How to Sell a Car Privately in Saskatchewan: Complete Checklist

Selling your vehicle privately in Saskatchewan involves more than handing over the keys. Here's the complete checklist to protect yourself and get the paperwork right.

1. Complete a bill of sale

Your bill of sale needs to include: the sale date, buyer's name, the vehicle's year/make/model and VIN, the sale price, odometer reading, and both signatures. You can also use the Transfer of Ownership section built into the Saskatchewan Certificate of Registration — you complete your part and hand it to the buyer, who takes it to a motor licence issuer to register the vehicle in their name.

2. Remove and protect your plate

Take your licence plate off the vehicle before handing it over — it stays legally tied to your name. Return it to SGI or any SGI motor licence issuer near you, unless you're keeping it for a seasonal vehicle you plan to re-plate later.

3. Cancel or transfer your registration

Once the sale is done, either:

• Cancel your registration (in person, through MySGI, or by mail/fax) if you're not replacing the vehicle right away — see our full cancellation and refund guide.
• Transfer your plate to a new vehicle for $15 if you're buying a replacement, using the 7-day grace period if needed.

4. Know the PST rules that affect your buyer

Private sales of used vehicles for personal or farm use are PST-exempt on the first $5,000 of the purchase price (or Red Book value, whichever is greater); anything above that is taxed in full. The price on your bill of sale should match what the buyer declares at the issuer — understating it doesn't help either of you and can cause registration problems.

5. Consider running your own VIN search

A free Saskatchewan VIN search on your own vehicle confirms there's no unresolved PST or SGI claim discrepancy that could complicate the sale — useful if it's been a while since you checked your own file.

6. Keep copies of everything

Keep your own signed copy of the bill of sale and any cancellation/transfer confirmation for your records — in case a dispute or PST question comes up later.

What the buyer needs to do

Your buyer has a 7-day grace period from the date on the bill of sale to register the vehicle and get insurance in their name (if they're using the transfer grace period rules) — but it's worth reminding them not to delay, since driving on your old registration past that point isn't valid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be present when the buyer registers the vehicle?

No — once you've completed and signed the bill of sale or Transfer of Ownership, the buyer handles registration at any motor licence issuer on their own.

What happens if I don't cancel my registration after selling?

Your name stays tied to the vehicle and plate until you formally cancel or transfer — do it as soon as the sale is complete to avoid any liability or billing issues.

Fees and requirements are set by SGI and can change. Always confirm current details on SGI's official site or with your nearest motor licence issuer before visiting.