Nova Scotia Bill of Sale and Ownership Transfer

Nova Scotia Bill of Sale Requirements

Additional Forms Required

• Certificate of Registration — Part 1 (seller) and Part 4 (buyer, with the tax declaration)
• Notice of Sale — the seller returns it to the Registry of Motor Vehicles
• Motor Vehicle Inspection (MVI) issued in the seller's name within 30 days before the sale
• Statement of Insurance
• Sworn Statement for a Family Gift — gifts only

The Registry of Motor Vehicles handles transfers in Nova Scotia, mostly at Access Nova Scotia offices. The transfer itself happens on the Certificate of Registration. The seller fills in Part 1, the Transfer of Title Certificate of Sale. The buyer fills in Part 4, the Application for Certificate of Registration, which includes the tax declaration. Every blank space in both parts must be filled in.

The Registry's forms page lists no bill of sale form, and its transfer page does not ask for one on a sale inside the province. A written bill of sale still matters. The province's tax guide says buyers must show the details of everything given for the vehicle: the money, the value of any services, and the value of anything traded. If a trade is part of the deal, the Registry says you need a signed bill of sale showing its value. For a vehicle last registered in another province, you must bring the original bill of sale. Our generator records the price, the payment method and both signatures in one document. It is not an official Registry form.

The tax on a private sale is the Nova Scotia Sales Tax (NSST), not HST. It has been 14% since April 1, 2025 (15% before that), and it is charged on the higher of the purchase price or the Canadian Red Book value when you register. If you think the Red Book value is too high, you can get an appraisal from a registered appraiser or a licensed dealer. The tax guide allows two months for this, but other official pages say 30 days, so act quickly.

The inspection rule is where Nova Scotia differs most. For a private sale, the vehicle must show a valid Motor Vehicle Inspection (MVI) sticker issued in the seller's name within 30 days before the sale. If it doesn't, the buyer can get a new MVI before the transfer, or ask the Registry at transfer for a letter that gives 10 more days. The two sides can also sign a Sale of Vehicle Not Safety Approved form, but then no permit is issued until the buyer gets an MVI. Transfers to immediate family, to an estate, and in or out of joint ownership are exempt from the 30-day rule.

The buyer has 30 days from the date of purchase to register, and the transfer fee is $13.20. Plates first assigned to the seller come off the vehicle, and the seller returns the Notice of Sale to the Registry right away. A 30-day temporary permit costs $13.20; you can buy up to two per vehicle in 12 months, and the vehicle needs a valid inspection.

Gifts between immediate family are tax-free, but everyone involved signs a Sworn Statement for a Family Gift in front of a Commissioner of Oaths, Registry staff, a lawyer or a notary. Only one tax-free gift per vehicle is allowed in any 12 months. Taking over someone's car loan is not a gift; the loan balance counts as the price.

Nova Scotia's vehicle registration system does not track liens. Before you pay, run a Lien Check on the Personal Property Registry by VIN; it costs $8.75 per search. And if you move the vehicle out of Nova Scotia for good within 30 days of buying it, you can apply for an NSST rebate.