Free Manitoba Car Bill of Sale
Manitoba requires a Certificate of Inspection (COI) whenever the registered owner of a vehicle changes, except for some close-family transfers. Before the buyer can register the car at an Autopac agent, they must present a valid COI from a Manitoba inspection station. The seller can hand over a valid COI or tell the buyer to get one. Ownership transfer happens at any Autopac agent, where 7% RST is collected on the higher of the sale price or the Canadian Black Book average wholesale value. Manitoba plates stay with the seller — the buyer must obtain new plates at the Autopac broker.
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Manitoba Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
Retail Sales Tax (RST / Manitoba PST) at 7% applies to private vehicle sales. Manitoba calculates RST on the higher of the sale price or the vehicle's average wholesale value in the Canadian Black Book, so a low declared price does not lower the tax. GST does not generally apply to a private sale.
Exemption: A gift from a qualifying family member (such as a spouse, parent, child or grandparent) is exempt from RST if the giver paid the tax, with a written note from the giver stating the gift and the relationship. A gift from a sibling is taxed. Estate transfers to beneficiaries may also qualify.
Inspection Requirements
A Certificate of Inspection (COI) is required in Manitoba when the registered owner of a vehicle changes. The seller can give the buyer a valid COI or tell the buyer to get the inspection, and the buyer needs it to register the vehicle. A COI is valid for one year to transfer ownership. A Manitoba-registered vehicle going to a spouse or common-law partner, a child or stepchild, a parent, or an estate beneficiary is exempt.
Manitoba Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Seller gets a Certificate of Inspection (COI) at a Manitoba inspection station, or tells the buyer to get one — each station sets its own price. A COI is valid for one year to transfer ownership.
- Both parties prepare and sign a bill of sale: VIN, year, make, model, odometer reading, sale price, date, and full names and addresses of buyer and seller.
- Seller fills in the date and odometer reading on the Transfer of Ownership Document (TOD) on the back of the registration card and signs it; the buyer signs too. Seller gives the TOD and the COI to the buyer.
- Buyer takes the bill of sale, the signed TOD, and the COI to any Autopac agent — register and insure the vehicle before driving it.
- Buyer pays 7% RST at the Autopac agent, on the higher of the sale price or the Canadian Black Book average wholesale value.
- Buyer obtains new licence plates at the Autopac broker — Manitoba plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle.
- Buyer purchases MPI Autopac insurance at the broker at the time of registration.
- Both parties retain signed copies of the bill of sale for at least 6 years.
Common Pitfalls
- No inspection certificate = no registration. Unless the transfer is to close family, a buyer cannot register a vehicle bought privately without a valid Certificate of Inspection. If the seller has none, the buyer must tow the vehicle or get a permit from an Autopac agent to drive straight to an inspection station.
- Plates do not transfer: Manitoba licence plates belong to the registered owner, not the vehicle. The seller keeps their plates when they sell. Buyers must budget for new plates at the time of registration.
- Odometer reading goes on the TOD: the seller must write the date and odometer reading on the Transfer of Ownership Document and sign it. Put the same reading on the bill of sale.
- Lien check before buying: MPI does not guarantee a vehicle is lien-free. Search the Personal Property Registry (run by Teranet Manitoba) before the sale to confirm there are no outstanding loans secured against the vehicle.
- No set transfer window: Manitoba sets no general day count, and the buyer usually must register and insure the vehicle before driving it. The seller keeps the plates and cancels the registration and Autopac coverage unless they move them to a replacement vehicle within seven days — keep your copy of the bill of sale with the sale date clearly shown.
Pro Tip
The Certificate of Inspection is the one step most Manitoba sales cannot skip — without it, the buyer cannot register the car unless the transfer is to close family. Book the inspection before you list the vehicle (or agree that the buyer will get it), keep the certificate ready with the signed TOD, and the rest of the Autopac transfer process takes about 30 minutes. Remind the buyer to budget for new plates on top of the 7% RST.