Free Manitoba Trailer Bill of Sale
Selling a trailer in Manitoba is handled through MPI Autopac, the same as any other registered vehicle. Unlike motor vehicle sales, trailers in Manitoba do not require a Pre-Registration Inspection — the bill of sale and existing ownership documents are sufficient for the buyer to complete the transfer at an Autopac broker. RST at 7% applies to the sale price. As with all Manitoba vehicle sales, the licence plates stay with the seller, not the trailer.
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Manitoba Trailer Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
RST at 7% applies to private trailer sales in Manitoba, assessed on the declared sale price.
Exemption: Trailers gifted between immediate family members are exempt from RST with a sworn Family Gift Declaration.
Inspection Requirements
No mandatory pre-sale safety inspection for private trailer sales in Manitoba. The Pre-Registration Inspection requirement applies to motor vehicles, not trailers. Buyers should inspect brakes (if equipped), lights, tires, coupler, and safety chains before purchase.
Manitoba Trailer Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Prepare a bill of sale with the trailer VIN, make, model, year, type, GVWR, and sale price.
- Confirm whether the trailer requires MPI registration based on its weight and type.
- Seller keeps their Manitoba licence plates — they do not transfer with the trailer.
- Buyer takes the bill of sale and ownership documents to any MPI Autopac broker within 15 days.
- Buyer pays 7% RST and obtains new trailer plates at the Autopac broker.
- Inspect safety equipment: lights, brakes (if equipped), coupler, safety chains, and tires.
- Both parties retain signed copies of the bill of sale for at least 6 years.
Common Pitfalls
- Plates stay with the seller: Manitoba trailer plates stay with the registered owner. The seller keeps their plates; the buyer gets new plates at the Autopac broker.
- No PRI required — but check the brakes: trailers are exempt from Manitoba's Pre-Registration Inspection, but trailers with brakes must have functioning brake systems. A trailer with failed brakes can trigger additional requirements after purchase.
- Verify VIN location: trailer VINs are sometimes stamped on the tongue, A-frame, or a frame rail — they can be hard to locate. Find and record the VIN before the sale to avoid delays at the Autopac counter.
- Lightweight trailer exemption: some lightweight trailers are exempt from registration in Manitoba. If you are selling an unregistered trailer, the bill of sale alone transfers ownership but there is no formal Autopac step.
Pro Tip
Trailer sales are the simplest vehicle transactions at Manitoba Autopac — no inspection, no insurance requirement at the time of transfer, just a bill of sale and the ownership documents. The only common oversight is forgetting that the seller keeps the plates. Remind the buyer to budget for new plates at the Autopac counter on top of the 7% RST.