When you buy a private used car in Ontario, you’ll need to register it by transferring the vehicle permit at ServiceOntario within six days of the sale date.
In order to drive your vehicle, it needs Ontario auto insurance and valid licence plates. In this guide, we’ve pulled information from Ontario’s vehicle registration guide, Ontario’s private used-vehicle guide, Ontario’s driver and vehicle fee schedule, and Ontario’s licence-plate renewal guide to give you an idea of the documents you’ll need, what documents the seller gets to keep, how much you’ll be paying for plates and vehicle permit, safety certification, and what happens in other circumstances.
How Do You Register A Private Used Car In Ontario?
As the buyer, you’ll need to register the vehicle within six days of buying it. You can’t transfer a vehicle’s ownership through the online plate-renewal service. You will need to visit ServiceOntario and bring the following with you:
- acceptable identification (i.e. driver’s licence);
- proof of valid Ontario car insurance;
- the Used Vehicle Information Package;
- a signed bill of sale;
- the seller’s original vehicle permit, with the transfer section completed by the seller;
- a valid Safety Standards Certificate, if required; and
| Bring | What to check before the counter |
|---|---|
| Identification | A driver’s licence or other acceptable form of identification showing your legal name, date of birth and signature. |
| Used Vehicle Information Package | In most cases involving private sales of passenger vehicles, the seller provides this document. Be sure to check the seller’s name, VIN, lien information, and wholesale value. |
| Bill of sale | Vehicle details including VIN, make, model year, and power source, purchase price, sale date, names, addresses, signatures of the buyer and seller. |
| Original vehicle permit | The seller completes and signs the transfer section located on the vehicle portion. |
| Insurance | Proof of insurance. When you attach plates to the vehicle, you’ll need valid proof of insurance for it. Your insurer must be licensed to operate in Ontario. |
| Safety Standards Certificate | A certificate is required for the majority of transactions to plate a vehicle for road use. However, the certificate does not guarantee the vehicle’s future condition. |
| Your plate portion | Ontario plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle |
| Payment | Registration includes payment of applicable retail sales tax, permit/plate fees and any outstanding amounts that will prevent the plate transaction. |
Read More: Review the Ontario Vehicle-Ownership Transfer Checklist
What Is Vehicle Registration In Ontario?
In Ontario, vehicle registration is shown on the vehicle permit, often called the “green ownership.” The permit has a vehicle portion and a plate portion. After a sale, the completed vehicle portion goes to the buyer, while the licence plates and plate portion remain with the plate holder.
Licence-plate validation stickers are not required on all Ontario vehicles. Since March 2022, Ontario has eliminated renewal fees and licence-plate stickers for ordinary passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles, mopeds and motorcycles. If your vehicle has valid insurance and you have no outstanding tolls, fees, or fines, many eligible personal licence plates now renew each year automatically. Different rules apply to business and other heavier vehicles.
How Much Does It Cost To Register Your Car In Ontario?
| Current item | Fee checked August 25, 2026 | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle permit | $32 | Vehicle registration involves registering or transferring your car permit in Ontario. |
| New or replacement licence plate with permit | $59 | When a plate must be issued with the permit |
| Passenger-vehicle plate validation | $0 | Ontario no longer charges the former sticker fee to renew eligible personal plates. |
| Retail sales tax | Usually 13% in a private sale | In general, the cost is based on the higher of the purchase price or the wholesale value, although there are certain exceptions and appraisal rules. |
Read More: See How Ontario Taxes a Used-Vehicle Purchase
How To Register Your Car In Ontario
- Check the seller’s permit and UVIP before paying; confirm the seller’s name and make sure the VIN is the same in all places, including the dashboard, door label, permit, UVIP and bill of sale.
- Get a bill of sale and have the transfer section on the permit filled out and signed by the seller.
- Have the seller remove their licence plates. They will keep their plate portion. The seller’s plates and insurance will not transfer to you.
- Buy vehicle insurance for the exact vehicle before putting on licence plates.
- If the plate transaction requires it, have the vehicle inspected and get a Safety Standards Certificate. In Ontario, the certificate is valid for 36 days. It is not a warranty.
- Within six days, go to ServiceOntario with the above items checked off. Pay for your new permit, plates (if required), tax, and any other amount due.
- Before driving, double-check that your permit, plate and insurance slip are for your new car, in your name and have the correct validity dates.
What The Seller Gives You And Keeps
| Buyer receives | Seller keeps |
|---|---|
| Used Vehicle Information Package | The seller’s physical licence plates |
| Signed bill of sale | The plate portion of the vehicle permit |
| Vehicle portion of the permit with transfer section completed | Copies of the sale records and proof of the handoff |
| Safety Standards Certificate if the seller agreed to provide one | Any entitlement to move the plates to another vehicle |
License plates belong to the plate holder. Do not drive away with the seller’s plates.
Leaving existing plates on the vehicle can cause problems for the plate holder, including tickets and tolls.
Common Registration Delays: VIN Errors, Liens And Missing UVIPs
VIN Mismatch
Stop the purchase. Before paying the seller, contact ServiceOntario to confirm which original documents are needed.
Read More: See How to Check a Vehicle Identification Number
Car Lien
If the UVIP indicates a lien, insist on written proof of the loan payout and lien discharge. If the seller can’t discharge the lien, seek legal advice.
A car lien is a lender’s repayment claim registered against a car. The UVIP will identify Ontario-registered liens. Registered liens do not disappear after registration.
Missing UVIP
Ontario identifies the private vehicle sale types for which the seller must provide a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). Even when the seller fails to provide one, buyers can buy their own UVIP from ServiceOntario.
However, buyers should still review the UVIP before making payment. A missing UVIP could hide problems, including an incorrect seller name, open liens, and the wholesale value used for tax.
Read More: See What the Used Vehicle Information Package Should Contain
Is Auto Insurance Required For Vehicle Registration?
To legally drive a vehicle in Ontario, you need valid auto insurance, registration, and licence plates.
To register a vehicle at ServiceOntario, bring proof of insurance from an Ontario-licensed insurance company.
You can’t transfer the seller’s insurance policy to yourself.
Read More: Compare Car Insurance in Ontario
Can Someone Else Register Your Vehicle For You?
For certain transactions, you may allow someone else to act on your behalf. Do not assume text messages or photocopies of signatures will be accepted. You must follow the requirements of the current Ontario Letter of Authorization including original signatures and identity documents listed on the registration page.