How to Sell a Car Privately in Ontario Safely (2026 Guide)

Everything you need to sell a car privately in Ontario: the UVIP, bill of sale, safety certificate rules, how to get paid safely, and the scams to avoid.

LockNDeal Safety TeamOctober 5, 20268 min read

To sell a car privately in Ontario, you need to give the buyer a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP), a signed bill of sale, the vehicle portion of your ownership permit with the Application for Transfer completed, and a Safety Standards Certificate if one is required. You keep your licence plates. The buyer then registers the car in their name at ServiceOntario within 6 days.

The paperwork is the easy part. The risky part is getting paid: private car sales attract counterfeit bank drafts, overpayment tricks and fake payment notifications. Here is every step, from ordering your UVIP to handing over the keys.

Step 1: Get your documents in order before you list

According to Ontario's official guide to buying or selling a used vehicle, before you sell you need to:

Buy a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). As the seller, you are legally required under the Highway Traffic Act to provide one to the buyer.
Match the VIN. Make sure the Vehicle Identification Number on the car matches the number on your green ownership permit.
Check for money owing. Confirm there is no lien on the vehicle.

The Used Vehicle Information Package

You can order a used vehicle information package from ServiceOntario online for $20, paid by Visa or Mastercard. You need the VIN or plate number, plus your driver's licence number (or RIN, or your name and address). It is mailed out within 5 business days, with up to 10 days for delivery, so order it as soon as you decide to sell.

The UVIP includes the vehicle's details, Ontario registration history, odometer readings, lien information, wholesale value and a bill of sale section. It must be original and undamaged, with the tear-off stub on page 1 still attached. If it shows a lien, clear it before you sell.

The bill of sale

Ontario requires a bill of sale to include:

the VIN
make, year and power source (gas, diesel, electric)
body type, colour and model, if available
the purchase price
the seller's name, address and signature
the buyer's name and address
the sale date

It must be an original document, but it can be handwritten. The bottom of the UVIP has a bill of sale section you can use. Both buyer and seller should sign and date it, and you should keep a copy or photo for your records.

Safety Standards Certificate rules

A Safety Standards Certificate (SSC) is issued by a DriveON Vehicle Inspection Centre licensed by the Ministry of Transportation after the vehicle passes inspection. It is required when transferring a used vehicle to a new owner (unless the new owner is your spouse), and plates cannot go on the vehicle without one. It is valid for 36 calendar days after the inspection, so time it close to your sale date. Keep in mind that an SSC is not a warranty or guarantee of the vehicle's condition.

If you sell "as is" and leave certification to the buyer, say so clearly in the ad and on the bill of sale.

Step 2: Price it right

Compare your car against similar listings (same year, trim, kilometres and condition) and gather your maintenance records, since a documented car commands a better price. The buyer, not you, pays Ontario's retail sales tax at registration, based on the purchase price or wholesale value, whichever is greater. Never agree to write a lower price on the bill of sale: a buyer who asks you to fudge paperwork is a red flag.

Step 3: Screen buyers before you meet

Your ad will attract real buyers and scammers. A few minutes of screening filters out most problems:

Talk on the phone. Real local buyers ask specific questions.
Be wary of unseen purchases. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns sellers to be skeptical of out-of-town buyers offering to buy unseen and requests for unusual payment methods.
Do not share your full VIN, ownership or UVIP photos with strangers up front. Real buyers can see the VIN on the car at the viewing. Scammers harvest VINs and document details to clone vehicles or forge paperwork.
Never share verification codes. If a "buyer" asks you to read back a code sent to your phone to "prove you're real," stop. CAFC is clear: never share your security code with anyone.
Agree on payment method before the meeting. This avoids surprises at the curb.

For more patterns to watch for, see our guide to Kijiji scams.

Step 4: Run a safe viewing and test drive

Meet somewhere public and well lit. A safe exchange zone at a police station is ideal for the first meeting.
Check their driver's licence. Look at it and snap a photo before anyone gets behind the wheel.
Call your insurer first. Ask how your policy treats another driver test-driving your car, so there are no surprises if something happens.
Ride along. Never hand the keys to someone and let them drive off alone, and keep the spare key at home.
Bring a friend and tell someone else where you are going.
Allow a mechanic inspection if asked. It is a sign of a serious buyer.

Step 5: Choose the safest way to get paid

The safest way to get paid selling a car is any method where the money is confirmed and in your control before the keys and signed ownership leave your hands. Here is how the common options compare.

Method	How it works	Main risk for the seller	How to use it safely
Cash	Physical bills handed over at the meeting	Counterfeit bills, carrying large amounts, robbery	Count and check it at the buyer's bank, then deposit right away
Bank draft	Draft issued by the buyer's bank	Counterfeit drafts that look real	Call the issuing bank using a number you look up yourself, or watch the draft being issued at the branch
Certified cheque	Cheque certified by the buyer's bank	Same as drafts: forgeries are common	Verify with the issuing branch before handover, same as a draft
Interac e-Transfer	Bank-to-bank transfer by email or phone	Fake "pending" payment emails, sending limits too low for a car	Confirm the money is actually in your account by logging in to your bank directly
Wire transfer	Bank wire to your account	Slow, and fake wire confirmations circulate	Wait until your own bank confirms the funds have arrived
Escrow (like LockNDeal)	Buyer locks payment with a third party before the meeting; seller is paid on completion	Using a fake or unregistered "escrow" site a buyer suggests	Only use a service you chose and verified yourself

Bank drafts and certified cheques: verify, do not trust

Counterfeit bank drafts are one of the most common ways car sellers lose their vehicle. In one case reported by Global News, Richmond RCMP warned that bogus bank drafts were used to buy nine vehicles worth over $440,000. Police advised sellers to contact the financial institution that issued the draft to check it, and ideally to meet at the bank, watch the draft being ordered, and make sure it has cleared and been confirmed before turning over any property.

The key detail: look up the bank's phone number yourself, from the bank's official website or your own records. Never call a number printed on the draft or provided by the buyer, because scammers print their own numbers and have an accomplice "confirm" the draft.

Interac e-Transfer: watch limits and fake notifications

Interac says each financial institution sets its own e-Transfer limits, so many buyers simply cannot send the full price of a car in one go. Interac also notes that once a deposit is made there is no way to reverse it through Interac. Also watch for fake notification emails. Read more in our breakdown of the fake e-Transfer scam and whether an Interac e-Transfer can be reversed.

Escrow: getting paid before you hand over the keys

Escrow solves the trust problem on both sides. With LockNDeal, the buyer locks the payment before you meet, funds are held by LockNDeal (a FINTRAC-registered Money Services Business), the buyer inspects the car, and when they are satisfied you give them a unique 4-digit code. Once they enter it, you are paid instantly. Our guide to escrow for marketplace deals in Canada explains the trade-offs.

Common car-selling scams in Ontario

Overpayment

The buyer "accidentally" pays more than your price and asks you to send back the difference. CAFC warns the original payment then turns out to be fraudulent. Never accept more than your price, and never send money back to a buyer.

Fake bank drafts

They look real and often show up after banking hours with pressure to finish fast. If the bank is closed, the sale waits.

VIN and information harvesting

"Buyers" who only want your VIN or photos of your ownership may be gathering details to clone a vehicle or forge documents. Share them in person.

Plate theft and misuse

Plates stay with you, not the car. Ontario advises removing them and returning them to ServiceOntario or storing them securely, and checking them for alterations or swaps. Never let a buyer drive off on your plates. If something seems suspicious, call the police.

"Register it in your name for me"

Ontario warns that if a vehicle registered in your name is used in a crime, you can face criminal charges. Say no.

The handover checklist

Once payment is confirmed and in your control, complete the handover in this order:

Confirm the money: draft verified with the issuing bank, e-Transfer visible in your own banking app, or escrow released.
Fill in and sign the bill of sale with the buyer (both of you sign and date it).
Complete and sign the Application for Transfer on the back of the vehicle portion of the ownership permit, and hand that portion to the buyer.
Give the buyer the original UVIP.
Give the buyer the Safety Standards Certificate, if the sale includes one.
Remove your plates and keep the plate portion of your permit. You need it to put your plates on another vehicle.
Hand over keys, manuals and service records.
Cancel or change your insurance on the car only after the buyer has driven away.

What the buyer does at ServiceOntario

The buyer must register the vehicle within 6 days, bringing proof of insurance, their driver's licence, the UVIP, bill of sale, SSC if applicable, the signed ownership permit and the odometer reading. They pay tax and fees there, not to you.

Get the paperwork right, screen buyers and insist on verified payment. For a wider look at marketplace fraud, read our guide to Facebook Marketplace scams in Canada.

Selling your car this week? Have your buyer lock the payment with LockNDeal before you meet, so the money is secured before the keys change hands.

Start a secure sale

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need to sell a car privately in Ontario?

You need to give the buyer a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP), a signed bill of sale, and the vehicle portion of your ownership permit with the Application for Transfer completed and signed. If the sale includes certification, you also provide a Safety Standards Certificate. You keep your licence plates and the plate portion of the permit.

Does the seller or buyer pay for the UVIP in Ontario?

The seller is legally required under the Highway Traffic Act to provide the UVIP, so in practice the seller orders it. It costs $20 online from ServiceOntario. A buyer can also buy one before the sale or when registering the transfer.

Can I sell a car in Ontario without a safety certificate?

Ontario requires a Safety Standards Certificate to transfer a used vehicle to a new owner (other than a spouse), and plates cannot be put on the vehicle without one. Many private sellers sell "as is" and leave the certification to the buyer, but the buyer cannot plate and drive the car until it passes. Make the arrangement clear in your ad and on the bill of sale.

What is the safest way to get paid when selling a car privately?

The safest option is one where funds are confirmed before you hand over the keys and signed ownership. That means a bank draft verified directly with the issuing bank using a number you looked up yourself, money you can see in your own bank account, or an escrow service you chose and verified. Never rely on a document or email alone.

Do I keep my licence plates when I sell my car in Ontario?

Yes. In Ontario the plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle. Remove them before the buyer drives away, and keep the plate portion of your permit so you can register the plates on another vehicle or return them to ServiceOntario.

How long does the buyer have to register the car?

Ontario requires the buyer to register the vehicle in their name within 6 days of purchase at a ServiceOntario centre. They pay the retail sales tax and registration fees there, not to the seller.