Yes. It is legal to buy a car without a licence in Ontario.
That said, you cannot legally drive the vehicle without the appropriate licence. Registration, plates, and insurance have separate requirements.
Our team reviewed Ontario’s vehicle registration guide and Ontario’s acceptable identity document list, Ontario’s G1 licence rules, and OMVIC’s Buying a Car in Ontario roadmap to prepare this article.
Buying, Registering, Plating, Insuring And Driving Are Different
Here’s our review of every step you will take all the way up to driving a car in Ontario.
| Step | What it means | What to confirm if you have no full G licence |
|---|---|---|
| Buy | Execute a contract/bill of sale and pay the seller. | There is no requirement that you have a driver’s licence to buy a vehicle. Dealers and lenders may have requirements about identification and/or financial criteria. |
| Register | Transfer the vehicle portion of the Ontario permit into your name. | ServiceOntario can use your driver’s licence to confirm your identity. They can use other documents that prove your legal name, date of birth and signature. |
| Attach plates | Transfer existing licence plates onto the vehicle or get new ones. | In Ontario, you must have proof of insurance from an insurance company licensed in Ontario before putting plates on your vehicle. |
| Insure | Arrange for insurance that will cover the car, the owner and the drivers. | Check with the insurer to see if they will insure an unlicensed owner or a G1 as the only licensed driver before paying the seller. |
| Drive | Drive on public roads. | You need the right licence, valid plates and insurance for that vehicle to drive it. If your licence says G1, you must abide by all of the conditions for a G1. |
Read More: See When You Need Insurance Before Buying a Car
What Do You Need To Register The Car?
In Ontario, if you have completed a common private used-car purchase, you must register it within six days at ServiceOntario. Bring:
- the Used Vehicle Information Package from the seller.
- a signed and completed transfer of ownership portion of the vehicle’s original Ontario vehicle permit.
- proof of purchase.
- identification to provide your legal name, date of birth, and signature. You might need two of them. They must be original, valid, and in English or French, or have a certified translation.
If you will be putting plates on your vehicle, you’ll also need proof of insurance, a Safety Standards Certificate if required for the plate transaction, and the plate portion of the vehicle’s original Ontario vehicle permit if you’re putting plates from another car onto your car.
if you’re a business or organization, ServiceOntario will provide a Registrant Identification Number when you first register a vehicle in its name. This is not the normal substitute for an individual without a driver’s licence.
Read More: Review Ontario’s Car-Registration Requirements
Can You Buy A Car With A G1 License?
Yes, you can legally buy and register a car with a G1 licence in Ontario.
What If You Are Buying The Car Only To Store It?
You still need to transfer ownership, but you should contact ServiceOntario for information about permits if you’re not putting plates on the car. Ontario plates belong to the seller, so do not leave the seller’s plates on the car. Check with your insurer about storage coverage before you leave the car on your property.