1. Vehicle permit
Find the green ownership document.
Ontario calls it a vehicle permit. The vehicle portion identifies the vehicle and registered owner; the plate portion is separate. For a regular used-vehicle sale, Ontario says the seller must give the buyer a completed and signed Application for Transfer, a bill of sale and a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). The process may differ when dealing with a registered dealer or recycler, so confirm the documents the receiving business requires before pickup.
If the permit is lost, stolen or damaged, ServiceOntario has a replacement/change process. Do not assume that a photo or an old insurance slip substitutes for the permit.
2. Plate status
Do not leave plate questions until the truck arrives.
Ontario’s permit guidance says a seller needs to change the vehicle status to “sold.” Plates are not the same as the vehicle; keep and manage them through the ServiceOntario process that applies to your situation. Ask the buyer or recycler what they need at handoff, but use ServiceOntario as the authority for your permit and plate record.
3. Exceptions
Pause and get the right authority if the owner is not straightforward.
Do not represent yourself as able to sell a vehicle you do not own. A lost permit, deceased owner, estate, corporate vehicle, financing/lien concern, abandoned vehicle, or out-of-province registration can change what must happen next. Contact ServiceOntario or obtain qualified legal/estate advice for the specific case; a pickup company cannot create authority that is missing.
An abandoned vehicle on private property is not automatically yours to sell. Toronto’s parking rules distinguish private-property enforcement from City/police removal. Get the appropriate property and legal authority first.
4. Collision write-offs and branding
“Salvage” and “irreparable” are not casual labels.
Ontario’s Mandatory Vehicle Branding Program records damage-related brands. A salvage vehicle can be repaired or used for parts or scrap; an irreparable vehicle can only be used for parts or scrap and cannot be driven again in Ontario. If an insurer has written off the vehicle, confirm who owns the salvage and what documents you still have before arranging anything.
Practical handoff checklist
Bring clarity, not assumptions.
- Confirm whose name is on the vehicle permit.
- Check the VIN matches the permit before a sale.
- Keep a dated record of what was transferred and to whom.
- Remove personal items, parking passes, toll transponders and garage remotes.
- Tell the pickup operator about missing keys, flat tires, underground parking or access restrictions.