Are you selling your car? Don’t just hand over the keys. One very important step is to go to Service Ontario and transfer the ownership. If you don’t, you could still be responsible for what happens with the car- even after it’s gone.
The law in Ontario says that the person listed on the car’s permit is the owner. If the new driver gets into an accident, you could be blamed, even if you were not there.
It gets worse. If you remove the car from your insurance, but don’t change the ownership, your insurance company might not help you defend any legal claim started against you. This is called being “off coverage”. This means you could have to pay all the costs yourself if there is a lawsuit.
To stay safe:
- Go with the buyer to Service Ontario to change the ownership.
- Cancel your insurance after the ownership is changed.
- Keep a copy of the bill of sale, and any messages about the sale. These can help you if there is a problem later.
Never just shake hands or trust a promise. Even if the buyer seems honest, things can go wrong after the sale.
A short trip to Service Ontario now can save you a lot of trouble later. If you are being blamed in a car accident involving a car you no longer own, talk to a lawyer right away. Our expert team at the Ross Firm can help you – contact [email protected] to set up your consultation.
Disclaimer: the above blog post does not constitute legal advice and is for information purposes only. We strongly recommend obtaining legal advice with respect to any legal issues.
