Free Ontario Motorcycle Bill of Sale
Selling a motorcycle privately in Ontario follows the same UVIP-and-RST process as a car sale, but with one extra consideration: not every licensed inspection station can issue a motorcycle Safety Standards Certificate. Both the UVIP (mandatory, $20 from ServiceOntario) and a motorcycle-specific SSC are required for the buyer to plate the bike, and the 6-day ownership transfer deadline applies equally to motorcycles.
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Ontario Motorcycle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
13% RST (retail sales tax, not HST) on the purchase price. For motorcycles, Ontario taxes the price paid, not a Red Book wholesale value as it does for cars.
Inspection Requirements
A Safety Standards Certificate is required to plate the motorcycle. Motorcycle-specific SSCs must be issued by a licensed motorcycle inspection station — not all automotive shops are authorized. The certificate is valid for 36 days.
Ontario Motorcycle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Seller purchases the UVIP from ServiceOntario ($20) and provides it to the buyer — required for most privately sold motor vehicles, including motorcycles.
- Complete a bill of sale with the motorcycle's year, make, model, VIN, engine size (cc), odometer reading, sale price, and date.
- Seller signs over the Ownership Permit to the buyer.
- Seller removes licence plates — plates stay with the seller.
- Buyer locates a licensed motorcycle inspection station for the Safety Standards Certificate (valid 36 days).
- Buyer transfers ownership at a ServiceOntario centre within 6 days, paying 13% RST on the purchase price.
- Buyer obtains motorcycle insurance (M-class licence required) before riding on public roads.
Common Pitfalls
- Using a generic automotive shop for the SSC — motorcycle SSCs must come from a station specifically authorized to inspect motorcycles.
- Misreading the VIN location — on many motorcycles the VIN is stamped on the steering head or frame, not on a door-jamb sticker as on cars.
- Forgetting that off-road-only dirt bikes and ATVs follow different registration rules than street motorcycles — this guide covers street-legal bikes.
- Assuming every small bike is exempt — ServiceOntario lists mopeds as not needing a UVIP, but a motorcycle needs the full UVIP-and-transfer process in Ontario.
Pro Tip
Motorcycle private sales in Ontario move quickly in spring and summer — have the UVIP in hand before you list the bike, and confirm the SSC came from a motorcycle-authorized station. A complete package (UVIP + signed Ownership Permit + bill of sale + SSC) lets the buyer walk straight into ServiceOntario and plate the motorcycle the same afternoon.