Between the provincial paperwork, setting a price, and dealing with buyers, selling a used car in Nova Scotia can be a little bit overwhelming.
Below, we help guide you through selling a used car in Nova Scotia, ranging from setting a price and listing it online to the various paperwork you need including a bill of sale. We also present the time-saving option of trading it in and detail the benefits it provides.
Determining a Price for Your Vehicle
The first step to selling a used car in Nova Scotia is figuring out its worth as well as what the used car market is for it. If you don’t price your used car right, it’ll sit on the market while more competitively priced cars get scooped up—or you could price it too low and leave dollars on the table.
You can get a good feel for your vehicle’s market price on various vehicle valuation guides and websites, but Car Value Guide is a great place to start. Simply enter your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), mileage and trim level, and Car Value Guide will give you an estimated value.
KBB will perform a comparative search of other listings and sales in the area of your vehicle to determine a fair private party pricing range. It’ll also provide a recommended private party price as a good starting point.
One thing to remember about an asking price is it’s just that — an asking price. Be prepared to haggle on purchase price with potential buyers as they try to get the lowest possible price for your vehicle. This is part of the private selling landscape, so don’t take offense. Instead, work up a minimum acceptable price in your head so you’re prepared to agree to a deal or turn away from one.
You can determine your lowest price several ways, including the balance on the auto loan, the down payment you need for your new vehicle, or the amount of cash you need for your next home improvement project.
Putting You Car for Sale on the Private Market
Once you’ve got your asking price and lowest acceptable price in mind, you’re ready to list your vehicle for sale. You have a range of options for listing your vehicle for private sale. Here are some of the more popular options.
Free Online Markets
The most economical automotive marketing tool is a free online marketplace, such as Autotrader, Kijiji, or Facebook Marketplace.
The big benefit of selling a used car in Nova Scotia on these sites is that it comes at no cost. There are no upfront fees, nor will you have to pay a commission when your car sells. You list it, show it, let buyers test drive it, and sell it. You keep 100% of the cash.
Plus, you can upload plenty of pictures to these sites without extra fees, making it easy to show off all your vehicle’s best features. Don't be shy with the pictures. The more pictures you have, the more confident potential buyers will feel about contacting you.
Unfortunately, these free online marketplaces have some downsides too. The biggest issue is the abundance of scams on these websites. These sites are 100% free, making them great targets for scammers who aren’t looking to invest any cash into their illicit operations. This can include cheque fraud schemes, vehicle trade scams, counterfeit cash, and more.
Another issue is you'll receive countless texts, direct messages, and phone calls from people who aren’t seriously looking to buy a car or are just “tire kickers.”
Finally, these free sites draw tons of other sellers in the area. This can flood the site with inventory, making it harder to market your vehicle.
Paid Online Markets
Paid online markets are great because they are well-organized, offer robust features, and draw the most serious buyers. On top of this, some of these sites give buyers access to financing options and other tools free sites do not, making it easier to secure a buyer. They also often give you the opportunity to feature your vehicle in a prominent position for an extra fee, helping you overcome heavy competition.
Also, while these sites aren’t completely scammer-free, they tend to have far fewer than the free sites.
The huge downside to using paid online automotive markets to sell a used car in Nova Scotia is you will pay a fee whether you sell your car or not. On top of just the listing fee, many of these sites also charge commission.
Another downside is you'll still deal with plenty of competition, and some of this will come from car dealerships with more inventory and far higher budgets than you do. This can leave your car buried deep in the search results.
On-Street Advertising
You can save big by going old-school and just slapping a “for sale” sign in the window and parking your ride on the side of the road. This can get your car in front of tons of people if you live on a busy street. And a big plus is they can see the vehicle in person immediately without having to drive anywhere else.
This can be helpful, but it’s one of the least-effective ways to sell a used car in Nova Scotia for several reasons. First is the safety issue. A car with a “for sale” sign in its window can cause a distraction on the road and possibly cause an accident.
The other issue is that cars may fly by too quickly and may not even notice your car is for sale. And if it’s not in a convenient area to stop, they can’t stop to get your contact information off the sign.
You may also have to deal with legal issues. Some local laws forbid on-street used-car advertising. So, you may draw the ire of local law enforcement and end up with your vehicle towed and a hefty fine.
Necessary Paperwork When Selling a Used Car in Nova Scotia
When selling a used car in Nova Scotia, you will need to do some paperwork to ensure a smooth process. Some of this paperwork is purely for convenience, but other paperwork is a legal requirement.
Nova Scotia Vehicle Registration
The first thing you'll need to when selling a used car in Nova Scotia is the vehicle registration. This is proof you are the legal owner of the vehicle and have the rights to transfer ownership to another individual.
This proof of ownership includes important information about the vehicle, including the:
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Model year
- Make
- Model
- Colour
- Registered owner
Vehicle History Report
While it's in no way a requirement, getting a Carfax Canada vehicle history report is a good idea. This report will check the VIN across Canada for a wide range of issues, including:
- Vehicle registration history
- Accident history
- Liens
- Unfixed safety recalls
- Odometer reading
- Insurance records and claims
A potential buyer can pull this Carfax vehicle history report themselves, but if you already have it, it can build buyer confidence and streamline the process. You can pull a full vehicle history report and lien check online for $69.95 or just a vehicle history report for $50.95.
Vehicle Safety Inspection
When selling a vehicle in Nova Scotia, the vehicle needs a new safety inspection. You have three options.
Option one is the legal owner (seller) has the motor vehicle safety inspection completed in their name within 30 days of the sale. This sticker must show a two-year expiry for a type-one vehicle or a one-year expiry for a type-two vehicle. This will help streamline the sale process and assure the buyer the vehicle has no safety issues.
Alternatively, the buyer can get a safety certificate before the time of registration.
The third option is the buyer gets a letter from the Registry of Motor Vehicles that provides an additional 10 days to to get the motor vehicle inspection.
Bill of Sale
You'll need a bill of sale for legal transfer of ownership in Nova Scotia. You can't transfer vehicle ownership from seller to buyer without one, so it’s a good idea to have the form ready to fill out and sign for the new owner.
The minimum information required on a bill of sale in Nova Scotia includes:
- Purchaser's full name
- Date of sale
- Vehicle year, make, and model
- VIN
- Vehicle’s selling price
- Signature of the seller(s)
Other Tasks After Selling the Vehicle
After a private vehicle sale, you want to complete a few key tasks, starting with removing your licence plate and vehicle permit from the car.
If you plan on reusing your licence plates, you can affix them to another vehicle for up to 30 days. By the 30-day mark, you must transfer them and get a new vehicle permit to your new vehicle by contacting the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
If you don't plan to keep your licence plates, you can return them to the Registry of Motor Vehicles for a refund.
Benefits of Using Your Used Vehicle as a Trade-In Instead
If you’re in the market for a replacement vehicle, you can always use your current vehicle as a trade-in instead of going through all the steps of selling a used vehicle in Nova Scotia. Here’s how you can benefit from trading in your vehicle.
Tax Savings
You'll pay 15% harmonized sales tax (HST) on any new or used vehicle you buy in Nova Scotia. However, you can save on this tax by trading in your old vehicle. When you apply a trade-in vehicle toward another vehicle, it reduces the taxable value of the vehicle you're purchasing by the trade-in amount.
If you purchase a $50,000 vehicle but get a trade-in credit of $35,000, for instance, you only pay 15% HST on the remaining $15,000. That’s $5,250 in savings.
Time Savings
A private vehicle sale in Nova Scotia can have you wasting time on tire kickers. When you trade it instead, you can bypass tire kickers and save tons of time. And time is money! Plus, the stress of being a private seller is suddenly lifted from your shoulders when you trade your vehicle with a seamless and hassle-free online retailer like Clutch.
Minimal Paperwork
When you trade in your car, the company you’re trading with will typically handle all of the paperwork for you. There is no need to get inspections, lien reports, vehicle history reports, or bills of sale. You walk in, sign some documents, and walk out with a check or your new vehicle.
Clutch Makes Life Easy With a Streamlined Trade-In Process
Clutch, Canada's premier online automotive retailer, makes selling your car in Nova Scotia a breeze. Simply head to our site and enter a few details about your ride to get an offer in minutes.
With a firm offer in hand, you can either sell your car outright or browse our wide selection of quality used cars to begin the trade-in process. We'll even deliver your new car and pick up your trade-in vehicle at the same time.
We also make life easy with quick and easy online financing options.
If you can’t find a Clutch vehicle that suits your needs, that’s OK! We can still purchase your vehicle at the agreed-upon price and arrange for pick-up or drop-off. You still get cash for your vehicle with no stress at all.
Feeling nervous about buying a car online? Rest assured that each and every Clutch vehicle must pass a rigorous 210-point inspection and reconditioning process. On top of that, we have an optional 3-month warranty available on every vehicle for additional peace of mind.
Last but not least, we also offer an optional 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee. If you opt for this, you can exchange your Clutch vehicle for a new one or return it for a no-questions-asked refund if you don't like it.
Buying a quality used car has never been easier, more convenient, or more transparent.
