Buying a car in Alberta, step by step.
Checks to run before you pay, what a licensed dealer must tell you, the inspection that catches out-of-province cars, and why there's no cooling-off period once you sign.
What to check before buying
Run a lien search on the VIN through any registry agent (the Personal Property Registry), since debt can follow the car. Get a Vehicle Information Report from a registry agent or AMA, and consider a CARFAX report. Check that the seller's ID matches the ownership documents, have your own mechanic inspect the car, and look up recalls in Transport Canada's recall database or the manufacturer's VIN lookup.
Buying from a dealer
Anyone selling, leasing or repairing vehicles must be licensed by AMVIC, and salespeople registered; you can check them on AMVIC's portal. Advertised prices must be all-in: freight, PDI, admin and documentation fees, levies and any "market adjustment" included, with only GST and actual financing costs added. Before you buy, dealers must disclose history such as a CAMVAP buyback, fire or flood damage, police, taxi or rental use, salvage or unsafe status, collision damage over $3,000, and prior out-of-province registration. Used-car dealers must also give you a Mechanical Fitness Assessment, signed by a certified technician, before the contract.
No cooling-off period
Once you sign a vehicle contract in Alberta, it's binding. You can only cancel if the seller's own policy allows it, and they may keep your deposit. A deposit agreement or worksheet is not a bill of sale, so don't let one be treated like the final deal. If a licensed business goes bankrupt or loses its licence, the AMVIC Compensation Fund can cover up to $31,518.27 per transaction (2026, indexed yearly), claimed within three years; it doesn't cover private sales or curbers.
Private sales and curbers
A "curber" is an unlicensed dealer posing as a private seller, often selling damaged or problem vehicles. Be wary of sellers whose name isn't on the registration or who seem to have several cars for sale. AMVIC can't help with ordinary private-sale disputes, but you can report a suspected curber to AMVIC or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Use Alberta's standard bill of sale for a private purchase.
Cars from outside Alberta
A vehicle last registered in another province needs an Alberta Out-of-Province Vehicle Inspection before it can be registered here: buy the inspection request at a registry first, and present the certificate within 14 days. Some new vehicles bought from a factory-authorized dealer are exempt. Sellers must give you any inspection or salvage certificate, or a written statement that none exists. A salvage vehicle needs a Salvage Vehicle Inspection before it can be registered again, and it's branded "rebuilt" permanently.
Registering it
At a registry agent, bring proof of ownership (bill of sale), proof of insurance in your name, acceptable ID, and any required inspection certificate. Insure and register as soon as possible after buying. Alberta plates remain the property of the Crown, and you can use your existing plate and registration on a newly bought vehicle for up to 14 days while you transfer it, as long as you carry proof of ownership and insurance.
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