About the transaction
- Date of sale
- Purchase price (write the actual amount; do not leave it blank or write "$1")
- Method of payment
Bill of Sale
Alberta Vehicle Bill of Sale - What You Need and Why It Matters
A bill of sale is the single most important piece of paper in any vehicle sale, and most people treat it as an afterthought. It is your proof that the vehicle left your hands, on a specific date, for a specific amount — which is what protects you if that vehicle later turns up abandoned, ticketed, towed, or in an incident.
Alberta does not publish one mandatory government form for private vehicle sales. What matters is that the document contains the right information and is signed by both parties. Below is exactly what to include, a template you can copy, and the two things to do immediately afterward.
Selling to us? We prepare and provide the bill of sale at pickup and you keep a signed copy. You do not need to draft anything.
What you need
What an Alberta Bill of Sale should contain
Include all of the following. Missing items are what cause problems later at a registry office.
About the vehicle
- Year, make, and model
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — the most important field. Copy it exactly.
- Body type and colour
- Odometer reading at the time of sale
- Licence plate number (if still attached at the time of sale)
About the seller
- Full legal name
- Current address
- Signature
About the buyer
- Full legal name or business name
- Current address
- Signature
We bring it
Selling to us? We prepare the paperwork at pickup
We prepare and provide the bill of sale at pickup and you keep a signed copy. You do not need to draft anything, and you do not need to guess what should be on the form.
!Official Alberta REG3126 form recognized by registries and insurers
!Both parties sign and each keeps a copy
!Proof that ownership changed hands on a specific date
!The document you will need to cancel registration and insurance cleanly
Why it matters
Why the bill of sale matters even when the car is junk
A bill of sale is your proof that ownership changed hands. If the vehicle later turns up abandoned, ticketed, towed, or tied to an incident, the document is what shows when it left your control.
For end-of-life vehicles, include a clear statement that the vehicle is sold as is, where is, without warranty, and that it is sold for dismantling and recycling rather than continued road use.
Where to find the VIN
Usually on a plate at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, visible from outside, and on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb. It is also on your registration document. Photograph it rather than copying it by hand — a single transposed character causes real problems.
Step one
Remove your plates and return them to an Alberta registry agent
In Alberta, licence plates belong to you, not to the vehicle. They do not transfer with a sale. Take them off before the vehicle is loaded, then return them to any registry agent to cancel the registration.
Doing this may entitle you to a refund on unused registration fees, and more importantly it closes the record so those plates cannot be associated with you if they ever appear on another vehicle.
Step two
Cancel your insurance the same day
Use the bill of sale as your proof of sale. Ask your insurer about a refund on the unused portion of your premium.
Continuing to insure a vehicle you no longer own is money gone, and letting a policy lapse while you still appear as registered owner is worse.
Special situations
The situations that usually slow people down
There is still a loan or lien on the vehicle.
The lien must be cleared through Alberta's Personal Property Registry before you can sell. The vehicle has to legally be yours to transfer. A registry agent can run a lien search if you're unsure whether one is registered.
You have lost the registration or title.
Take government-issued photo ID to an Alberta registry agent. They can generally confirm ownership and reissue what is needed using the VIN.
The vehicle belonged to someone who has died.
An estate vehicle cannot simply be sold by a family member. You will need executor or administrator documentation establishing your authority to act for the estate. Bring it to a registry agent along with your ID.
The vehicle is registered to a company.
You will need authorization from a signing authority that matches the corporate records. Dissolved or amalgamated numbered companies — common with older oilfield and farm vehicles — need corporate documentation, so start early rather than on a deadline.
The vehicle is not registered to you at all.
Then you cannot sell it, and no legitimate buyer can purchase it from you — regardless of how long it has been sitting on your property. There is a separate legal process for vehicles abandoned on private property. Contact your municipality or a lawyer.
Form essentials
The statements people forget to add
Condition and warranty statement
- A clear statement that the vehicle is sold "as is, where is," without warranty of any kind
- For an end-of-life vehicle, a line noting it is sold for dismantling and recycling and is not intended to be re-registered for road use
Official Alberta form
The Alberta government provides the official REG3126 bill of sale form free of charge.
View the REG3126 formFrequently asked questions
Common bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale legally required in Alberta?
There is no single mandated government form, but you need a bill of sale to transfer or cancel registration at a registry agent, and it is your only real proof the sale happened. Never sell a vehicle without one.
Does a bill of sale need to be witnessed or notarized?
For an ordinary private vehicle sale in Alberta, signatures from both parties are normally sufficient. Notarization is not typically required.
Do I need a bill of sale to scrap a car?
Yes. Even when a vehicle is going straight to a recycler, the bill of sale documents that ownership changed hands and that your responsibility for it ended.
Should I write a lower price to save on tax?
No. Alberta has no provincial sales tax on private vehicle sales, so there is nothing to gain — and misstating the price on a signed document is a problem you do not need.
What if the odometer does not work?
Record the reading it shows and note "odometer inoperative" on the document. Do not guess at a number.
Do you provide the bill of sale?
Yes. We prepare it, both parties sign, and you keep a copy — every time, on every vehicle.
Selling a vehicle to us
We handle the paperwork so you do not have to draft anything
Bring your Alberta registration or title in your name and valid government-issued photo ID. You must be the registered owner and at least 18. We provide the signed bill of sale at pickup.
This page is general information about a common document, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a lawyer or an Alberta registry agent.