NotaryPro’s online document creator makes drafting and notarizing your Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership as easy and convenient as possible. Use our fillable template to get your document ready in minutes. Then get your Affidavit notarized online, from the comfort of your home or office in less than 7 minutes. 

What is an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership?

An Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership is a sworn legal document that proves vehicle ownership and outlines important details about your vehicle’s purchase. It proves you own your vehicle when you cannot produce a proof of ownership document, like a Bill of Sale. You’d need this Affidavit if your original Bill of Sale is lost, damaged, or inaccessible. 

An Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership outlines the date you purchased your vehicle and who you bought it from. In this Affidavit, you must detail why you don’t have documentation to prove vehicle ownership. 

To be valid, an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership must be notarized by an official authorized to administer oaths and affirmations by law. The person making the Affidavit (the affiant) must swear or affirm that the information they’ve provided is true before the authorized official.

Notarizing an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership

To be legally legitimate, an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership must be notarized by an authorized official, like a notary public. During notarization, the affiant swears or affirms that the information in their Affidavit is true before the official.

An authorized official will confirm your identity and ensure that you understand what you’re signing. You’ll swear or affirm that the contents of your affidavit are true, accurate, and complete. Next, you’ll sign the Affidavit in the presence of the authorized official, they’ll witness your signature, and they’ll sign it too. 

You can get your Affidavit notarized online in under 7 minutes with NotaryPro. For more information about getting this document notarized, see our Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership guide.

Why do I need an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership in Ontario? 

An Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership serves as a credible record of ownership of your vehicle. It facilitates smooth administrative and legal processes while helping to protect both parties in the transaction. Here are some instances where an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership is critical:

• Facilitating Administrative Processes: Authorities, institutions, and individuals require documented proof of ownership for various reasons. This Affidavit streamlines administrative processes by providing ownership in a legally sound manner.

• Resolving and Preventing Disputes: If a misunderstanding or dispute takes place, this Affidavit offers a reliable record to address concerns and provide clarity.

• Legal Proceedings: You may be required to prove vehicle ownership for a legal case you’re involved in. If you don’t have the original Bill of Sale, you can use Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership instead. 

• Protecting Both Parties: As a sworn legal document, this Affidavit protects the buyer and seller’s interests. It captures essential details of the sale, including the date, purchase price, and vehicle details. 

What Information Should an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership Contain?

An Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership must include certain details to be valid and complete. These details include the following:

• Your Information: Your full legal name, date of birth, address, and place of birth.

• Vehicle Details: Your vehicle’s make, year, model, class, colour, license plate number, vehicle type, and vehicle identification number (VIN).

• The Seller’s Name: Include the seller’s full legal name.

• Purchase Details: The date you purchased the vehicle and the amount you paid. 

• Reason(s) for Missing Ownership Documentation: A clear explanation to show why you cannot provide the original proof of ownership. For example, the seller didn’t provide you with a Bill of Sale.

• Steps Taken to Obtain Proof of Ownership: Outline the steps you’ve taken to get your Bill of Sale and explain why they weren’t successful.

• Recipient of Your Affidavit: This section details where the Affidavit is going (government organization, court, etc.) and that it wasn’t made for unlawful purposes.

• Your Signature: You must sign the Affidavit before an authorized official, like a notary public, who will witness your signature.

• The Authorized Official’s Signature: An authorized official must sign, stamp, and date the Affidavit to make it official. 

When do I need an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership in Ontario?

You may require an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership to prove vehicle ownership in various situations. Some reasons include the seller failing to provide you with the correct documentation, you losing your documentation, and more. Below are several situations that might require you to provide an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership:

• Receiving a Used Vehicle as a Gift: If you’ve been gifted a vehicle and don’t have a Bill of Sale, this Affidavit can provide evidence of ownership for the transfer.

• Lost Documents During Used Vehicle Registration: In Ontario, you need to register a used vehicle within six days of purchase with Service Ontario. If you don’t have original ownership documents, you can provide an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership instead.

• Inheriting a Vehicle: If you inherited a used vehicle, there’s a chance that you did not receive a Bill of Sale. An Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership can prove your ownership of the vehicle.

• Unique Circumstances: Certain situations, like recovering a stolen vehicle without the proper documentation, can require an Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership.

Get Your Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership Notarized Today

An Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership is a critical legal document used to prove ownership of a vehicle when original documentation is unavailable. 

It enables you to prove ownership of your vehicle ownership documents (like a Bill of Sale) are lost, damaged, or unavailable. This Affidavit helps to resolve misunderstandings and streamline administrative and legal processes. 

NotaryPro’s licensed notary professionals will guide you every step of the way. Book an online notary appointment today, and get your Affidavit of Vehicle Ownership notarized in under 7 minutes.