PEI used-car bill of sale: a buyer and seller checklist

What does PEI ask you to bring?

The Government of PEI lists a bill of sale or receipt among the documents a buyer presents when transferring vehicle registration. It also lists the signed vehicle permit, an MVI form in the present owner’s or buyer’s name, and a valid insurance card. A receipt alone does not complete the ownership transfer.

The province says the buyer must transfer registration within seven days of the transfer date. The seller has a separate Notification of Transfer to complete and mail within seven days. Use our registration guide for that process; this checklist helps you review the record of the purchase itself.

Details to record before money changes hands

The following is a practical purchase-record checklist, rather than an official government form. Ask Access PEI whether additional information or a particular form is needed for your transaction, especially when ownership or paperwork is unusual.

• Record the buyer and seller names and a way for each party to contact the other.
• Identify the vehicle by VIN, year, make and model; compare the VIN with both the vehicle and permit.
• Record the agreed price, sale date and odometer reading as observed at handover.
• Describe the payment arrangement, any deposit already paid and the balance remaining.
• List included keys, tires, wheels, accessories and any promised work or written coverage.
• Have both parties review and sign the completed record and keep a readable copy.

Make the written deal specific

“Winter tires included” leaves questions unanswered. Identify the set you inspected, whether wheels are included and when you receive it. If the seller promises a repair before pickup, record the work and how completion will be confirmed. Avoid signing a document with blank price or vehicle fields.

For a dealer purchase, ask for the full written purchase agreement and review the vehicle price, fees, taxes, trade allowance and any optional products. A deposit receipt may not contain the full agreement. Keep those documents together so you can follow how the final balance was calculated.

Check ownership and payment separately

Matching names and VINs is a useful first check, but a bill of sale does not establish that the vehicle has no lien or that its condition is satisfactory. Review the history and ownership information available, ask about any financing interest, and clarify how an outstanding balance will be handled before paying.

An inspection and test drive answer different questions from the paperwork. Arrange them before committing if condition is uncertain. Keep copies of the advertisement and written promises with your purchase records, and avoid sending financial or identity documents through an ordinary vehicle inquiry form.

Local questions before pickup

Does the bill of sale replace the signed permit? No. PEI lists both the permit signed by the previous owner and the bill of sale or receipt for the buyer’s transfer.

What if a document is missing? Contact Access PEI before travelling or completing the transaction. Explain whether it is a private sale, dealer purchase or an out-of-province vehicle so you can confirm the applicable requirements.

Can DrivePEI confirm the documents for a listed vehicle? Send an inquiry from the exact vehicle page and ask what paperwork will be supplied and which registration steps the seller will handle. Confirm availability before arranging a viewing in Charlottetown.