How to Sell a Car Privately in Manitoba

The Manitoba bill of sale

MPI requires a bill of sale for every private vehicle sale — MPI publishes a sample form with the mandatory fields, and AutoBill includes all of them.

• The date the vehicle was sold
• The legal names of all current legal owners and all buyers
• The amount paid by the buyer to the seller
• Vehicle model year, make, model, VIN (serial number), and mileage
• Whether the vehicle is sold as-is or with conditions/warranties
• Signatures of all parties

MPI's sample bill of sale form lists these as mandatory — if any of this information is missing, the bill of sale is not valid and the buyer can't use it to register.

Create your free Manitoba bill of sale

Steps at a glance

1. Complete the Transfer of Ownership Document (TOD) on the back of the registration card.
2. Write and sign a bill of sale with MPI's required fields.
3. Provide a valid Certificate of Inspection (COI) or confirm the buyer will arrange one.
4. Remove or transfer plates through MPI's Autopac system.
5. Cancel or transfer your Autopac insurance.

Seller checklist (Manitoba)

• Complete the Transfer of Ownership Document (TOD). The TOD is on the back of the registration card. The seller fills in the date and odometer reading and signs; the buyer must also sign. Both parties need to sign before the transfer goes through at MPI.
• Write and sign a bill of sale. MPI advises a written bill of sale describing the vehicle year/make/model, VIN or serial number, and the agreed selling price. Print two copies and sign both — the buyer takes one to MPI, you keep one.
• Provide inspection information. MPI requires a valid Certificate of Inspection (COI) to register a vehicle. Either provide a current COI to the buyer or make clear the buyer is responsible for arranging one before registration.
• Remove or transfer plates, then cancel or transfer insurance. Plates are handled through MPI's Autopac system — contact MPI or your broker to cancel or transfer coverage once the sale is signed. Don't leave insurance running on a vehicle you no longer own.

Buyer steps after the sale

• Arrange Autopac insurance before driving the vehicle.
• Bring the signed TOD, the signed bill of sale, a valid Certificate of Inspection (COI), proof of insurance, and ID to an MPI service centre to register.
• A valid Certificate of Inspection is required to register a vehicle in Manitoba — budget for the inspection if the seller doesn't provide one.
• RST on private sales is administered by Manitoba Finance and calculated on the greater of the purchase price or the vehicle's average wholesale value (Canadian Black Book for passenger vehicles; Canadian Blue Book for motorcycles and off-road vehicles) per Bulletin 054, collected at transfer through MPI. The number on the bill of sale should match what you declare.

Documents you’ll need

Additional notes

• Manitoba Finance calculates RST on the greater of the purchase price or the vehicle's average wholesale value (Canadian Black Book for passenger vehicles; Canadian Blue Book for off-road / motorcycles) per Bulletin 054 — not simply the declared sale price. Keep the bill of sale accurate — buyer and seller having the same number on record avoids questions at transfer.
• An expired Certificate of Inspection will block registration. Confirm inspection status before hand-over so the buyer isn't stuck paying for a second inspection right after the sale.
• MPI advises both parties contact MPI promptly about plates and insurance — gaps in coverage or plates left on a sold vehicle create unnecessary liability.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• MPI — Ownership transfers
• MPI — Protect yourself when buying and selling a vehicle
• MPI — Bill of Sale sample (PDF)
• Manitoba Finance — Bulletin 054 (RST on vehicles)