Free New Brunswick Car Bill of Sale
Selling a car privately in New Brunswick is one of the more straightforward Atlantic province transfers: no new inspection for most passenger vehicles (only those valued at $1,000 or less), and the plate stays with the car. The buyer pays 15% Provincial Vehicle Tax (PVT) on the higher of the sale price or the Red Book wholesale value. Bring the signed registration certificate, the bill of sale and proof of insurance to any Service New Brunswick office to complete the transfer.
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New Brunswick Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
New Brunswick charges 15% Provincial Vehicle Tax (PVT), not HST, on private vehicle sales. NB applies a wholesale-value floor: the tax is on the higher of the bill-of-sale price or the Canadian Red Book average wholesale value. If the price is no more than $1,000 below the book value, the stated price is used, and the taxable value is never less than $1,000.
Exemption: Gifts between immediate family members (spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) may qualify for a PVT exemption with a Family Gift Affidavit signed by both people at SNB, if the giver already paid tax on the vehicle. Confirm current eligibility with Service NB.
Inspection Requirements
New Brunswick does not require a new inspection for most private passenger car sales between NB residents. An NB inspection is required for a vehicle valued at $1,000 or less (within 30 days before the transfer) and for a vehicle brought in from outside New Brunswick (within 14 days of registration).
New Brunswick Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Complete the Application for Vehicle Transfer on the back of the registration certificate — the seller signs both pages and writes the buyer's name and address
- Prepare a bill of sale recording: full legal names and addresses, VIN, year/make/model, odometer reading, sale price, and date
- Leave the licence plate on the car — in a New Brunswick private sale the plate stays with the vehicle (a personalized plate stays with the seller)
- Buyer brings the signed registration certificate, bill of sale, and proof of insurance to Service New Brunswick and pays the $20 transfer fee
- Buyer pays 15% PVT (not HST) on the higher of the declared sale price or the Red Book wholesale value
- Transfer ownership at any Service NB location — no set day count, but the vehicle cannot be driven until it is registered in the buyer's name
- Both parties retain a signed copy of the bill of sale for at least 6 years
Common Pitfalls
- Assuming a low price means low tax — NB charges PVT on the Red Book wholesale value when your price is more than $1,000 below it. Knowing this may affect how you negotiate.
- Taking the plates off the vehicle — in a private NB sale the standard plate stays with the car. Only a personalized plate goes with the seller.
- Driving before the transfer — while NB sets no day count, the vehicle cannot be driven until the registration is recorded in the buyer's name.
- Skipping the bill of sale for a family transfer — a bill of sale is required for every transfer, and a Family Gift Affidavit signed at SNB is required for the PVT exemption.
- Out-of-province vehicles: if the vehicle was registered outside NB, it usually needs an NB inspection within 14 days of registration. Confirm the vehicle's registration history before assuming no inspection is needed.
Pro Tip
Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John all have Service NB offices that handle vehicle transfers. Buyers who negotiated a low price on a vehicle with high mileage or cosmetic damage should know the tax is on the higher of the price or the Red Book value. A vehicle with very high mileage may qualify for a PVT High Mileage Refund.