How to Sell a Car in Ontario, Bill of Sale and Trade-In Guide for Brockville, Ontario
How to sell a car in Ontario privately comes down to four papers: the Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP), a signed bill of sale, the signed Application for Transfer on your ownership permit, and a safety standards certificate if one is required.
Your buyer then registers the car at a ServiceOntario centre. The other route is trading it in with us on Eleanor Street when you buy your next vehicle.
We hear the question at kitchen tables from Elizabethtown-Kitley to Athens: we're going down to one car, so how do I sell the other one, what bill of sale do I need, and is it easier just to trade it in?
This guide walks you through Ontario's private-sale steps and the full bill of sale, then trading in, financing the one car you keep O.A.C., and what we do at Brockville Ford.
Every rule below comes from the Government of Ontario's own pages. The trade-in side uses the words of OMVIC, the regulator Ontario dealers register with, so the choice stays yours.
Most people going down to one car would rather settle it than leave the second one sitting in the driveway through another winter.
Key Takeaways
Before you sell, Ontario says to buy a Used Vehicle Information Package, make sure the VIN on the car matches your permit, and check that no money is owing on it. At the sale, the seller is legally required to give the buyer the UVIP, along with a signed bill of sale, a completed and signed Application for Transfer, and a safety standards certificate if required.
A bill of sale in Ontario must show the VIN, the make, year and power source, the body type, colour and model, the purchase price, both names and addresses, the seller's signature and the sale date.
Your licence plates stay with you, and your buyer must register as the new owner within 6 days of the purchase at a ServiceOntario centre.
If you are buying your next vehicle from a dealer, the CRA says HST is charged on the price minus the amount allowed for your trade-in; if you are not buying, there is no tax difference between the two routes.
Financing the one car you keep is available O.A.C., and you can get pre-qualified online before you drive in to Eleanor Street.
How to Sell a Car in Ontario Privately, Step by Step
Knowing how to sell a car in Ontario privately means following a fixed order: check the car, buy the UVIP, get a safety certificate if one is required, then sign over the paperwork.
Ontario's used-vehicle page lists what you hand the buyer, and your buyer finishes the transfer at ServiceOntario.
Around here, that usually means someone driving in from Prescott or Gananoque to look at the car in your driveway. Have the papers in order before the first call, and the visit goes a lot smoother.
Here is the whole sale on one page, in Ontario's order:
When | What you do or hand over |
|---|---|
Before you sell | Make sure the VIN on the car matches your permit, and check that no money is owing |
Before you sell | Buy the Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) |
If required | Get a safety standards certificate from a DriveON vehicle inspection centre |
At the sale | Give the buyer the UVIP, a signed bill of sale and the completed, signed Application for Transfer |
After the sale | Keep your licence plates and the plate portion of your permit |
After the sale | Your buyer registers as the new owner at a ServiceOntario centre |
Check the VIN and Any Money Owing
Ontario's used-vehicle page says that before you sell, you need to "make sure that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on your vehicle matches the number on your permit" and "check to ensure the vehicle has no money owing on it."
The UVIP answers that second part, because Ontario says it "will tell you if there is any debt or money owing on your vehicle."
If there is a lien, Ontario's page says "you can contact the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services."
Buy the Used Vehicle Information Package
Ontario is plain about who supplies it: "As the seller you are legally required under the Highway Traffic Act to provide the buyer with a UVIP."
The package holds the vehicle details, its registration history in Ontario with past owners and odometer readings, lien information, the last known status of its condition, the wholesale value used for retail sales tax, and a bill of sale section.
To order one, Ontario says you need the vehicle identification number or the licence plate number.
Ontario also says a buyer can purchase a UVIP before the sale or when registering the transfer at a ServiceOntario centre.
Get a Safety Standards Certificate If Required
Ontario says you need a safety standard inspection and certificate when "transferring a used vehicle to a new owner (unless the new owner is your spouse)."
Ontario also says "You can buy and register a vehicle without a safety standards certificate, but cannot put plates on a vehicle without one." That is why the seller's list reads "(if required)."
To get one, the vehicle "must first pass an inspection at a DriveON vehicle inspection centre licensed by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO)."
Ontario says a certificate "is valid for 36 calendar days after the inspection," and "It is not a warranty or guarantee of the vehicle's condition."
The cost "is different at each Motor Vehicle Inspection Station," in Ontario's words, and "This isn't regulated by the government."
Tidy Up Before the First Buyer Comes
A buyer from Kingston or Cornwall sees the car before they hear your story, so fix what you want fixed before you list it.
If a scrape from a tight spot on King Street or a dent from a Leeds and Grenville back road bothers you, our body shop on Eleanor Street can take a look at it first.
Clear Your Personal Data From the Car
OMVIC's trade-in advice includes deleting personal data such as garage door codes, paired phone contacts and saved navigation addresses.
The same care fits a private sale, since the next owner drives away with whatever the car remembers.
Sign the Bill of Sale and the Application for Transfer
At the sale, Ontario's used-vehicle page says you give the buyer:
the Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP)
a signed Bill of Sale with your name, the buyer's name and address, the date and purchase price
a completed and signed Application for Transfer
a certificate that verifies the vehicle meets safety standards (if required)
The Application for Transfer is on the back of your ownership permit, under the vehicle portion.
Keep Your Plates
Ontario says you keep "your licence plates (the plates travel with a driver, not a vehicle)" and "the 'plate portion' of your permit (ownership)."
After the sale, Ontario's fraud advice is to "remove your licence plates from a vehicle and return them to a ServiceOntario Centre or keep them securely stored until needed."
Your Buyer Registers at ServiceOntario Within 6 Days
The transfer is your buyer's job. Ontario's page tells buyers "You must register your name as the new owner of the vehicle within 6 days of the purchase."
Ontario lists what the buyer brings to a ServiceOntario centre:
proof of insurance
an Ontario driver's licence
the Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP)
the bill of sale
the Safety Standards Certificate, if applicable
an annual or semi-annual emission and safety inspection, if applicable
the owner's permit with the completed Application for Transfer portion on the back
odometer reading information
If you are selling to a close family member, Ontario's page has a separate note that begins "you may be allowed to transfer ownership," so read its conditions on ontario.ca before you start.
Filling In the Bill of Sale Ontario Asks For at the Kitchen Table
A bill of sale in Ontario must show the vehicle's VIN, its make, year and power source, its body type, colour and model, the purchase price, the seller's name, address and signature, the buyer's name and address, and the sale date.
Ontario says "The bill of sale must be an original document, but it can be handwritten."
Most of the ones we hear about get written at a kitchen table in Mallorytown or Lyn, with the buyer sitting across from you. Here is what Ontario's used-vehicle page says a bill of sale for a used or new vehicle must include:
vehicle identification number (VIN)
make, year and power source for motor vehicles (gas, diesel, electric)
body type, colour and model (if available)
purchase price (taxes collected and HST/GST number if applicable)
name, address and signature of the current owner or dealer or the leasing company (seller)
name and address of the buyer
sale or purchase date
The UVIP has room for it. Ontario says you can use "the bottom of the UVIP which has a dedicated section for this."
Your buyer takes the bill of sale to ServiceOntario to register the car, so fill in every line Ontario lists before anyone signs.
The price you write matters to your buyer too. Ontario bases the sales tax they pay on "the purchase price or the vehicle's wholesale value, whichever is greater."
The purchase price is the hardest line to fill in. If a trade-in is also on your mind, see what your car is worth as a trade-in before you settle on a private price.
Private Sale or Trade-In for a Downsizer in Leeds and Grenville
OMVIC puts it plainly: "Trading in a vehicle versus selling privately has pros and cons." A private sale lets you set your own price and deal with the buyer yourself, while OMVIC says "trading in a vehicle is easier, faster and more secure."
The trade-off, in OMVIC's words, is that "dealers generally offer the wholesale value of a trade-in."
Here is how the two routes compare for a seller:
What changes | Private sale | Trade-in |
|---|---|---|
Paperwork | You buy the UVIP, write the bill of sale, sign the transfer and get a safety certificate if required | OMVIC says dealers must ask you to sign a trade-in disclosure document |
Who comes to see the car | Buyers you arrange yourself, at your door | The dealer you are buying your next vehicle from |
The money | You take the buyer's money yourself | The trade-in allowance comes off the price of the vehicle you buy |
The price | You set it and negotiate it | OMVIC says dealers generally offer wholesale value, and trade-in value can be negotiated |
Effort | Listing, calls, showings and a meeting to sign | OMVIC calls it easier, faster and more secure |
When a Private Sale Can Make Sense
A private sale can suit you if you have the time, you are comfortable showing the car to strangers and taking their money, and you want to set and negotiate the price yourself.
It also fits if you are not buying another vehicle, because a trade-in only happens when you buy one.
Around Brockville and across Leeds and Grenville, the pool of private buyers for any one car is small and local. A listing can sit a while, and every buyer is someone new coming up your lane in Elizabethtown-Kitley or your street in town.
Your private buyer also carries more risk than a dealer's customer. OMVIC says private buyers are not protected by OMVIC or its compensation fund, "as we don't regulate private vehicle sales."
When a Trade-In Wins
A trade-in wins on convenience. OMVIC calls it "easier, faster and more secure," and there are no strangers at the door and no buyer's money to handle.
The vehicle you buy comes with protection too. OMVIC says "when you buy from a dealer who is registered with OMVIC, you are protected by the MVDA."
If you want to know how people found dealing with us, read what our customers say about Brockville Ford before you decide.
Choosing the One Car You Keep
Going down to one car makes the one you keep matter more, because it has to handle the 401 run to Kingston and the errands along Stewart Boulevard alike.
Start with the one that is easier to get in and out of and still covered by its factory warranty, then sell or trade the other.
If neither car fits, you can sell or trade both and replace them with one vehicle that suits the way you drive around Brockville, Ontario.
If the car you keep is a Ford that sees few kilometres, our Ford warranty Canada guide for low-kilometre drivers explains how the calendar can end factory coverage before the odometer does.
If you want protection after that factory coverage ends, our page on Ford Protect Plans explains the coverage you can add.
If a compact SUV is on your list, our guide to the best years for a used Toyota RAV4 shows which model years to check first.
Trading In Your Car at Brockville Ford, Paid Off or Not
OMVIC's trade-in advice covers a car that is not paid off yet: if you still owe money on it, call your lender for the payout before you trade it in.
If you want to check first, Ontario says the UVIP "will tell you if there is any debt or money owing on your vehicle."
Paid off or not, the rest of a trade-in works the same way, and OMVIC sets out what to expect.
OMVIC says that when determining the value of a trade-in, "it can be affected by numerous factors."
OMVIC also says to "understand trade-in value can be negotiated and may vary between dealers," and that dealers are required by law to ask you to sign a trade-in disclosure document.
To start from home in Maitland or Lyn, see what your car is worth as a trade-in online, then bring it to Eleanor Street when it suits you.
How Tax Works on Each Route
If you are buying your next vehicle from a dealer, the CRA says the dealer charges HST on the net amount, which is the price of the vehicle you buy minus the amount allowed for your trade-in.
The CRA applies that rule to a trade-in from a person who does not have to charge the GST/HST, which it says is "usually a person who is not registered for the GST/HST."
If you are not buying another vehicle, there is no tax difference between the two routes.
In a private sale, Ontario says the buyer pays the sales tax when registering as the new owner, based on the purchase price or the vehicle's wholesale value, whichever is greater.
Financing the One Car You Keep, O.A.C.
Financing the one car you keep is available O.A.C., and you can start online from your kitchen in Athens or Prescott before you visit.
If you trade in, the trade-in allowance comes off the price of the vehicle you buy, so your trade and your financing sit in the same deal, O.A.C.
Pre-approval tells you where you stand before you shop, and you can get approved online at your own pace, O.A.C.
On a fixed income, the number that matters is the one you can live with. Try our payment calculator with your own budget before you come in, and remember any financing is O.A.C.
We go through it with you in plain language, with no pressure, and nothing is signed until you are comfortable.
Why Sell or Trade at Brockville Ford on Eleanor Street
Selling or trading at Brockville Ford keeps the whole change in one place: your trade-in, the one car you keep, financing O.A.C. and its care afterwards, all at 25 Eleanor Street.
You deal with one team from the first look at your car to the first oil change on the one you keep.
With over 400 used vehicles available, Brockville Ford has one of the largest selections in the area.
There are also approximately 200 new vehicles available if the one you keep should be new.
Here is what we do under one roof:
look at your car as a trade-in, with the trade-in disclosure document OMVIC says dealers must ask you to sign
help you pick one vehicle to replace two, new or used
arrange financing O.A.C., explained in plain language
look after the car you keep in our service department
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a safety certificate to sell my car in Ontario
Ontario lists a safety standards certificate among what you give the buyer "(if required)," and says you need one when "transferring a used vehicle to a new owner (unless the new owner is your spouse)."
Ontario also says "You can buy and register a vehicle without a safety standards certificate, but cannot put plates on a vehicle without one."
Who provides the UVIP in Ontario
The seller does. Ontario says "As the seller you are legally required under the Highway Traffic Act to provide the buyer with a UVIP."
Ontario says a buyer can also purchase a UVIP before the sale or when registering the transfer at a ServiceOntario centre.
Do I need a bill of sale to sell a car in Ontario
Yes. Ontario lists "a signed Bill of Sale with your name, the buyer's name and address, the date and purchase price" among what you give the buyer, and says it "must be an original document, but it can be handwritten."
Ontario's full list adds the VIN, the make, year and power source, and the body type, colour and model, and you can use the bill of sale section at the bottom of the UVIP.
How long does the buyer have to register a car in Ontario
Six days. Ontario's used-vehicle page tells buyers "You must register your name as the new owner of the vehicle within 6 days of the purchase."
The buyer registers at a ServiceOntario centre and brings the UVIP, the bill of sale and the owner's permit with the Application for Transfer completed, among other documents.
Is it better to sell privately or trade in
It depends on the seller. Knowing how to sell a car in Ontario privately suits someone with time who is comfortable meeting buyers and setting the price, while a trade-in suits someone buying the next vehicle from a dealer who wants what OMVIC calls "easier, faster and more secure."
OMVIC also says "dealers generally offer the wholesale value of a trade-in," and the trade-in tax difference only applies if you are buying your next vehicle from a dealer.
If you are buying your next vehicle, you can see what your car is worth as a trade-in online before you decide.
Get a Trade-In Appraisal on Eleanor Street, With No Pressure
You have the whole picture of how to sell a car in Ontario privately, from the UVIP to the bill of sale, and of when a trade-in fits better.
Neighbours drive in to see us from Prescott, Athens, Mallorytown, Elizabethtown-Kitley, Lyn, Gananoque, Kingston and Cornwall, and you are welcome too.
Get directions to 25 Eleanor Street, bring the car and your ownership permit, and we will go through your options with you at your own pace.
Visit us at
25 Eleanor St.,
Brockville, ON
K6V 4H9
Browse inventory online, value your trade, get pre-approved on approved credit, book service, or contact our team.
Sales: (613) 342-0234 Parts: (613) 342-0234 Service: (613) 342-0234
About the author:
Kerry Irven is the Vice President of New and Used Automotive Operations for Heighton Automotive Group, a family-owned and operated automotive group serving communities across Eastern Ontario. Kerry began his automotive career in new-car sales, building his experience on the showroom floor and working his way through multi-store dealership operations.
With over 25 years in the automotive industry, Kerry has helped grow automotive businesses from one location with 40 to 50 vehicles in stock to more than 500 vehicles across 10 rooftops. His hands-on background in both new and used-vehicle operations gives him a practical understanding of what customers look for when shopping for their next vehicle.
Throughout his career, Kerry has always been actively involved in staff coaching and in understanding customer wants and needs, helping ensure the businesses he works with continue to adapt to what customers are truly looking for.
One of the most exciting chapters of his career has been the shift into modern automotive marketing, embracing new technology, transparent pricing, customer-first inventory strategies, and new ways to create a better vehicle-shopping experience.
Kerry has completed extensive automotive training, including certification through the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, involvement with the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario, Canadian automotive dealer training, and multiple customer service courses.
Born and raised on a farm, Kerry has always valued family, hard work, and a practical, down-to-earth approach. Joining Heighton Automotive Group and working alongside Thomas Heighton and family, along with managing partners Kyle Lothian and Martin Gougeon, has allowed him to bring those same values into the car business. It has also allowed Kerry to continue following a simple philosophy: treat every customer exactly the way he would want to be treated.
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