Submit your vehicle transfer online or use the dropbox at your nearest location
Registration Transfer of Personal Vehicle
- Seller and Purchaser Obligations
- Required Documents
- Bill of Sale Information
- Applicable Fees
- When to Obtain a Sworn Affidavit
- When to Obtain Insurance
- Where to Obtain a Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Certificate
- Transferring Vehicle Between Two Companies
- Transfer of Vehicle Registration Upon Death
Seller and Purchaser Obligations
The seller is required to notify Motor Registration within 10 days of the sale of a vehicle. A Notice of Sale can be found on the back of the vehicle registration permit.
Failure to submit a Notice of Sale within 10 days is an offence that could result in a fine. If the vehicle remains in your name, you may get traffic fines that have been issued to the new owner. Should an accident occur, you could be financially responsible if the new owner has not obtained insurance. Never depend on the purchaser to transfer ownership.
The purchaser is also required to transfer ownership of the motor vehicle within 10 days. Failure to do so is an offence that could result in a fine. The purchaser can operate the motor vehicle within this time provided there is valid public liability insurance on the vehicle.
The seller’s vehicle registration permit, bill of sale and Public Liability Insurance Card has to be kept in the vehicle while the vehicle is being operated, and must be produced to a traffic officer upon request.
Required Documents
- The seller’s vehicle registration permit (the seller must be the registered owner of the vehicle)
- A bill of sale and/or a sworn affidavit
- A completed and signed insurance declaration (found on the reverse of the seller’s vehicle registration permit)
- A motor vehicle safety inspection certificate (inspections are only valid for 30 days after date of inspection)
The following vehicles do not require an inspection at the time of transfer:
- motorcycles, public buses, school buses, commercial vehicles (exceeding 4500 kg), taxis or for hire disabled passenger vehicles (commercial vehicles defined in section 2(f) of the Official Inspection Station Regulations, such as accessible vehicles used in para-transit services).
Bill of Sale must include:
- date of sale
- buyer’s name and driver’s licence number
- year, make and model of the vehicle
- plate number and serial number
- purchase price
- name and signature of the seller
- seller’s HST registration number, if tax was collected by the seller
Applicable Vehicle Transfer fees:
- transfer fee as outlined in the Fees Policy
- provincial sales tax on the purchase price or the Red Book value of vehicle
- all outstanding fines appearing on your record
If you purchase the vehicle within 45 days of the vehicle registration expiry date, you should also consider paying the annual renewal fee, since the renewal notice has already been mailed to the previous owner.
When to Obtain a Sworn Affidavit
A sworn affidavit from the buyer and seller is required when the purchase price of the vehicle is below the wholesale Red Book value.
If you purchase the vehicle from a business and the HST registration number is shown on the bill of sale, an affidavit is not required.
When to Obtain Insurance
You are required to obtain public liability insurance coverage before the vehicle can be transferred or driven on a highway.
Please book an appointment.
If the vehicle plates are expired and returned to Motor Registration, transfers can be made without insurance or an inspection certificate. Please make an appointment to return plates.
Inspection Certificate
Most service stations and automotive centres are registered as Official Inspection Stations and are able to issue the inspection certificate for the transfer of your vehicle. Inspections are only valid for 30 days after the date of inspection.
A vehicle branded as salvage will require a three-stage inspection upon being rebuilt.
Transferring Vehicle Between Two Companies
Sale
If a registrant presents either form GST 44 or RC 4616, along with documents to show that the vehicle has been sold, HST will not be charged upon transfer of the vehicle, rather HST will be collected on the purchase price at the time of transfer if either form is not presented.
You will require
- the seller’s vehicle registration permit (he seller must be the registered owner of the vehicle)
- a bill of sale
- GST 44 form or RC 4616 form
- HST number of the company selling the vehicle
- a completed and signed insurance declaration (found on the reverse of the seller’s vehicle registration permit)
- a motor vehicle safety inspection certificate (inspections are only valid for 30 days after the date of inspection)
The following vehicles do not require an inspection at the time of transfer:
- motorcycles, public buses, school buses, commercial vehicles (exceeding 4500 kg), taxis or for hire disabled passenger vehicles (commercial vehicles defined in section 2(f) of the Official Inspection Station Regulations, such as accessible vehicles used in para-transit services).
No Sale
A GST 44 or RC 4616 form may be required so GST/HST does not apply to the acquisition of the vehicle.
For information on which form to use please contact Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800–959-5525 or visit their website.
Transfer of Vehicle Registration Upon Death
Applicable sections of the Transfer of Vehicle Registration Upon a Death Application must be completed and sworn to before the application can be accepted for processing. Sections 1, 2 and 7 of the application are required and must be completed. Please read all portions of the application carefully before signing.
A death certificate is defined as: an original or certified copy of funeral director’s Death Certificate or government issued Death Certificate.
Note:
Section 2 – list only the vehicles that are to be transferred at the time of application.
Section 8 – Transfer application / insurance verification may be completed separately and included with the application and other required documents.
Where there is a Will a Transfer of Vehicle Registration Upon a Death Application must also be completed. The Executor/Executrix will sign for the estate as the “seller” identifying the vehicle owner.
Where there is a Will, Sections 4 and 7 of the Transfer of Vehicle Registration Upon a Death Application must also be completed. The Administrator of the estate will sign for the estate.
Where there is no Will, the estate becomes subject to the terms of the Family Law Act and the Intestate Succession Act. Sections 4 and 7 of the Transfer of Vehicle Registration Upon a Death Application must be completed. Please complete and sign the application for the estate.
Where there is a transfer to common law spouses, in addition to the application being completed, one of the following documents must be submitted:.
- Cohabitation agreement signed by both parties, which sets out that the vehicle is to be distributed to the applicant in the event the parties cease to co-habitate by reason of separation/death;
- Copy of Will and Letters of Probate – Bill of Sale from Executor of the Estate to common law spouse;
- Copy of Will without Letters of Probate with the vehicle left to the applicant or entire estate left to the applicant and/or others – Bill of Sale from Executor of Estate to common law spouse.
- Newfoundland Supreme Court Trial Division decision specific to those parties that a constructive trust exists entitling the common law spouse to the vehicle.
Transfer Fee
There is no fee for transfer of registered ownership of a vehicle upon the death of a registrant, where the vehicle is transferred as the result of a bequest, and is not sold as part of the assets of the estate.