Digital signatures, instant transfers, and the one document you absolutely cannot skip
Remember when selling a car meant a folder full of papers, a trip to ServiceOntario, and praying you filled out the right forms?
Those days are over.
Ontario's vehicle transfer system went fully digital in 2025. You can now sell a car from your phone in under 10 minutes. But here's the catch: you still need the right documents, they're just digital now.
Miss one step and the buyer could be driving YOUR car with YOUR plates, getting tickets in YOUR name, or worse - committing crimes in a vehicle still legally yours.
I've sold eleven cars in London. I've made the paperwork mistakes so you don't have to. Here's exactly what you need in 2026.
The One Document You Cannot Skip: UVIP
Used Vehicle Information Package
Cost: $20 at ServiceOntario
Required by law: YES
Digital available: YES
What it is: A government document containing:
Vehicle history
Current lien status (is money owed on the car?)
Past liens (were there issues before?)
Registration history
Retail value estimates
Why you need it: In Ontario, it's illegal to sell a used vehicle privately without providing a UVIP to the buyer. The fine? Up to $500.
How to get it in 2026:
Go to ServiceOntario.ca
Click "Used Vehicle Information Package"
Enter your VIN
Pay $20
Download PDF or get QR code
Pro tip: Buy the UVIP before you list the car. If there's a lien on it, you need to know now, not when a buyer discovers it.
Document #2: Bill of Sale
Ontario Bill of Sale
Cost: Free
Required by law: YES (for your records)
Digital available: YES (ServiceOntario app)
What it is: Proof that you sold the car and transferred ownership. Protects you if the buyer does something stupid after driving away.
What must be included:
Date of sale
Buyer's full name and address
Seller's full name and address
Vehicle details (make, model, year, VIN, odometer reading)
Sale price
Signatures (buyer AND seller)
The 2026 way: Use the ServiceOntario app. Both parties sign digitally. Instant confirmation. No paper to lose.
The old way (still works): Download a template, print, fill out, keep a copy forever.
Document #3: License Plates (YOURS)
What to do with plates:
YOU KEEP THEM.
I cannot stress this enough. Your license plates stay with YOU, not the car.
Why:
Plates are registered to you, not the vehicle
If the buyer drives away and gets a 407 toll, it comes to YOU
If they commit a crime, police come to YOUR door
If they park illegally, YOU get the tickets
The 2026 process:
Remove plates before buyer drives away
Return plates to ServiceOntario (or keep if you're buying another car)
Cancel your insurance immediately
What buyer does: Gets new plates at ServiceOntario. Costs about $60. Their problem, not yours.
Document #4: Safety Standards Certificate
Safety Certificate
Cost: $100-150 (paid to mechanic)
Required by law: NO (for private sale)
Smart to have: YES
What it is: Proof that a licensed mechanic inspected the vehicle and found it safe to drive.
The truth about safety certificates:
Legally, you don't need one for private sale
Practically, cars WITH safeties sell faster and for more money
Buyers assume cars without safeties have problems
In 2026: Most serious buyers won't even look at a car without a safety. It's become the baseline expectation, even though it's not legally required.
Where to get one in London:
Canadian Tire (multiple locations)
Active Green+Ross (Oxford St, Wonderland)
Any licensed mechanic (search "safety inspection London Ontario")
Pro tip: Get the safety done before listing. Add $1,000 to your price. Everyone wins.
Document #5: Used Car History Report
Carfax or equivalent
Cost: $45-60
Required by law: NO
Smart to have: YES (maybe essential in 2026)
What it shows:
Accident history
Previous owners
Service records
Odometer readings
Theft history
Flood damage
The 2026 reality: If you don't provide a Carfax, buyers assume the worst. "What are they hiding?" They'll either move on or lowball you hard.
Buy it yourself: Enter VIN, pay $45, download PDF, include in your listing or share with serious buyers.
Step-by-Step: The 2026 Digital Transfer Process
What actually happens when you sell:
Before the sale:
Buy UVIP from ServiceOntario ($20)
Buy Carfax if you want ($45)
Get safety certificate if you're smart ($150)
Take photos of odometer (proof of mileage)
At the sale (with buyer present):
Step 1: Open ServiceOntario app
Step 2: Select "Transfer Vehicle Ownership"
Step 3: Enter buyer's email
Step 4: Buyer receives notification on their phone
Step 5: Buyer enters their information and pays sales tax (online)
Step 6: Both parties sign digitally
Step 7: You receive confirmation - vehicle is no longer yours
Time elapsed: About 8 minutes
Step 8: Remove your license plates
Step 9: Cancel your insurance (call or app, do it now)
Step 10: Take photo of final confirmation (proof forever)
The Paperwork Mistakes London Sellers Make
Mistake #1: Letting them keep your plates
This is the #1 error. You will get their tickets. You will get their 407 bills. You will get their parking fines. Stop letting buyers keep plates.
Mistake #2: No UVIP
Illegal. Full stop. If a buyer reports you, it's a $500 fine and you're still on the hook for the car.
Mistake #3: Handwritten bill of sale with missing info
If you don't record the exact odometer reading, the buyer could claim you misrepresented the mileage. Write it down. Photo it. Keep it forever.
Mistake #4: Not canceling insurance immediately
If they crash 10 minutes after driving away and you haven't canceled, your insurance pays. Your rates go up. Your fault.
Mistake #5: Forgetting to notify ServiceOntario
In the old days, you'd mail a form. Now it's instant. If you don't transfer online, the car is still yours in the government database. Do it immediately.
Mistake #6: Cash only paranoia
Cash is fine. Certified cheque is fine. E-transfer is fine (once it clears). But don't let them drive away without payment clearing. That's just charity.
What About "As-Is" Sales?
"As-is" means: No warranty, no guarantees, buyer accepts all existing issues.
Does "as-is" protect you? Kind of. It helps if the buyer later complains about something that was obviously broken. It does NOT protect you if you lied about something.
The rule: If they ask "has it been in an accident?" and you say "no" when it has, "as-is" doesn't matter. You misrepresented. They can sue.
Be honest. "As-is" covers normal wear and problems you disclosed. It doesn't cover lies.
The Ontario Private Sale Tax Situation
Here's how tax works in 2026:
Buyer pays sales tax when they register the vehicle. It's based on:
The purchase price you put on the bill of sale, OR
The "fair market value" in the UVIP, whichever is HIGHER
What this means: If you sell a $10,000 car for $5,000 cash and write $5,000 on the bill of sale, the government still taxes based on $10,000 (the UVIP value). They're not stupid.
Just be honest. The buyer pays tax, not you. Don't create problems for them to save money that isn't yours.
The "I Lost the Paperwork" Emergency Kit
If you're reading this and you've already sold the car but did everything wrong:
Call your insurance company immediately (cancel if still active)
Go to ServiceOntario website and check if transfer was completed
If not completed, file a "Seller's Notification" online (protects you)
Take photo of any proof you have (text messages, bank deposits, photos of car with buyer)
Hope (not legal advice, but honest)
London-Specific Paperwork Notes
London ServiceOntario locations (if you need in-person):
1100 Wellington Rd (by the mall)
385 Elgin St (downtown)
1580 Dundas St (east London)
3090 Wonderland Rd (south London)
Wait times in 2026: Book online. Walk-ins are 45+ minutes usually.
Fun fact: London has some of the busiest ServiceOntario centres in Ontario. Student population + high car ownership = always busy.
Your 2026 Paperwork Checklist
Before listing:
Buy UVIP from ServiceOntario ($20)
Buy Carfax if desired ($45)
Get safety certificate if desired ($150)
At sale:
Verify buyer identity (photo ID)
Complete digital transfer in ServiceOntario app
Take photo of odometer
Remove your license plates
Cancel insurance (immediately)
Take photo of buyer (optional but smart)
Get paid (cash, certified cheque, cleared e-transfer)
After sale:
Delete all listings
Keep digital copy of all documents forever
Celebrate
FAQ: Ontario Car Sale Paperwork 2026
Q: Can I sell a car with a lien on it?
A: Yes, but you must pay off the lien before transferring ownership. The UVIP will show the lien. Buyer will know.
Q: Do I need to provide a safety certificate?
A: No, but your car will sell faster and for more money if you do.
Q: How long do I need to keep the bill of sale?
A: Forever. Or at least 7 years. Car stuff has a weird way of coming back.
Q: What if the buyer never transfers ownership?
A: File a "Seller's Notification" with ServiceOntario immediately. The car is still yours legally until they do.
Q: Can I do the transfer at a ServiceOntario in person?
A: Yes, but why? The app takes 8 minutes. In-person takes 45 minutes plus driving.
Q: What taxes do I pay as the seller?
A: None. Buyer pays HST when they register.
Q: Is a handwritten bill of sale legal?
A: Yes, as long as it has all required information. But digital is easier to prove.
The Bottom Line
Paperwork isn't exciting. But getting it wrong can turn a $10,000 sale into a $10,000 headache.
Buy the UVIP. Use the app. Keep the plates. Cancel insurance. Take photos.
Ten minutes of admin saves months of regret.
Questions about Ontario car paperwork? Drop them below. I've messed up enough to know the answers.
