require an appraisal. The final total for car ownership transfer in Ontario depends mostly on the purchase price.
Use the 3 examples below, assuming the purchase price is the higher figure:
- A $6,000 car adds $780 in RST
- A $12,000 car adds $1,560 in RST
- A car gifted to an eligible relative adds $0 in RST
Budget for 4 costs:
- A $20 UVIP that the seller buys
- An SSC at a price the inspection station sets
- Retail sales tax at 13%, which the buyer pays
- Registration fees, which the buyer pays
Buyers who paid below the Red Book value can get an appraisal before the transfer.
How to Transfer Ownership When You Scrap a Car in Ontario
To transfer ownership when you scrap a car in Ontario, sign the vehicle portion over to a recycler. A scrap sale follows the same car ownership transfer rules in Ontario as any sale, with 1 major difference. A scrap car never returns to the road, so the sale needs no SSC.
Ontario requires end-of-life vehicle recycling sites to register in the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR). Ask every buyer for proof of registration before you sign the permit.
What Does a Scrap Car Buyer Handle During the Transfer?
A licensed recycler collects the signed permit, prepares the bill of sale, and tows the car away. Scrap Cars 4 Cash is a licensed Ontario auto recycler that completes the ownership transfer paperwork for you. A recycler that handles the paperwork shortens the car ownership transfer process in Ontario to 1 pickup.
Free local towing covers Richmond Hill and the wider York Region, and sellers collect the quoted cash at pickup. Bring the vehicle permit and government photo ID to the handover.
What Must You Do After the Scrap Car Leaves?
Complete 4 tasks around pickup day:
- Remove the licence plates before the tow truck arrives
- Keep the plate portion of the permit for future registrations
- Cancel the insurance policy the same day
- Request a refund for full months left on the plate sticker
Return unused plates to a ServiceOntario centre or store the plates securely. Secure storage prevents misuse under your name.
What Changes in a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario With a Lien or After a Death?
A lien adds a payoff step, and a death adds an executor step. Both situations delay a car ownership transfer Ontario record when you skip the preparation.
How to Transfer a Car With a Lien
To transfer a car with a lien, pay off the debt before the sale. The UVIP shows every lien on the vehicle. A lienholder keeps a claim to the car, or its value, even after the buyer registers the vehicle. Clear the lien first, or the car ownership transfer Ontario record leaves the buyer exposed.
Call the Personal Property Security Branch at 416-325-8847 (Toronto area) or 1-800-267-8847 (toll-free) for lien details.
How to Transfer a Car After the Owner Dies
To transfer a car after the owner dies, the executor visits ServiceOntario with the estate paperwork. The executor typically brings 5 items:
- The will
- The vehicle permit
- Personal identification
- Proof of insurance
- A death certificate
A surviving spouse on a joint permit transfers the car into the surviving name with a death certificate. Estates without a will need a lawyer’s letter of opinion for the MTO.
How to Avoid Fraud During a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Sale
To avoid fraud during a private sale, verify 5 details before you pay:
- Check that the seller’s name matches the name on the vehicle permit
- Compare the VIN stamped on the car to the VIN on the permit
- Scan the UVIP for wrong colours or odometer readings
- Book a mechanic inspection before you hand over cash
- Refuse to register a vehicle under your name for someone else
Sellers inspect stored plates for alterations or swaps. Call the police if you spot suspicious activity during the transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Ownership Transfer Ontario
Can You Complete a Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Online?
No. ServiceOntario requires an in-person visit with the signed permit and supporting documents.
How Long Do You Have to Transfer Car Ownership in Ontario?
6 days from the purchase date for a car ownership transfer Ontario sale. The seller stays legally responsible until the buyer registers the vehicle.
Do Licence Plates Go With the Car in Ontario?
No. Plates belong to the person, so the seller removes the plates and keeps the plate portion of the permit.
Can You Scrap a Car in Ontario Without the Ownership Permit?
No. Order a replacement permit from ServiceOntario for $32 before you sell the car to a recycler. Bring identification and your driver’s licence.
Do You Pay Tax on a Car Gifted to a Family Member?
No, when the recipient is an eligible relative and files the Sworn Statement for a Family Gift. The recipient still pays registration fees. Request the Sworn Statement form at any ServiceOntario centre.
Choose Your Route and Finish the Car Ownership Transfer Ontario Today
A car ownership transfer Ontario sale needs 3 things: a signed permit, the right documents, and registration within 6 days. Follow the steps for your situation, and you close your legal responsibility for the car. Selling an old car for scrap instead? Scrap Cars 4 Cash pays cash at pickup and completes the paperwork through its cash for cars service. Request your quote today.
