What you must know before selling your car in Ontario - requirements, costs, and common mistakes to avoid.
The Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) is an official document required by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation for most used vehicle sales. This comprehensive package provides crucial vehicle history information that protects both buyers and sellers in transactions.
UVIP ensures legal compliance, provides transparency, reduces seller liability, builds buyer trust, and speeds up the selling process by having all required documentation ready in advance.
Required when selling to another individual
Usually required, though some obtain it themselves
Required when selling to buyers from other provinces
Most commercial vehicle sales need UVIP
Certain situations don't require UVIP. Always verify with ServiceOntario for your specific case:
When selling to professional car buying services, requirements may vary:
300+ locations across Ontario
ServiceOntario website
CAA locations, select dealers
Collect VIN, licence plate number, and identification
Select in-person visit, online application, or authorized partner
Provide vehicle and personal information accurately
Complete payment using accepted methods
Get document immediately (in-person) or within 2-3 business days (online)
Standard UVIP fee as of 2024
Cash, debit, credit cards
Credit cards required
May include service charges
Direct from ServiceOntario
Includes service charges
Often included in service
Important: UVIP doesn't replace your duty to disclose known issues. Sellers must still honestly disclose any problems they're aware of, even if not shown in UVIP.
Remember: UVIP only shows Ministry-reported information and may not contain complete vehicle history. Review the document before showing to buyers.
Note: UVIP doesn't replace safety certificates or other legal requirements for vehicle transfers.
Get UVIP right away at ServiceOntario centres
Digital delivery to email typically
Physical copies delivered by mail
Ontario law requires UVIP for most car sales. Exceptions include family transfers and brand new vehicles.
UVIP shows accidents reported to the Ministry of Transportation, but small unreported incidents may not appear.
While UVIP doesn't legally expire, buyers prefer documents less than 30 days old for maximum relevance.
You must have legal authority as the registered owner to obtain UVIP.
Contact the Ministry of Transportation to correct errors before proceeding with the sale.
Get UVIP before listing and share it with serious buyers during negotiations.
Most professional services prefer UVIP for accurate valuation, though some obtain it themselves. Learn more about the complete car selling process.
Outstanding liens must be resolved before sale. Contact your lender to arrange payoff and lien removal.
For specific questions about your situation or regional variations in Ontario, contact ServiceOntario directly:
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