How to Sell a Car Privately in Newfoundland and Labrador

Seller checklist (Newfoundland and Labrador)

• Notify Motor Registration within 10 days. The Notice of Sale is on the back of the registration permit or can be submitted online through MyGovNL. Submitting it is what takes the vehicle off your record — don't skip it.
• Prepare a bill of sale with required fields. The bill of sale must include the date of sale, buyer name and driver's licence number, year/make/model, plate number and serial number, purchase price, seller name and signature, and the seller's HST number if tax was collected.
• Provide required documents. Provide the seller's registration permit, a completed insurance declaration on the reverse of the permit, and a motor vehicle safety inspection certificate — the certificate is only valid for 30 days, so schedule the inspection close to the transfer date.
• Handle plates and cancel insurance. Confirm plate handling with Motor Registration at transfer and contact your insurer to cancel or transfer the policy once the sale is signed. Gaps in coverage on a sold vehicle are unnecessary liability.

Buyer steps after the sale

• Arrange valid public liability insurance before driving the vehicle — you can only operate it during the 10-day transfer window with insurance in place.
• Transfer ownership within 10 days of the sale at a Motor Registration office or online via MyGovNL.
• Bring the signed registration permit, bill of sale, insurance declaration, safety inspection certificate (valid 30 days), and ID to register.
• Sales tax is calculated on the greater of the purchase price or the book value of the vehicle — the number on the bill of sale should match what you declare at transfer.

Additional notes

• The safety inspection certificate is only valid for 30 days — schedule it around the transfer appointment or the buyer ends up paying for a second inspection right after the sale.
• NL calculates sales tax on the greater of the purchase price or book value. Keep the price on the bill of sale accurate so buyer and seller have the same number on record if Motor Registration cross-checks.
• Submitting the Notice of Sale (on the back of the permit or via MyGovNL) is the seller's protection — it closes the ownership link even before the buyer registers. Don't skip it.

Official sources

• Government of NL — Vehicle Transfer
• MyGovNL — Motor Registration