Vehicle lien search in Canada

[Greg L.]

How does one go about doing a lien search on a used vehicle in Canada? It used to be as simple as calling the bank with the VIN but not anymore. They will do their own search to cover their butt if you take out a loan but not as a service to their customers if you pay cash.

[Donald S.]

Re: Vehicle lien search in Canada

hi Greg don,'t they do them at registries offices for a fee?? Don..

[Greg L.]

Re: Vehicle lien search in Canada

Hi Don,
Ya I guess some do but only one province at a time and you pay for each province. If I want to buy a car in Alberta and it shows that it's clean it may still have a lien agains it from Manitoba, BC, etc. You used to be able to do a one stop shop at the bank but now that's againt some privacy act. It would appear that it's a lot easier now a days to unload a car with a lein against it than it was in the past so you really have to be carefull!

By the way did you get your body back on yet? Mine hasn't changed much so if you still want to come by some time and have a look just let me know.

[Donald S.]

Re: Vehicle lien search in Canada

hi Greg i forgot that they do it by province that is a pain ! and yes i do want to come by ,and yes the body is on just this weekend though ! it sure is nice to see it in one piece ! been crazy busy this last month but hope it will let up soon i will send you an e mail and try to set somthing up take care Don..

[Norm B.]

Re: Vehicle lien search in Canada

Hi Greg,

In Ontario you can get a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) for about $20. This lists the history of the vehicle in Ontario and whether or not there are any liens against it. It also lists if the vehicle was ever registered in Onatrio as scrap or salvage. You can get it from a license office, on the MTO website, or at a kiosk at some local malls.

One word of caution, it only lists liens at the time. That does not stop someone from going out at getting a lien the next day.

E-mail me if you need a fast answer in Ontario. I am very close to both a license office and a mall with a kiosk and can get one for you quickly.


Norm

[Matthew M.]

Re: Vehicle lien search in Canada

Hi Gregg

I work at a GM dealer, and it is our responsibility to make sure that any car we sell is free of liens, to check we use Car Proof, it gives lien info for all the provinces in Canada as well as info for the States. If I remember right the service costs us $45 (Canadian) per transaction. Hope this helps

[Greg L.]

Re: Vehicle lien search in Canada

Thanks Norm, that looks like a great system for Ontario but it would still make me worry because it only covers one province.
I came across Car Proof during a google search and looked like it might be what I needed but I'm often skeptical of sites like this... Thanks for your input on this Matt. I guess if it works for a GM dealership then it will work for me.

Hey Norm are you going to Carlisle again this year?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Vehicle lien search in Canada

Hi Greg,

In Ontario you can get a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP) for about $20. This lists the history of the vehicle in Ontario ....Norm

Hey Norm -- glad to hear Ontario still does this. I remember when I was in T.O. on a job in the '80s, I went down to Queen's Park and stood in line to get the history on my very first car ever 194675S104835 (sold new at Park Avenue Chev in Montreal). At that time it was in the Ottawa region. I really should repeat the exercise, as the current owner (if the car still exists) may be interested in the data and pics I have [I was owner #3].

[Grant M.]

Re: Vehicle lien search in Canada

Wayne,

You might find this interesting. Back in the late 1980s I was living in Edmonton but bought a 69 Firebird convertible in Toronto for future restoration. Alberta's DMV rules were somewhat more lax than Ontario's and I was able to register and get (Alberta) plates for the car, sight unseen in Alberta (the car never left Ontario). I was surprised at the DMV office when the clerk told me that the car had previously been registered in Alberta, although she wasn't allowed to divulge previous owner info etc.

grant