Rules for importing/transporting a used car from one province to the other

[tigger03]

A friend in Ontario wants to give his car to a family member who lives in Nova Scotia. The family member is visiting in Ontario, and intends to drive the vehicle back to Nova Scotia.

Does anyone know requirements: safety certification, insurance, registration, etc? The Nova Scotia Transportation website hasn't been any help so far.

[eastwood]

Hi.

I've never done this in Nova Scotia. But we've done from from Ontario to New Brunswick, NB to PEI and PEI to Ontario. I can't imagine Nova Scotia would be much different.

In each case the family transfer was quite simple. The owner of the vehicle writes a letter to the motor vehicle branch (in your case NS) stating the intention to transfer the vehicle to a family member. If I remember right, NB required a token payment of $1 and PEI did not require this.

The letters didn't need to be anything fancy. Going by memory this is what our letters have said:

Motor Vehicles:

This letter is regarding my <state car and VIN>. It is my intention to transfer ownership to my <state family relation><state person's name><state person's address>.

Please allow<state person's name> to register this vehicle in his name.

I can be reached by phone at <state phone number> if you require more information.

Thank you for your time and consideration to this matter.

Yours truly,

<vehicle owner's name>
<vehicle owner's address>

Other than that you'll need the original Ontario registration signed off to the new owner, proof of new insurance in the new owner's name and a fresh Nova Scotia vehicle inspection (the inspection certificate needs to be shown at motor vehicles).

edit:

regarding driving the car back to Nova Scotia. I can't see why they couldn't just keep the current Ontario rego and insurance on the car. That's what we always did. But if it is a problem, you can get a 10 day transit permit for the car. And call the insurance place in Nova Scotia to set up the insurance before travelling home. They'll fax a temporary card.

[tigger03]

Thanks, Eastwood.

I was doing some more digging, and I came across this: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/temp.htm

For $15, it seems like a trip permit.

Another question: for transfers to family members where there's no "sale" of the vehicle, does tax still need to be paid based on the book-value of the car?

I guess the car has to be safetied here in Ontario first, get the trip permit, transfer ownership slip, get insurance (for the new owner). Drive it back to Nova Scotia, get another safety (?), get plates.

[eastwood]

We never had to pay any taxes. Just a quick easy transfer. But check with Nova Scotia to make sure they don't have different rules.

If the car in Ontario already has a valid registration I can't see why it would need a new inspection before it leaves the province. Though I can't say for sure. Last time we moved a car FROM Ontario was 1993.

[eastwood]

A wee bit more info:

http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/rmv/registration/vetrans.asp

Edit:

After looking at that again I noticed that it mentions 'in province'. But no mention of out-of-province family transfers. Which made me curious and I found this from New Brunswick:

http://www.gnb.ca/0162/tax/pvttppt-e.asp#familygifts

Two classes of family transfer in NB. Participating provinces and non-participating. Seems to do with the HST. NS and NB are participating, NB and Ontario are not. So it could be that Nova Scotia and Ontario are not participating provinces. In other words: taxes might need to be paid even if it is a gift.

[Ashtangi]

Not to hijack the thread, but has does anyone know if this can be done from Manitoba to Ontario?

My father-in-law is buying out his lease in Manitoba and gifting the car to my wife - he will obviously pay sales tax in Manitoba, but will we have to pay sales tax in Ontario when we transfer ownership?

[carinah]

Does anyone know if being a "registered owner" and "legal owner" makes any difference when i'm in Ontario and getting the vehicle insured?

I'm not sure how strict Ontario is about that.

Thanks!