Free Quebec Gift Bill of Sale

Quebec Gift Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Tax Details

Vehicle gifts in Quebec may qualify for a provincial tax exemption when transferred to an immediate family member. Eligibility, required documentation, and the definition of "immediate family" vary by province — confirm with SAAQ before the transfer. A Family Gift Affidavit or sworn declaration is typically required.

Exemption: Many provinces exempt immediate-family gifts (spouse, parent, child, sibling) from provincial sales tax when a Family Gift Affidavit is filed at the time of transfer. Always verify current eligibility criteria with SAAQ, as rules change.

Inspection Requirements

Quebec does not require a safety inspection for private vehicle sales. Contrôle routier Québec inspects commercial vehicles. A pre-sale mechanical inspection is optional but strongly recommended, especially for higher-mileage vehicles.

Quebec Gift Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

1. Seller completes form VD-619 (Déclaration de vente) with VIN, gift value ($0 or fair market value), date, and both parties' names and addresses — available free at any SAAQ service point or saaq.gouv.qc.ca.
2. Seller signs and hands VD-619 to the buyer at the moment of sale; seller keeps a photocopy for records.
3. Both parties sign a bill of sale (in addition to VD-619) recording the agreed price, odometer reading, and vehicle condition.
4. Confirm the odometer reading in writing — federally required for vehicles under 10 years old.
5. Confirm what happens with the licence plates: in Quebec, plates stay with the vehicle by default unless the seller explicitly removes them. Discuss this before the sale.
6. Seller should remove personal items, E-ZPass/407 transponders, and cancel SAAQ insurance for the vehicle after the sale date.
7. Buyer visits any SAAQ service point within 15 days, presents VD-619 and proof of identity, pays 9.975% QST, and purchases mandatory SAAQ public liability insurance.
8. Both parties retain signed copies of the bill of sale and VD-619 for at least 6 years.
9. State the sale price as $0 or "gift" on the bill of sale — do not leave it blank.
10. Obtain a Family Gift Affidavit from SAAQ if claiming a tax exemption for an immediate-family transfer.
11. Both parties must still sign the standard ownership transfer documents — a gift transfer has the same paperwork as a sale.
12. Confirm the recipient has valid insurance before the vehicle is driven away.

Common Pitfalls

• CRITICAL — Plates stay with the vehicle in Quebec: unlike every other province, Quebec licence plates transfer with the car, not with the owner. If the seller wants to keep the plates, they must explicitly remove them before handing over the keys. Sellers who forget this lose their plates to the buyer.
• Underreporting the sale price: SAAQ cross-references every declared price against its Guide de référence. If the declared price is below the guide value, SAAQ taxes on the higher guide value — and deliberate underreporting is tax fraud.
• Missing the 15-day transfer deadline: the buyer is legally responsible for any fines, tolls, or accidents in the interim. Sellers who do not confirm the transfer was completed remain nominally tied to the vehicle in registration records.
• Forgetting that SAAQ insurance is mandatory: unlike other provinces, Quebec's public auto insurance (bodily injury) is issued exclusively by SAAQ. The buyer cannot drive the vehicle off the lot without purchasing SAAQ coverage at registration.
• Selling a vehicle with an outstanding lien: SAAQ will flag liens during registration. The seller must provide a lien discharge letter from the lender before or at the time of sale.
• Leaving the sale price blank on a gift bill of sale creates ambiguity — always write $0 or "gift."
• The Family Gift Affidavit must be completed correctly — errors can result in full tax being assessed at market value.
• Not all family relationships qualify for the gift exemption — step-children, in-laws, and cousins are excluded in most provinces.
• Even a gifted vehicle can carry a lien — always run a lien search before accepting.

Pro Tip

The two things that catch Quebec sellers off guard: plates and tax. Remove your plates before handing over the keys if you want to keep them, and never agree to write a lower price on the VD-619 — SAAQ uses the Guide de référence to verify every transaction and will collect QST on whichever value is higher. File your copy of VD-619 alongside the bill of sale and keep both for at least 6 years.

Quebec Gift Bill of Sale — FAQs