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Buying a used car in Ontario

Ontario has its own rules for private sales. Here's the order to do things in, then a guide for each step.

1. Ask for the UVIP

   Private sellers must give you one. It lists Ontario owners, odometer readings, liens and the value your tax is based on.

2. Run the VIN

   Especially if the car might have come from the US. Look up recalls with Transport Canada.

3. Check for liens

   Read the UVIP's lien section and run your own PPSA search by VIN.

4. Inspect and test drive

   In daylight, then a pre-purchase inspection at a mechanic you choose.

5. Know what you'll owe

   13% RST on the price or wholesale value, whichever is higher. Register within 6 days. You need a Safety Standards Certificate to put plates on.

Ontario guides

• What is a UVIP? Ontario's Used Vehicle Information Package explainedWhat's in the package, who has to provide it, and its blind spots.
• How to check if a used car has a lien in OntarioUVIP, the PPSA search by VIN, and what to do if there's money owing.
• How much tax do you pay on a used car in Ontario?13% on the price or the wholesale value, with worked examples.
• Ontario safety certificate: what it covers, and what it doesn'tMinimum standards on one day, valid 36 days, and why it isn't a warranty.
• Curbsiders in Ontario: how to spot a fake private sellerIllegal dealers posing as private sellers, and the signs that give them away.
• Salvage, rebuilt and irreparable: Ontario vehicle brands explainedWhat each brand means, which can be driven, and why 'None' isn't a guarantee.
• How to tell if a used car in Canada came from the USRIV labels, mph speedometers, UVIP gaps, and checking the US title history.