How Does Vehicle Registration Work in Canada?

Vehicle registration is the process of registering your car in the province you live in. Keep in mind that registering your car is mandatory in all provinces. However, the time you have to register your vehicle will vary by province. For example, in Ontario, you have six days after you purchase the car to register your vehicle,¹ while in Quebec you have up to 30 days.²

After you've paid your registration fees and registered your car, you'll usually receive documents like a vehicle permit or vehicle registration certificate, as well as license plates. Keep in mind, what you receive on registration will depend on where you live in Canada. But no matter what province or territory you’re registering your vehicle in, these items are key — they prove you've registered your vehicle and it can be legally driven.

A vehicle registration certificate is an official government document that serves to prove ownership and registration of a vehicle. Depending on where in Canada you live, your vehicle registration certificate might go by a different name, such as a vehicle permit or proof of registration. Be sure to keep this document safe, as it will be required for various official dealings involving your car.

The process for registering a vehicle depends on whether you bought the car from a dealer or bought the car from a private seller.

Dealership

Whether you buy a new or used car from a dealership, car registration will typically be completed for you by the dealer. They'll provide you with the completed paperwork, license plate, and plate stickers (if applicable in your province).

Private sale

When buying a used car from a private seller such as a friend or through an advertising website, you'll be responsible for registering it yourself. This can be done through your province’s vehicle registration offices, such as a Service Ontario centre³ if you live in Ontario or your local Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) service outlet if you’re in Quebec .⁴

Don’t forget to bring all the necessary paperwork and information to get your car registered—check online for specific details, as every province will have its own requirements.

Is it possible to register your vehicle without leaving your home? For first-time registrations or transfers from a private sale, most provinces will require you to visit an official service centre to complete the process in person — this helps to make sure all your required documentation is verified and legally compliant. Depending on your province, however, you may be able to perform other vehicle registration services (such as renewals) online.

Insurance and registering your vehicle go hand in hand—and it's important that you get insurance prior to registering your vehicle as you'll likely need to have proof of insurance before you can get your car registered.

Each province has their own specific list of documents and items you’ll need to have on hand to register your vehicle, so be sure to check provincial requirements before heading out to your local vehicle registration office, to ensure the process goes smoothly.

There are, however, certain documents and items you’ll likely need to get your car registered, regardless of where you live in Canada. These include:

• valid driver's license/identification
• proof of purchase/bill of sale
• proof of insurance
• license plate/plate portion of permit (if you want to use existing plates you own)
• safety standards certificate (for used cars)
• transfer of ownership (for used cars)

Example: Registering a used car in Ontario

Let’s say you’re buying a used car in Ontario through a private sale. You’ll need to bring the documents listed above to a ServiceOntario centre within 6 days of your purchase—and don’t forget to have the seller complete and sign the transfer portion of the vehicle's existing permit. To complete the registration, you’ll also need your car’s used vehicle information package,⁵ which Ontario law requires the seller to provide to you .

Every car rolls off the assembly line with a vehicle identification number (VIN), which is a unique 17-character code that functions like your car’s fingerprint: While all cars have a VIN, no two VINs are the same.

As a car owner, you should know how to find your vehicle’s VIN, as you’ll need it for car-related tasks such as renewing your licence plate online or dealing with warranty issues. You can find your VIN on your vehicle permit or vehicle registration certificate, as well as in your car (it will usually be on the dashboard).

It's important that your vehicle registration stays up to date to comply with local laws and keep your car legally on the road. While the specifics of renewing your registration vary from province to province, keeping track of when you need to renew is key to making sure your car stays legally compliant and roadworthy.

Depending on your province, you may be able to check the status of your licence plate online. For example, here’s the Ontario licence plate expiry checker.

Of course, renewing your vehicle registration is about more than just renewing your licence plate. But since the renewal process includes plate renewal, if your province offers an online plate lookup tool, it can be a helpful way to stay on top of your car’s registration renewal requirements.

Most Canadian provinces now offer online renewal services for vehicles such as passenger cars. You can usually make use of online renewal as long as your information remains the same and you don’t need to make any changes to your registration details. 

Also, many provinces — including Ontario and BC — no longer require registration stickers for licence plates, making the renewal process quicker and reducing the amount of physical documentation you need to manage. 

Beginning July 1, 2024, eligible licence plates in Ontario will be automatically renewed.⁶ Eligibility for this automatic renewal hinges on having no outstanding fines or tolls and maintaining valid insurance. The renewal is effective for a year, there’s no fee (or sticker), and you won’t be contacted about the renewal.