Free Quebec Vehicle Bill of Sale
Selling a vehicle privately in Quebec involves one of the most distinctive rules in Canadian vehicle law: the licence plates stay with the vehicle, not the seller. The seller completes form VD-619 (Déclaration de vente) and hands it to the buyer at the time of sale. The buyer then has 15 days to register the vehicle at any SAAQ service point, where QST of 9.975% is collected on the higher of the declared price or the SAAQ Guide de référence value. Because the SAAQ is simultaneously the province's mandatory public auto insurer and vehicle registrar, the buyer must also purchase SAAQ liability insurance at the time of registration — there is no separate step. This form covers all motor vehicles — cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and pickups.
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Quebec Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
Quebec Sales Tax (QST) at 9.975% applies to private vehicle sales. Tax is assessed on the higher of the declared sale price or the SAAQ Guide de référence estimated value — SAAQ will not accept an artificially low declared price.
Exemption: Gifts between spouses or to direct-line family members (parent, child) may qualify for a QST exemption with a sworn statutory declaration. Inherited vehicles transferred to a beneficiary are also exempt.
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 Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Seller completes form VD-619 (Déclaration de vente) with VIN, sale price, date, and both parties' names and addresses — available free at any SAAQ service point or saaq.gouv.qc.ca.
- Seller signs and hands VD-619 to the buyer at the moment of sale; seller keeps a photocopy for records.
- Both parties sign a bill of sale (in addition to VD-619) recording the agreed price, odometer reading, and vehicle condition.
- Confirm the odometer reading in writing — federally required for vehicles under 10 years old.
- 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.
- Seller should remove personal items, E-ZPass/407 transponders, and cancel SAAQ insurance for the vehicle after the sale date.
- 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.
- Both parties retain signed copies of the bill of sale and VD-619 for at least 6 years.
- For trucks and SUVs: note the body type and payload/towing capacity if relevant.
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.
- Using a car-specific form for a commercial truck may be rejected — use the generic vehicle bill of sale for commercial vehicles.
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.