Free British Columbia Vehicle Bill of Sale
In British Columbia the vehicle transfer happens at an Autoplan broker — you cannot walk into an ICBC office for a private sale — and it runs on one form: the APV9T Transfer/Tax Form, which buyer and seller complete together. PST bites at 12% for vehicles under $125,000, assessed on the higher of the declared price or the Canadian Black Book average wholesale value, with luxury tiers above. The rules are identical for a work pickup, a family SUV, or a panel van; vehicles arriving from outside BC face a Designated Inspection Facility check before registration.
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British Columbia Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
PST is 12% on any vehicle under $125,000, computed on the greater of the price and the Canadian Black Book average wholesale figure. Above that, luxury tiers apply: 15% from $125,000, 20% from $150,000.
Exemption: Qualifying family gifts dodge the PST. Separately, passenger vehicles over $100,000 face the federal Luxury Tax — 10% of the excess — on top of any PST tier.
Inspection Requirements
A BC-to-BC private sale needs no inspection for any vehicle class. The inspection burden belongs to imports: an out-of-province vehicle must clear a Designated Inspection Facility ($150–$250) before BC will register it.
British Columbia Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Complete the APV9T Transfer/Tax Form together — it is simultaneously the transfer document and the tax declaration.
- Record the vehicle's full identity on the bill of sale: VIN, plate, body style, odometer, true price — light trucks and vans follow the same private-sale rules as cars.
- Seller: remove your plates; they stay with you in BC.
- Buyer: take the APV9T, signed title documents, and the bill of sale to any Autoplan broker — not an ICBC office.
- Buyer: budget PST at 12% on the higher of the price or the Black Book wholesale value (higher tiers past $125,000).
- Out-of-province vehicle? Book the Designated Inspection Facility (DIF) check — it is required before BC registration.
- Buyer: run a lien search through the BC Personal Property Registry or a CARFAX Canada report before money moves.
Common Pitfalls
- Driving to an ICBC office: private transfers are processed exclusively by Autoplan brokers.
- Declaring a friendly price: PST is assessed against Black Book wholesale when it is higher — the assessor, not the bill of sale, wins.
- Forgetting the luxury tiers: at $125,000 the PST rate steps above 12%, which matters for late-model trucks and premium SUVs.
- Importing without the DIF inspection: an out-of-province vehicle cannot register in BC until it passes.
Pro Tip
BC's system concentrates everything in one form and one counter: APV9T, Autoplan broker, PST on the realistic value. The bill of sale backs the declared price — make it accurate.