Free Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership Template

You might require an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership in the situations below:

• Registering or re-registering a vehicle
• Resolving ownership issues stemming from a private or informal transfer
• Confirming ownership for an insurance application or claim
• Providing sworn ownership confirmation for legal or administrative proceedings
• Addressing discrepancies or inconsistencies on registration records
• Replacing incomplete or illegible documents that aren’t acceptable for administrative purposes

Every province and institution has its own rules. It’s best to check whether the organization you’re working with will accept this Affidavit. You may also need to submit additional documents along with this Affidavit, depending on your situation.

In Ontario, you must register a used vehicle with Service Ontario within six days of purchase. One of the documents you need to register your vehicle is a Bill of Sale. If you don’t have one, Service Ontario may accept a commissioned Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership instead.

Below is a complete list of documents you need to register a vehicle at Service Ontario:

• Your Ontario Driver’s Licence
• Used vehicle information package (UVIP)
• Proof of insurance with an Ontario-licensed provider
• Proof of purchase (e.g., a receipt from the seller or a Bill of Sale)
• Safety Standards Certificate (SSC)
• Owner’s permit with the Application for Transfer portion on the back completed
• The plate portion of the permit, if you’re attaching an existing licence plate to the vehicle
• Annual/Semi-Annual Inspection Declaration if you’re registering a pick-up truck and trailer for personal use, with a registered gross weight over 4,500 kilograms

You may be missing vehicle ownership documents, like a Bill of Sale, ownership permit, or transfer paperwork for the following reasons:

• You accidentally destroyed or lost ownership documentation
• The seller didn’t provide a Bill of Sale and you cannot contact them successfully
• The seller didn’t provide you with a Bill of Sale and they passed away
• The documents were damaged or rendered illegible
• You acquired the vehicle through a private or informal transaction without ownership documents

To be considered valid, your Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership must contain the following information:

• Your full legal name and address
• Vehicle details (make, model, year, VIN)
• The seller’s name
• The date you purchased the vehicle
• The location where you purchased the vehicle
• The vehicle’s purchase price
• An explanation detailing why your documentation is missing or incomplete
• A statement confirming that you are the lawful owner of your vehicle
• The date and location where you signed your Affidavit
• Your signature, witnessed by the notary
• The notary’s signature and stamp or seal to confirm commissioning

If you don’t have the seller’s details, you can obtain them by ordering a Used Vehicle Information Package from ServiceOntario. This package includes a vehicle registration history in Ontario, including all present and previous owners, and their city of residence. You can obtain the UVIP online for a fee of $20.

If you still cannot obtain the seller’s information, you may explain why in your Affidavit.

Your Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership must be commissioned by an authorized official, like a notary public or commissioner of oaths. This is a necessary step, and without it, your Affidavit isn’t valid.

You can meet with a notary online to have your Affidavit commissioned in 7 minutes, from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection.

How Commissioning Your Affidavit Works

You can commission your Affidavit online through a secure video appointment. During your online notary appointment, the following will take place:

• You’ll present a piece of valid, government-issued ID to verify your identity.
• You’ll solemnly declare that the contents of your Affidavit are true.
• You’ll confirm that you understand the document and are signing voluntarily.
• You’ll sign and date the Affidavit while a notary witnesses in real time.
• A notary signs and applies their official stamp or seal.

To learn more about the commissioning process, check out our guide.

Note: Knowingly providing false information may be considered perjury under Canada’s Criminal Code.