How to Sell Your Car in Alberta

Selling a car in Alberta is simpler than most people expect. There's no sales tax, no inspection for a car that's already registered here, and the buyer takes care of the registry.

Most of the work happens before the buyer shows up. Here's what to do, in order, and there's a printable checklist to go with it.

What don't you have to do when you sell a car in Alberta?

Three things sellers often plan for that they don't need:

1. 1. Pay tax.

   Alberta has no provincial sales tax, and private sellers don't charge GST. The price you agree on is what you get.

2. 2. Get a safety inspection.

   Not needed if the car is already registered in Alberta. Cars from another province and rebuilt salvage vehicles are the exceptions.

3. 3. Do the transfer.

   The buyer registers the car in their own name at a registry agent.

Want the number for your own car? Get a free offer. It takes about a minute.

What is your car worth?

Get a number before you do anything else. It decides what you'll accept, whether the sale pays off your loan, and whether selling privately is worth the effort.

Three things set it: kilometres, condition and trim, accident history, and what the market is doing. What you paid or still owe doesn't change it.

Don't spend money fixing it up first. A new windshield or an oil change won't come back in the price. An online offer takes about a minute.

How do you check for a lien on your own car?

If you have a car loan, your lender has a lien registered against the VIN. The car can't change hands until it's cleared.

You can still sell a financed car. The loan gets paid out as part of the sale. If you owe more than it's worth, you cover the difference first.

A VIN search at any registry agent costs about $10. Run it the week you decide to sell, not on the day.

Three things stop most sales at the registry counter:

1. 1.A loan still registered against the car
2. 2.Unpaid tickets
3. 3.The car isn't registered to the person selling it

Selling with two names on the registration, an expired or lost registration, or for someone who has died? Each one has its own steps.

What paperwork do you need to sell a car in Alberta?

The bill of sale is the one document you can't skip. The one people most often can't find on the day is the registration, so dig it out a week ahead.

1. 1.Your vehicle registration, in your name
2. 2.Government photo ID
3. 3.A bill of sale. Alberta's standard form is REG3126
4. 4.A payout letter from your lender, if the car is financed
5. 5.Both sets of keys, the owner's manual and any service records

Who should you sell to?

The Alberta steps are the same whoever buys it. What changes is the price and how much of the work is yours. Trade-in vs private sale compares the options.

If you list it publicly, expect a lot of messages and some scams: fake bank drafts, fake certified cheques, and people asking for your credit card so they can run a Carfax on your car. That last one is just a way to get your card number.

Before anyone comes over, look them up on AMVIC's public register. It takes a minute and tells you if they're a licensed dealer.

The highest offer isn't always the best one. A seller recently turned down more money elsewhere because the buyer didn't feel right. She took our offer and was glad she did.

What happens when the buyer comes to see the car?

They walk around it, take it for a short drive and confirm the price. It doesn't take long. If the price changes, it's usually because of something that wasn't mentioned.

Plan the day around the bank. We don't buy cars on Sundays, because the banks are closed and the money can't move.

What is the safest way to get paid?

A bank draft, because it leaves a paper trail. Fake drafts and fake certified cheques are the most common serious scam in private sales, so don't rely on looking at the paper. Do this instead:

1. 1.Confirm the draft in person at the bank that issued it. Watching it get issued is even better.
2. 2.Sign the bill of sale once the money is confirmed.
3. 3.Take your plate off, then hand over the keys.

What happens to your plate when the car sells?

The plate is yours, not the car's. Take it off before the buyer drives away.

Then keep your copy of the bill of sale, call your insurance the same day, and check that the car has left your name.

Most Alberta sales that go wrong went wrong before the buyer showed up: an unchecked lien, a registration in the wrong name, or money that moved before anyone confirmed it. Sort those out and the rest is a short appointment.