How does vehicle registration in Canada work?

What is vehicle registration?

Vehicle registration is exactly what it sounds like: it’s the registration of a vehicle with a government authority. Registering certifies that the vehicle has an official owner and is legally allowed to be driven on the road. Without registration, you can’t legally drive, sell, or even claim ownership of a vehicle.

Vehicle registration in Canada is administered at the provincial level. Each jurisdiction handles vehicle registration differently, but some basic requirements are common. For example, you must register your car(s) in the same province or territory where you reside, even if you bought the vehicle in another province. You may still be able to drive it across provincial borders, but your car must be registered somewhere before you can take it… well, anywhere.

Even some off-road vehicles, like ATVs and snowmobiles, require registration if you plan to operate them outside of public property. However, it will be a different process from that of regular cars.

As for when you must register, it’s usually anytime you:

• Buy a new or used car
• Move with your car to a new province
• Import a car from another country into Canada
• Receive a car as a gift or through inheritance

Once you register your car, you’ll receive a registration certificate or vehicle permit. The document will contain some identifying information about the vehicle, including its year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN), as well as to whom it’s registered.

You’ll also get a licence plate to display on your vehicle. Whether it is displayed on the front, back, or both ends of your car depends on your province. In any case, ensure it is firmly attached and displayed while you drive. The alphanumeric serial engraved on the plate is also recorded on your registration document.

Licence plates are a cornerstone of modern traffic enforcement. Using automated license plate recognition (ALPR) camera systems, police officers can scan the plate’s serial to identify vehicles. They can use “hit” results to track down plates associated with suspended drivers, stolen cars, or even individuals with outstanding arrest warrants. If the registration plate number they scan is expired, they can issue a ticket.

Always keep your car registration and insurance papers inside your car, ideally in a secure location — most people choose the glove compartment. If an officer pulls you over, they may ask you to present both.

How do you register a vehicle?

The specific steps you take to register a car depend entirely on how you’re acquiring it. Are you buying it from a dealership or a private seller? Is it a gift from someone? Or, are you bringing it from another province or territory, or a U.S. state?

• If it’s a dealership purchase, the dealer will almost always handle the registration for you. They’ll collect all the necessary information and submit the required paperwork to the provincial licensing authority on your behalf. Usually, they can provide you with the official vehicle permit and your new licence plates immediately. If not, they may issue a temporary permit, with the permanent documents and plates arriving in the mail shortly after.
• If it’s a private purchase or a gift, you’ll typically have to register it on your own. Of course, this time, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the process and required documents. Keep in mind that the paperwork required may vary by province (as we’ll cover in the next section).
• If you move to a new province and bring your car with you, you are considered a new resident and must switch the registration over to your new province’s system. Most provinces provide a grace period for new residents to update their documentation. Within this window, you must obtain a new driver’s licence, vehicle registration, and car insurance in your new province.

General requirements

To register a car anywhere in Canada, you’ll need a core set of documents. These include:

1. Proof of identity: a government-issued photo ID or driver’s licence.
2. Proof of ownership: a New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) for new cars, or a bill of sale for used cars.
3. Proof of insurance: a certificate of insurance or proof of insurance card, commonly known as a “pink slip.”

If you’re registering a used car, you may also need to prove its roadworthiness. Usually, this is a safety inspection certificate issued by a service centre in the province.

If the car is from another country, it must be formally imported with Transport Canada before it can be registered, licensed, and insured in any province. It must also meet the requirements of Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Act.¹ This might involve something relatively simple, such as changing a U.S. vehicle’s odometer from miles to kilometres; but in some cases, a model manufactured for sale overseas, if it wasn’t also built by the automaker there for sale in Canada, may not comply with Canada’s standards. Be sure you know the rules you must meet.

• Leasing a vehicle in Canada
• Financing a car in Canada
• What is car insurance?

Vehicle registration by province

The vehicle registration system can vary significantly depending on where you live. Here’s how it works in Canada’s largest provinces.

Note that these examples are for private vehicles, not commercial ones. Some provinces may also have restrictions on vehicle inspection requirements depending on how old the car is.

Alberta

In Alberta, vehicle registration services are offered in person at Registry Agent offices.

The applicant will need to bring proof of insurance from a private car insurance provider in the province.

For used cars, the Government of Alberta provides a standard bill of sale form on its website to facilitate the transfer of ownership. An out-of-province, salvage, or commercial inspection may be required if the car is from another province.

To register a car from a different country, the applicant must get the proper inspection completed and provide import documentation. New vehicles will also need the NVIS or a Certificate of Origin.

If the applicant can’t attend the registry in person, they can appoint someone to register the car on their behalf. The appointed individual must bring an Authorization for Vehicle Services form, signed by the applicant, permitting them to act on their behalf, along with the applicant’s insurance and ownership documents of the car. The appointed individual must have a valid Alberta driver’s licence.

Those staying in Alberta for 183 days or less don’t need to switch to an Alberta registration, provided the car is registered elsewhere. New residents, however, have a grace period of 90 days to switch over to Alberta’s registration system.²

British Columbia

In British Columbia, both vehicle registration and auto insurance are managed by ICBC. Applicants can register their car through any Autoplan broker in the province.

If the car is already registered in BC, the applicant needs to visit an Autoplan broker. ICBC recommends that the buyer and seller go together. Buyers must register their cars with ICBC within 10 days of purchase.

If the car is being brought from a different province, the applicant will need the vehicle’s current registration and a bill of sale. The car must also pass an in-province safety inspection, but there may be an exception for those brought from Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba.³

The deadline for registering out-of-province vehicles with ICBC is 30 days after arriving in BC.⁴

Manitoba

Manitoba Public Insurance manages both vehicle registration and insurance in the province. Both documents can be obtained together from an Autopac agent.

If the car was bought privately, the applicant will need the bill of sale, along with a transfer of ownership document completed by the previous owner. They’ll also need to get a certificate of inspection issued by a Manitoba vehicle inspection station, or another government-approved inspection program if the car is being transferred from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, or Quebec. Outside of these regions, inspections must be done in the province.

If someone wants to bring their car into Manitoba, they can obtain a seven- or 30-day Temporary Registration Permit while the vehicle undergoes a mandatory inspection.

If someone owns a car that’s licensed and insured and they replace it with one in the same class, they can continue to use that car’s registration, insurance, and licence plates on the new one for up to seven days, but only after they’ve disposed of the old car. The coverage will only be at the old car’s value, so if the replacement vehicle is worth more, the applicant should consider switching the coverage right away.

Newcomers in Manitoba have a three-month grace period to obtain their registration and insurance papers.⁵

Ontario

In Ontario, vehicle registration services are delivered by ServiceOntario.

Ontario operates within a private auto insurance market. Applicants must obtain proof of insurance from a licensed car insurance provider in the province.

A key feature in Ontario’s private vehicle sales is the Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). The seller is legally required to purchase this package from ServiceOntario and provide it to the buyer. The UVIP contains the vehicle’s registration history in Ontario, lien information, and the official bill of sale section that both parties must complete.

While the seller must provide the UVIP, the car buyer can also purchase one before the sale if they want to confirm the vehicle’s information before agreeing to buy it, or they can ask to see the seller’s copy beforehand.

The buyer will also need to provide a completed Application for Vehicle Registration form, the completed transfer portion of the seller’s vehicle permit, and the plate portion of the vehicle permit (if the buyer wishes to use their existing licence plates).

Most passenger vehicles will also need a Safety Standards Certificate. Passing the inspection is a prerequisite for getting an Ontario licence plate.

The registration deadline in Ontario is six days after the sale.⁶ New Ontario residents have a 30-day grace period to register their vehicles.⁷

Quebec

In Quebec, vehicle registration is done with the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). Applicants can register their cars through respective dealerships, at an SAAQ service centre, or even online if all conditions are met.

Applicants who buy a car in Quebec have up to 30 days to register it following the sale. For newcomers, the grace period given is 90 days after establishing residence in the province.⁸

If the seller is transferring ownership to the buyer, they can complete the registration together through SAAQclic. There are, however, conditions under which it may qualify for an online transfer. Specifically, it must be a passenger-type vehicle, under 25 years old, and registered under a single name (i.e. not jointly purchased). There must also be no outstanding fines (under the Highway Safety Code or a municipal traffic or parking bylaw offence) associated with either party.

Most Quebec dealerships will use the SAAQclic service. If not, the applicant will need to visit an SAAQ service centre with a mechanical inspection report and proof of civil liability insurance from a public insurer with at least $50,000 in coverage. For proof of ownership, Quebec requires the following:

• For new vehicles: the Attestation de transaction avec un commerçant and the NVIS provided by the dealer
• For used vehicles: the Attestation de transaction avec un commerçant and the previous owner’s registration

SAAQ will issue a temporary paper licence plate while they mail the metal licence plate to the buyer. This generally takes about 10 to 20 business days. Alternatively, the seller may choose to transfer the vehicle’s existing licence plates to the buyer.^{9 10}

Saskatchewan

In the province, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) handles vehicle registration through its network of motor licence issuers.

To register a car, applicants must satisfy two conditions: they must be the listed owner on the proof of ownership document, and they must have an insurable interest in the car (meaning they would be financially affected if something were to ever happen to it).

Applicants must also demonstrate that they have the minimum auto coverage mandated by law.¹¹

If the car is brand new, the applicant will need the NVIS. A letter from the vehicle dealer may also be accepted.

Dealerships can issue temporary permits for those needing to set up their new registration with a motor licence issuer or drive to an inspection centre. Out-of-province cars may need to undergo an SGI-approved vehicle inspection program, for example.

Saskatchewan licence plates stay with their respective owners. The applicant can transfer their current registration and plates to a new car, but they can’t keep the previous owner’s plates attached; these must be returned to SGI. Applicants have seven days to transfer their existing plates to the vehicle they just acquired.

New residents have a 90-day grace period to register their car with SGI.¹²

How much does vehicle registration cost?

Car registration costs vary by province, but they generally encompass the registration certificate, licence plates, taxes, and potentially other service charges.

Below is a provincial breakdown of the standard registration costs for most private-passenger vehicles:

Province	Registration fee	Licensing fees
Alberta13	$93	Standard plates included in base fee
BC14	$18	$46-$142, depending on vehicle weight
Manitoba15	$129	Standard plates included in base fee
Ontario	$59	Standard plates included in base fee
Quebec16 17	$137	$2.65

*Additional fees and taxes may apply.

In Saskatchewan, the cost of vehicle registration varies based on the car’s make and model, as well as the driver’s safety rating (primarily because the package includes vehicle registration plus insurance). Those wanting a cost estimate can use SGI’s vehicle registration calculator.

Of course, if you want to show off a clever slogan, you can opt to customize your licence plate. Customized plates often cost a bit extra. You’ll also need to pay a fee to replace an existing licence plate if it’s ever lost or stolen.

Sales tax

Sales tax is something you’ll have to pay on almost any car you purchase. Usually, when you’re negotiating a good deal with the seller, sales tax likely isn’t being discussed. Yet, it’s always added to whatever price you and the seller agreed on. Sales tax also applies to cars you lease, import, or receive as a gift. Generally, sales tax is due at the time of registration.

There are three types of sales taxes in Canada: the goods and services tax (GST), the harmonized sales tax (HST), and the provincial sales tax (PST).

The federal government imposes a 5% GST on all dealership sales. The PST also applies to dealer-sold vehicles, but each provincial government enforces its own tax rate. Some provinces have adopted the HST, which essentially combines the provincial sales tax with the federal GST. The applicable taxes will be included in your bill of sale.

Private sale vehicles, on the other hand, are exempt from GST. Most used car buyers will just owe the standard PST or HST, unless a special exemption applies. For example, Alberta does not impose a PST on private sales — the payable amount would effectively be the agreed-upon selling price. Some vehicle arrangements may also be exempted from the PST, such as those gifted between family members or transferred through inheritance.

If you’re buying a new vehicle and its Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) exceeds $100,000, you may be required to pay a federal luxury tax on it. This may also apply if you are importing such a vehicle into Canada from outside the country.¹⁸

Luckily, there’s no need to puzzle over the tax math. Online tools like canadacartax.ca or the Government of Canada’s GST/HST rates calculator can help you quickly figure out what your tax situation could look like.

Commonly asked questions

How long is vehicle registration valid for?

Vehicle registration in Canada is generally valid for one year. But in Alberta, drivers can choose between a one- or two-year term. Vehicle registration and licence plates have the same expiry and need to be renewed annually. Driving with expired registration comes with consequences, ranging from fines to potential driving prohibitions.

Some jurisdictions have now implemented automatic licence plate renewals. For example, in Ontario, plates automatically renew 90 days before the expiration date, so long as the car owner has valid insurance and no unpaid fines. Unlike some other provinces, Ontario does not have renewal fees.¹⁹

What happens if you let your vehicle registration expire?

Driving with expired registration is essentially the same as driving an unregistered vehicle — it’s illegal. If an officer scans your expired plates, they may pull you over and issue a ticket. The fines for the offence can range up to $1,000, depending on your history and location. Vehicle impoundment is also possible.

Can you still drive with a licence plate registered in a different province?

You may, but only for a limited time. Depending on where you’re moving, the province will offer a grace period for you to switch your current registration to the new province’s system. During this window, you’ll need to get your vehicle inspected and insured in the new province. Once that’s complete, you must surrender your old plates and get the ones issued by the new province.

The grace period can range from a few days to several months, depending on the region. In some cases, you might be able to skip the inspection. Under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, vehicles being transported between Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba may be exempt from the pre-registration safety inspection.²⁰

Do you need to register a leased vehicle?

Leased or not, registration is required for all vehicles on the road. Under a lease agreement, the dealership or leasing company (the lessor) is the actual owner of the car. As such, they’re the ones responsible for registering it initially, not the person leasing it.

However, as the person leasing the car (the lessee), you handle the ongoing duties required to keep the vehicle legally on the road, such as having proper insurance and ensuring the registration remains valid. You’ll still need to renew the vehicle’s registration and pay the applicable fees throughout the lease period. The process for renewing a leased car’s registration is typically no different from if you owned it outright. In some provinces, you may be able to give consent (through an authorization form) to the lessor to conduct such matters on your behalf, if you prefer.

At the end of the lease, you’ll hand the car back in with the registered licence plate. That is, unless you decide to buy out the lease, in which case the ownership would be transferred over to you.

Will an expired vehicle registration void your car insurance policy?

An expired vehicle registration will not automatically void your car insurance policy. You’ll continue to pay your insurance premiums, and your policy will remain active according to its own renewal schedule. It certainly will lose you the ability to drive the car, however.

Most, if not all, policies of car insurance have requirements relating to the legal operation of the vehicle. Valid registration is one such requirement. In many cases, you may not be able to renew your car insurance policy with an invalid registration. Plus, if your insurer catches on before you rectify the registration lapse, they can consider it a breach of contract and cancel your policy.

Sources

1. Government of Canada. “Importing a vehicle from countries other than the United States and Mexico.” canada.ca, tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/importing-vehicle/importing-vehicle-countries-other-united-states-mexico. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025.
2. Government of Alberta. “Traffic Safety Act: Vehicle Equipment Regulation.” Alberta King’s Printer, 2009, kings-printer.alberta.ca/documents/Regs/2009_122.pdf.
3. ICBC. “Register a vehicle in B.C.” icbc.com, icbc.com/vehicle-registration/buy-vehicle/registering-a-vehicle-in-B-C. Accessed 2 Sept. 2025.
4. ICBC. “Moving to, from or within B.C.” icbc.com, icbc.com/insurance/moving-travelling/moving-BC. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
5. Manitoba Public Insurance. “Registering your vehicle.” mpi.mb.ca mpi.mb.ca/registering-your-vehicle.
6. Government of Ontario. “Register a vehicle (permit and licence plate).” ontario.ca, 6 May 2016, ontario.ca/page/register-vehicle-permit-and-licence-plate.
7. Government of Ontario. “MTO Driver’s Handbook: Vehicle insurance and registration.” ontario.ca, 28 Nov. 2016, ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/vehicle-insurance-and-registration.
8. Government of Quebec. Highway Safety Code. CQLR 1986, C-24.2, c 91, s 8, 27 May. 2025, legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/C-24.2,%20r.%2029#se:60_5.
9. Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. “Transferring a Vehicle Between Individuals.” saaq.gouv.qc.ca, saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/vehicle-registration/registering-vehicle/automobile-motor-home/passenger-vehicle-between-individuals. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
10. Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. “Registering a New or Used Automobile or Motor Home Bought from a Dealer.” saaq.gouv.qc.ca, saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/vehicle-registration/registering-vehicle/automobile-or-motor-home/new-or-used-car-or-motor-home-bought-from-a-dealer. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
11. SGI. “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook: Vehicle registration.” sgi.sk.ca, sgi.sk.ca/handbook/-/knowledge_base/drivers/vehicle-registration. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
12. SGI. “New and used vehicles.” sgi.sk.ca, sgi.sk.ca/new-and-used-vehicles. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
13. Government of Alberta. “Registry agent product catalogue.” open.alberta.ca 2 Jul. 2025, open.alberta.ca/dataset/4883fcbd-8a22-400f-80d0-89f590100a9b/resource/bdf4e6b6-e8ff-4731-8c82-e4857def11ec/download/sartr-registry-agent-product-catalogue-2025-07.pdf.
14. Government of British Columbia. “Motor Vehicle Fees Regulation.” bclaws.gov.bc.ca 20 Dec. 1991, bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/lc/statreg/334_91.
15. CBC News. “Manitoba government decreasing some vehicle registration fees this summer.” cbc.ca 13 May 2021, cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-vehicle-registration-fee-1.6025809.
16. Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. “Comparative Table – Passenger Vehicles (automobiles or other).” saaq.gouv.qc.ca, saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/saaq/rates-fines/vehicle-registration/comparative-tables/passenger-vehicles. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
17. Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. “Fees Related to Vehicle Registration.” saaq.gouv.qc.ca, saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/saaq/rates-fines/vehicle-registration/fees. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
18. Government of Canada. “LTN2 Subject vehicles under the Select Luxury Items Tax Act.” canada.ca, August 2022, canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/ltn2/subject-vehicles-under-select-luxury-items-tax-act.html.
19. Government of Ontario. “Licence plate renewals.” ontario.ca, 18 Oct. 2021, ontario.ca/page/licence-plate-renewals.
20. New West Partnership Trade Agreement. “New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA).” newwestpartnershiptrade.ca, 26 May 2022, newwestpartnershiptrade.ca/pdf/NWPTA_May_26_2022.pdf.

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