Free Nunavut Car Bill of Sale

Nunavut Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Tax Details

Nunavut has no territorial sales tax. Federal GST at 5% applies only when you buy from a dealer or other GST registrant, and private individual-to-individual vehicle sales are generally GST-exempt. Nunavut is the largest and most remote Canadian jurisdiction, and its no-tax environment is one practical advantage to offset the territory's high logistical costs.

Exemption: Private individual-to-individual sales between non-GST-registrant parties are generally GST-exempt, and Nunavut has no territorial sales tax to exempt.

Inspection Requirements

Nunavut's official list of papers for registering a private vehicle names no safety inspection: just the application form, proof of valid insurance and ID. The exception is a salvaged or rebuilt vehicle, which needs an Inspection Report attached to the bill of sale. Motor Vehicles offices are in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Gjoa Haven; other communities use their Government Liaison Office.

Nunavut Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

1. Both parties complete a bill of sale with VIN, year, make, model, odometer reading, sale price, sale date, and full legal names and addresses.
2. Seller and buyer also complete Blocks A and B of Form A-116, the official Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale, with a witness for each of them. Ask Motor Vehicles whether the plates stay with the seller or the vehicle.
3. If Form A-116 marks the vehicle as salvaged or rebuilt, attach an Inspection Report. The official list of registration papers names no inspection for other vehicles.
4. Buyer presents the signed Form A-116, the application form, proof of insurance and ID to Nunavut Motor Vehicles (Department of Community Services). Ask Motor Vehicles how long you have to register.
5. Buyer pays applicable registration fees and obtains Nunavut motor vehicle insurance.
6. Outside Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Gjoa Haven, go to the local Government Liaison Office. The completed bill of sale can also be sent by email.
7. Both parties retain signed copies of the bill of sale for at least six years.

Common Pitfalls

• Missing witnesses or blanks on Form A-116: Blocks A and B must be complete, with signatures from the seller, the seller's witness, the buyer and the buyer's witness, or the form is not acceptable for registration.
• Guessing the plate rule: ask Motor Vehicles whether the plates stay with the seller or go with the vehicle. Nunavut is also moving to a new polar-bear plate, with a new plate number, as owners renew.
• Mixing up deadlines: the 90-day rule is for vehicles brought into Nunavut from elsewhere, not for a private sale inside the territory. Ask Motor Vehicles how long a buyer has to register.
• Assuming standard Canadian processes apply: Nunavut's vehicle services infrastructure is unlike any other province or territory. Always confirm current procedures directly with Nunavut MV before completing a transfer.

Pro Tip

Nunavut vehicle sales are among the most logistically complex in Canada — not because of bureaucratic complexity, but because of geography. The paperwork itself is straightforward: Form A-116 signed by both parties and two witnesses, proof of insurance, ID, no territorial tax. The challenge is completing those steps when Motor Vehicles has offices in only three communities.

Nunavut Car Bill of Sale — FAQs