What is a UVIP? Ontario's Used Vehicle Information Package explained
A UVIP is a $20 package from ServiceOntario that a private seller must give you. It shows the car's Ontario owners, odometer readings, liens, brand status and the wholesale value your sales tax is based on. It doesn't show accidents or history outside Ontario.
Who has to provide it
Under the Highway Traffic Act, a private seller has to give the buyer a UVIP. You'll need it to register the car in your name. Dealers registered with OMVIC don't have to provide one. You can also buy a UVIP yourself before you commit, using the VIN.
What's in it
| Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Vehicle description | Year, make, model and VIN. Check the VIN against the car. |
| Registration history | Every Ontario owner and when they owned it. Lots of owners in a short time is worth asking about. |
| Odometer readings | Readings recorded at past transfers. A reading lower than an earlier one is a red flag. |
| Liens | Money owing registered in Ontario, as of the date printed. |
| Wholesale value | The minimum value Ontario will charge sales tax on. |
| Vehicle status | Whether it's branded salvage, rebuilt or irreparable, or registered as unfit. |
| Bill of sale | A section to fill in with the price, date and both signatures. |
Check the VIN on the car you're looking at
See where it was built and its model year, then check its title history for salvage, flood, odometer and theft records.
What it won't tell you
- Accidents that didn't lead to a brand.
- History outside Ontario, including cars imported from the US, where flood and salvage problems often start.
- Loans taken out after it was printed. Check the date.
- Mechanical condition. That's what a pre-purchase inspection is for.
That's why the UVIP and a VIN history report work as a pair: one covers Ontario's official record, the other covers what happened before the car got here.
How to read it in two minutes
- Match the VIN to the dashboard and the door sticker.
- Check that the seller's name matches the current owner and their ID.
- Scan the odometer readings for anything that goes backwards.
- Look for liens and the print date.
- Note the wholesale value so you know your tax.
Questions
How much does a UVIP cost?
$20 from ServiceOntario. The seller normally pays for it.
Can I get a UVIP as the buyer?
Yes. You can order one with the VIN before you buy, which is useful if the seller's copy is old.
Does a dealer have to give me a UVIP?
No. OMVIC-registered dealers don't need to, but they must disclose the vehicle's history and condition.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on a detail.