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Buying or Selling > Private Vehicle Purchases
Private purchases and trades in Manitoba
When you buy a vehicle privately in Manitoba, you will need these documents to register the vehicle and get Autopac coverage:
- A valid Certificate of Inspection (COI)
- A Transfer of Ownership Document (TOD) from the previous owner, signed
- A bill of sale signed by the seller and the purchaser with the year, make, model and serial number of the vehicle, the price you paid for it and the date you bought it
For most vehicles, a Certificate of Inspection (COI) is valid for one year from the date it was issued. This means that if the vehicle was inspected within the last year, a new Certificate of Inspection (COI) isn't necessary to register the vehicle after you've bought it. You'll find information about the vehicle's inspection status on the front of the vehicle registration card, at the bottom right corner.
Usually, you’ll have to register and insure your newly purchased vehicle with Manitoba Public Insurance before you drive it. It’s always best to check with Manitoba Public Insurance or an Autopac agent before driving the vehicle to be sure you have the necessary coverage.
If the vehicles are in different registration classes, you'll either need new licence plates or a special sticker to put on your licence plates when you're transferring registration and insurance from one vehicle to the other.
For example, if you sell your car and purchase a truck for your gardening business, you're changing the registration class of your vehicle. The registration class of a vehicle is on the front of the Vehicle Registration Card, at the top left.
When your replacement vehicle is in a different registration class, you must report the change to any Autopac agent before driving the vehicle. That's when you'll receive the new registration and the special sticker.
You can transfer the licence plates from your currently registered vehicle to your newly acquired vehicle when:
- Both vehicles are in the same registration class, and
- You've disposed of the registered vehicle.
You have seven days after the day you disposed of your old vehicle to register your replacement vehicle.
For this seven-day period, the same coverage on your old vehicle applies to your new one. For example, if your old vehicle was a motor home or a motorcycle, the declared value limit will carry over to your newly acquired vehicle. The declared value limit is the most you’ll get if your new motor home or motorcycle is written off.
Likewise, if you're changing to a vehicle worth more than $50,000 (including taxes), you'll need extra protection for the amount beyond $50,000. Talk to your Autopac agent.
If the coverage on your old vehicle is insufficient for your newly acquired one, it’s better to re-register and insure your new vehicle immediately with all the correct coverage limits.
If you are relying on the seven-day grace period, always carry documents in your vehicle showing the sale of your old vehicle and the purchase of your new one.
When your replacement vehicle is in a different registration class, you must report the change to an Autopac outlet before driving the vehicle. You'll receive a new registration card and new plates, or a special sticker to put on your current plates.
For example, if you sell your car and purchase a truck, you're changing the registration class of your vehicle. Your vehicle's registration class is shown on the front of your Vehicle Registration Card, at the top left-hand corner.
If you've disposed of your vehicle and you're not planning to replace it immediately, you should cancel your Autopac policy and return your plates to any Autopac outlet. If you choose to keep your plates for future use, an Autopac agent will void them with a sticker and return them to you.
If you haven’t disposed of your currently registered vehicle, you must register and insure your new vehicle at an Autopac outlet before you drive it. You can’t use one set of plates for your two vehicles.
Buy from the legal owner – the registered owner and the legal owner aren’t necessarily the same person! When you buy a vehicle privately, make sure you are buying from the legal owner. Only the legal owner has the right to sell or dispose of the vehicle. You’ll find the legal owner’s name on the right-hand side of the registration card. The registered owner’s name is on the left-hand side of the registration card.
You should also check for liens on the vehicle with the:
Personal Property Registry (PPR),
General Enquiries
276 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg
Phone: (204) 945-3123:
fax (204) 948-2492
e-mail: ppr@gov.mb.ca.
You can also check for liens on-line by visiting PPR on the Provincial Governments Web site. A lien means the current owner owes money to someone who has registered the debt against the vehicle. The Debt stays with the vehicle and limits your rights of ownership until it’s paid.
Finally, check to see whether the vehicle has been a write-off or is stolen. Since November 1, 1997, write-offs and stolen vehicles have been recorded in a Canada-wide registry. Stolen vehicles and some former write-offs can’t be registered anywhere in Canada.
Here are two precautions you should take before buying:
- Ask the owner to show you the Transfer of Ownership Document (TOD) for the vehicle before you buy it. The TOD may show one of the following categories:
Rebuilt – a former write-off that’s been properly rebuilt.
Irreparable – for parts only! – a write-off that can never be registered again.
Salvageable – a write-off requiring proper rebuilding and inspections before being registered again.
- Call us with the vehicle’s correct serial number so we can check whether the vehicle has ever been an Autopac write-off, or to obtain more information on how to check Canada-wide records.
Inside Winnipeg: 985-7000;
outside Winnipeg: 1 800 665-2410.
Caution: not all former write-offs or stolen vehicles will be identified on the TOD
or in our records. You should still have any used vehicle thoroughly inspected
before buying it.
