Trailer Bill of Sale: Free Template for Ontario & Canada

The primary purpose of a Trailer Bill of Sale is to provide evidence of the transaction between a buyer and seller. It also serves the following functions:

• Outlines both the buyer and the seller’s rights and responsibilities.
• Acknowledges that payment was made in full.
• Establishes that the buyer accepts the trailer in “as is” condition.
• Demonstrates ownership transfer and proof of ownership.
• Confirms the seller’s full legal authority to sell and transfer the trailer.
• Affirms that the trailer is being sold free of debts, loans, or legal claims.
• Notes that the trailer is in good working condition.
• Affirms that the seller is unaware of any hidden defects.
• Protects both parties’ interests and helps prevent future confusion and disputes.
• Supports trailer registration in Canada
• • Some provinces require trailers over a certain weight to be registered or plated. Always confirm local requirements before purchase.

Note: Canadian provinces and territories have different licensing, registration, and inspection requirements. It’s best to check whether your licence supports the weight you intend to pull with your trailer.

Having proper evidence of a trailer sale is always a good idea. You may need to prove ownership, payment, or registration to a government authority, insurer, or third party.

In some provinces, the government doesn’t require a formal title transfer document for private trailer sales. In these cases, the Bill of Sale serves as primary evidence of ownership and is therefore especially useful.

Additionally, when you register a trailer, the Bill of Sale is often used to calculate sales tax based on the purchase price.

Selling a Trailer in Ontario

In Ontario, a trailer is registered as its own vehicle, separate from the car or truck that tows it. When you sell one privately, the seller and the buyer each have a few steps to finish before the trailer can go back on the road.

The Plates Stay With the Seller

Ontario licence plates belong to the owner, not the trailer. Before you hand over the trailer, remove the plate and keep the plate portion of your permit. The buyer will put their own trailer plate on it or get a new one at ServiceOntario.

What the Seller Gives the Buyer

• A bill of sale signed and dated by both of you. It must be the original, but it can be handwritten.
• The vehicle portion of the trailer's permit, with the transfer section on the back filled in and signed.

Keep a copy of the bill of sale for your records.

What the Buyer Brings to ServiceOntario

• The vehicle portion of the permit
• The original bill of sale
• Your driver's licence or other government-issued ID (for example, your passport)
• The plate portion of the permit from your previous trailer, if you're reusing a plate you already own
• Payment for the sales tax and registration fees

Register the trailer in your name within 6 days of buying it. Trailer registration in Ontario doesn't expire, so a new plate and permit is a one-time $72 fee.

The Buyer Pays 13% RST

The buyer pays 13% Retail Sales Tax (RST) when registering the trailer at ServiceOntario. For trailers, the tax is based on the purchase price, so the price on your bill of sale needs to be accurate.

Giving a Trailer to a Family Member

If you're giving the trailer to a close family member as a gift, the person receiving it doesn't pay RST. Eligible family includes a spouse (including common-law), parent, step-parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, or in-law. The family member completes the Sworn Statement for a Family Gift of a Used Motor Vehicle (Form 1157E) and brings it to ServiceOntario. The statement must be sworn before a commissioner of oaths, and a NotaryPro notary can commission it online in minutes.

To create a Trailer Bill of Sale, gather the information listed below and add it to our fillable template. You’ll want to provide basic details about both parties, along with a few details about the trailer.

Details About the Buyer and Seller

A Trailer Bill of Sale should contain basic information about both the buyer and seller, including the:

• Buyer’s full legal name and address
• Seller’s full legal name and address
• Date of the transaction
• Trailer’s purchase price
• Signature of the buyer and the seller

Information About the Trailer

You’ll need to provide the following information about the trailer, including its:

• Make / brand
• Model
• Year
• Axles
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Style
• Length in feet
• Province
• Tax information
• insurance details
• Odometer reading disclosure, if applicable
• Licence plate number

Note: Some trailers may not have a VIN. In such cases, additional documentation or inspection may be required for registration. Does a Trailer Bill of Sale Need to Be Commissioned? Getting a Trailer Bill of Sale commissioned isn’t mandatory, but it provides an additional layer of protection. A commissioned Bill of Sale carries greater weight in court if a legal dispute arises.

Commissioning involves swearing or affirming that the information in your document is true before an authorized official. This person can be a notary public or commissioner of oaths.

You can meet with a notary public online to have your Trailer Bill of Sale commissioned in under 7 minutes.

Commissioning confirms that:

• Your identity has been confirmed
• You have signed the Bill of Sale willingly and understand its contents
• You have sworn or affirmed that the information in your Bill of Sale is accurate