Buying a car out of province - what to expect?

[RX_EVOLV]

Hi all, looking to pick up a SUV from out of Province from another dealer. Probably BC since I can easily fly out and drive it back. First time doing this so hopefully you guys can provide some guidance;

1) I read I can just bring my own plate from an existing insured vehicle, finalize the transaction at dealer, put plate on, drive back, and have 14 days to do the out of province inspection + register. Is this true?

2) How long does the process take? If I were to fly down on Weds, is it realistic to get everything done and start driving back on Thurs?

Any other things to considered?

Also I found an older thread here on buying from Ontario from a dealer and then having arrange train transport. Is this a relatively easy process?

TIA!

[Ca_Silvia13]

Hi all, looking to pick up a SUV from out of Province from another dealer. Probably BC since I can easily fly out and drive it back. First time doing this so hopefully you guys can provide some guidance;

1) I read I can just bring my own plate from an existing insured vehicle, finalize the transaction at dealer, put plate on, drive back, and have 14 days to do the out of province inspection + register. Is this true?

2) How long does the process take? If I were to fly down on Weds, is it realistic to get everything done and start driving back on Thurs?

Any other things to considered?

Also I found an older thread here on buying from Ontario from a dealer and then having arrange train transport. Is this a relatively easy process?

TIA!

Don't do #1 as that is technically illegal. Get in "In Transit" permit from the registry, they are valid for 10 or 14 days. You tape the permit in the back window and drive without a plate back to Alberta. The permit from the registry is an over the counter thing, you pay, they hand you the permit and you can start driving.

You will have to arrange to have insurance put on the vehicle prior to driving it back too.

Hopefully it's a clean vehicle. OOP inspections are very thorough.

[mr2mike]

Get ready to pay that PST then file to get it back.
Dealers won't do anything special out of the ordinary for ya.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

+1 for in transit, don’t do it otherwise unless youre shipping.

Work out a price before going, and make sure they know you’re travelling to buy so they don’t sell it under you. I recently had a friend come from Kelowna to Clareshom for a vehicle and leave empty handed.

[max_boost]

Hi all, looking to pick up a SUV from out of Province from another dealer. Probably BC since I can easily fly out and drive it back. First time doing this so hopefully you guys can provide some guidance;

1) I read I can just bring my own plate from an existing insured vehicle, finalize the transaction at dealer, put plate on, drive back, and have 14 days to do the out of province inspection + register. Is this true?

2) How long does the process take? If I were to fly down on Weds, is it realistic to get everything done and start driving back on Thurs?

Any other things to considered?

Also I found an older thread here on buying from Ontario from a dealer and then having arrange train transport. Is this a relatively easy process?

TIA!

unless things changed that's how it went for me in bc june 2022, no pst either
things are so fast nowadays, boom boom insurance, sign away and drive back :werd:

[gpomp]

You can purchase the in transit permit online, it is valid for 7 days. I would still put your existing plate on your vehicle to avoid the hassles of driving a vehicle without a plate.

[G-ZUS]

14 days to transfer plate is no longer valid?

[bjstare]

14 days to transfer plate is no longer valid?

Yeah, since when? This is news to me.

[killramos]

Get ready to pay that PST then file to get it back.
Dealers won't do anything special out of the ordinary for ya.

This isn’t even a little bit true

[Team_Mclaren]

Get ready to pay that PST then file to get it back.
Dealers won't do anything special out of the ordinary for ya.

actually they wont charge you PST on the bill of sale if you have an Alberta address. they dont give a shit.

- - - Updated - - -


Hi all, looking to pick up a SUV from out of Province from another dealer. Probably BC since I can easily fly out and drive it back. First time doing this so hopefully you guys can provide some guidance;

1) I read I can just bring my own plate from an existing insured vehicle, finalize the transaction at dealer, put plate on, drive back, and have 14 days to do the out of province inspection + register. Is this true?

2) How long does the process take? If I were to fly down on Weds, is it realistic to get everything done and start driving back on Thurs?

Any other things to considered?

Also I found an older thread here on buying from Ontario from a dealer and then having arrange train transport. Is this a relatively easy process?

TIA!

1. Get insurance from your broker before you pick up, if you bring your own plate no one really gives a shit. Or you can get an intransit permit but you'll still need a bill of sale and insurance for that iirc
2. there is no process, you just pay/sign and drive it back, the rest you just do when you are back. Request OPI from registry before you go get one done. once completed, you just need to register it like any car

[ThePenIsMightier]

Yeah, since when? This is news to me.

The plate must be from a vehicle you have sold/gifted within 14 days. It's the most misinterpreted thing in Alberta. You cannot technically simply use the plate from your currently registered vehicle in use.
Now I'm going to hide because saying this is highly contentious and brings out a lot of differing opinions.

- - - Updated - - -


Don't do #1 as that is technically illegal. Get in "In Transit" permit from the registry, they are valid for 10 or 14 days. You tape the permit in the back window and drive without a plate back to Alberta. The permit from the registry is an over the counter thing, you pay, they hand you the permit and you can start driving.

You will have to arrange to have insurance put on the vehicle prior to driving it back too.

Hopefully it's a clean vehicle. OOP inspections are very thorough.

The "In Transit" technically goes in the lower corner of the windshield on the passenger side.
But the cop who pulled me over for "not having a plate" advised me to make a photocopy of it and also place one in the rear because duh - you're going to get pulled over 111% of the time.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I took a car to BC with an In Transit and an Alberta plate on it last summer, it was a huge fucking hassle. First got pulled over and they didn’t believe us we were transporting it to BC and they were angry our Alberta plate wasn’t registered to the vehicle. So we took the plate off at his request and a few hours later at the edge of BC got pulled over and hassled again for not having a plate and only the In Transit this time. They need to train their officers and get some set standards, got different stories from both RCMP officers on what we were doing wrong both times. The first time we got pulled over we had 6 units called as back up and it took them a solid half an hour to determine we weren’t doing anything wrong.

[ExtraSlow]

BC, not even once.

[max_boost]

Btw what you buying bro :bigpimp: :werd:

[corsvette]

BC dealer can’t charge an Alberta buyer PST. I’m a licensed dealer in BC and have never charged out of province buyers PST.

And yes, absolutely have it insured in Alberta/in transit prior to coming to BC. ICBC is a supreme pain in the ass issuing permits out of province. Not worth the frustration.

[ianmcc]

Whoever thought that placing an In Transit form on the front windshield is a moron or just looking to give the RCMP a reason to pull you over for no rear plate.
Got stopped in Drayton Valley a few years ago for this very reason.

[RX_EVOLV]

Thanks guys. This is very helpful.

It's going to be the wife's car and still deciding between a few, but right now on the top of the list is a X7.

[PulsePro]

The plate must be from a vehicle you have sold/gifted within 14 days. It's the most misinterpreted thing in Alberta. You cannot technically simply use the plate from your currently registered vehicle in use.
Now I'm going to hide because saying this is highly contentious and brings out a lot of differing opinions.

- - - Updated - - -



The "In Transit" technically goes in the lower corner of the windshield on the passenger side.
But the cop who pulled me over for "not having a plate" advised me to make a photocopy of it and also place one in the rear because duh - you're going to get pulled over 111% of the time.

Sounds like you also misinterpreted the law. OR what are you talking about?

https://www.alberta.ca/transfer-vehicle-registration

Existing licence plates

You can use your existing licence plate and vehicle registration on another vehicle for up to 14 days. You must also carry your proof of ownership document and insurance until you transfer the registration and licence plate.

[nismodrifter]

Thanks guys. This is very helpful.

It's going to be the wife's car and still deciding between a few, but right now on the top of the list is a X7.

baller yo

[riander5]

Get ready to pay that PST then file to get it back.
Dealers won't do anything special out of the ordinary for ya.

Untrue

I bought a car out of Vancouver in 2021, they didnt charge me PST.

[PulsePro]

Untrue

I bought a car out of Vancouver in 2021, they didnt charge me PST.

I just bought an SUV from Vancouver February 2024 and they didn't charge me for PST. But YMMV when it comes to dealers over there. Some will absolutely charge you PST without exceptions. In this case, you just apply for the refund and get it back in about 2-3 months.

[beyond_ban]

I picked up a car from Sask last spring and as mentioned the in transit pass is the way to go. I threw a unregistered plate on the back just for appearances and never ended up getting pulled over.

For your OOP, i used these guys and they were great: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NppvNPEgR1ZfSfe66

[KLCC]

I also purchased my vehicle from British Columbia, completing the transaction in a single day.

Upon my arrival in the morning, the dealership arranged for my transportation from the airport, picked me up directly in their fleet vehicle. I finalized the transaction (no PST), spent the night at a friend's place, and commenced my return journey the following morning. It is advisable to contact your insurance company to register the vehicle you are acquiring. Additionally, the dealer in British Columbia will facilitate the acquisition of a transient permit (a printable license plate) on your behalf; your responsibility is merely to cover the associated cost.

I would not hesitate to purchase a vehicle from British Columbia at any given time, due to the significantly wider selection of vehicles available compared to what is offered in Alberta.

[pheoxs]

I also purchased my vehicle from British Columbia, completing the transaction in a single day.

Upon my arrival in the morning, the dealership arranged for my transportation from the airport, picked me up directly in their fleet vehicle. I finalized the transaction (no PST), spent the night at a friend's place, and commenced my return journey the following morning. It is advisable to contact your insurance company to register the vehicle you are acquiring. Additionally, the dealer in British Columbia will facilitate the acquisition of a transient permit (a printable license plate) on your behalf; your responsibility is merely to cover the associated cost.

I would not hesitate to purchase a vehicle from British Columbia at any given time, due to the significantly wider selection of vehicles available compared to what is offered in Alberta.

Mostly the same for me. However I just took my AB plate and used that rather than a transit permit. My only issue was they drilled holes for a front plate during the PDI and so I had to get little plugs and it's mildly annoying anything I remember they're there. But pretty minor.

[RX_EVOLV]

Quick update. Ended up buying from Edmonton instead. A little higher priced than BC but it's the exact spec we wanted and seem a bit less hassle than the inspection and driving it back.

Coming home next week if all goes well.

118723

[bjstare]

Very nice. Those have grown on me.

[03ozwhip]

Quick update. Ended up buying from Edmonton instead. A little higher priced than BC but it's the exact spec we wanted and seem a bit less hassle than the inspection and driving it back.

Coming home next week if all goes well.

118723

Back to another X5 hey lol they're addicting

[bjstare]

Is that not an X7?

[killramos]

Yea that’s a pre facelift X7.

Excellent choice

[03ozwhip]

Is that not an X7?

I've been awake 28 hours, I barely read what I wrote lol

[RX_EVOLV]

Back to another X5 hey lol they're addicting

lol yeh they are addicting. Wife been missing the X5 ever since we sold it. We looked at everything else cause we also wanted a larger vehicle for the kids but they just doesn't quite feel the same. As soon as we test drove the X7 it was immediately obvious that's the car to get. For such a big car, it drives so similar to the X5.

[killramos]

I mean it’s exactly the same car with a bit of junk in the trunk no?

[riander5]

But is it an x7 x40i, x50i, x60i? You didnt get the peasant trim did you...

[killramos]

But is it an x7 x40i, x50i, x60i? You didnt get the peasant trim did you...

You mean the Alpina? All the other trims are peasant