Nova Scotia vehicle bill of sale

Nova Scotia does not require a separate bill of sale. The registration certificate, Part 1, signed on the back, is the certificate of sale. A complete record shows seller's full name and address, buyer's full name and address, date of sale, vehicle year, make, model, body style and colour, VIN, odometer reading in kilometres, sale price and both signatures. Fill in the form below to get a free PDF with every required field.

Make your bill of sale

Type the details. Everything stays in your browser and is never sent or stored.

The sale

Date of sale

Place of sale (city)

Province

Seller

Full name

Address

Phone (optional)

Driver's licence number (optional)

Buyer

Full name

Address

Phone (optional)

Driver's licence number (optional)

Vehicle

Year

Make

Model

Trim (optional)

Body style

Colour

VIN

17 characters. The letters I, O and Q are not used.

Odometer (km)

PriceThis is a gift

Gift rules for sales tax differ by province and usually require a family relationship.

Price (CAD)

Payment method

Declarations

Sold as is, where is, with no warranty from the seller.The seller owns the vehicle and has the right to sell it.The vehicle is free of any lien or debt.To the seller's knowledge, the odometer reading is accurate.The vehicle has been in an accident or has a branded title (rebuilt, salvage).

PDF language

Made with Offro's free bill of sale tool (offro.ca). Not legal advice.

What must a bill of sale include in Nova Scotia?

There is no official Nova Scotia bill of sale, so a private sale record should carry:

Include these fields

Seller's full name and address
Buyer's full name and address
Date of sale
Vehicle year, make, model, body style and colour
VIN
Odometer reading in kilometres
Sale price
Both signatures

How do you transfer a car in Nova Scotia?

1.The seller signs the back of the registration certificate, Part 1.
2.The seller returns the Notice of Sale to the RMV immediately.
3.The seller removes the plates before handing over the car.
4.The buyer registers the vehicle within 30 days.

Plates: The seller removes the plates; they are not transferred with the car.

Deadline: The buyer registers within 30 days.

How much tax does the buyer pay?

A private buyer in Nova Scotia pays 14% in sales tax when they register the car, calculated on the price or the car's book value, whichever is higher. The price on the bill of sale matters.

Compare selling privately with a trade-in after tax →

Frequently asked questions

Does Nova Scotia require a bill of sale?

No. The registration certificate, Part 1, signed on the back, is the certificate of sale.

How long does the buyer have to register a car in Nova Scotia?

30 days.

Do I keep my plates in Nova Scotia?

Yes. The seller removes the plates before handing over the car.

Province rules checked on October 6, 2026. Sources:

novascotia.ca

General information, not legal advice. Confirm the current requirements with the province before you sign.