Free Quebec Used Car Bill of Sale
Quebec's SAAQclic online transfer reshapes used-car buying in a way newcomers never expect: for most passenger cars the seller starts the transfer online and the buyer accepts it within 48 business hours — no counter visit, and the plate moves only if the seller chooses to transfer it. Due diligence has a French-Canadian toolkit: the RDPRM lien registry search (Quebec's equivalent of other provinces' PPSA search), a CARFAX Canada report, and the SAAQ's own vehicle-condition records. The 9.975% QST is assessed on the higher of your price and the estimated value, collected by the SAAQ at registration.
Free PDF includes a light diagonal watermark. Go Pro to remove it. Already subscribed? Sign in.
Quebec Used Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
Add 9.975% QST to the used-car budget — and check the estimated value first, because tax is charged on it whenever it exceeds what was actually paid.
Exemption: Buying from a spouse or parent? Declare it on form VD-80.1-V: QST is then charged on the agreed price, even below the estimated value. A gift between you is QST-free, and inheritances pass to beneficiaries exempt.
Inspection Requirements
Quebec mandates no inspection on a used-car purchase of a Quebec-registered car (imports, rebuilds and cars stored over 12 months aside), so the buyer's protection is self-arranged — a pre-purchase mechanical inspection, strongly advised on higher-mileage cars, is the only professional look the vehicle will get.
Quebec Used Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Search the RDPRM (Quebec's movable-property lien registry) before paying — liens survive the sale.
- Set up SAAQclic accounts for both parties, or plan an SAAQ service outlet visit with photo ID.
- Add a CARFAX Canada report for accident and out-of-province history.
- Cross-check the odometer against SAAQ inspection records and service history.
- Budget QST at 9.975% on the higher of price and estimated value, paid to the SAAQ at registration.
Common Pitfalls
- Searching the wrong lien registry — Quebec uses the RDPRM, not the common-law provinces' PPSA systems.
- Letting the buyer drive off early — the seller stays liable until the car is registered in the buyer's name.
- Assuming the plates go with the car — the seller keeps them unless they choose to transfer them.
- A bargain price that QST ignores — assessment is on the higher of price and estimated value.
Pro Tip
Quebec used cars: RDPRM search, SAAQclic or an outlet visit, plates that stay with the seller unless transferred — the province's civil-law machinery rewards buyers who know it.