Nova Scotia handbook · chapter 7 · 10 min read

Vehicle Registration and Insurance

This chapter contains information on vehicle ownership and registrations.

Before you operate a vehicle on a highway in Nova Scotia, your vehicle must meet a number of conditions. 1 It must be registered. Your vehicle certificate of registration/ownership certificate is valid for as long as you own the vehicle. 2 It must have a motor-vehicle permit, number plate, and validation sticker. For passenger vehicles and light trucks, you must renew your vehicle permit every two years. You will be given a validation sticker to place on your licence plate to show that your permit has been renewed. 3 It must have a valid safety inspection sticker. Your vehicle must be inspected each year. The inspection station will place a new sticker on your windshield each year. 4 It must be insured for third-party liability. You must carry proof of insurance or other proof of financial responsibility in the vehicle.

Note: Every permit, licence, certificate, and number plate remains the property of the Crown. When a permit or licence is suspended or revoked, the permit or licence must be returned to us. You must not drive when your licence is cancelled, revoked, or suspended.

Vehicle Registration

Owning a vehicle Whenever you buy a vehicle, you must register the vehicle with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. You will be given a Certificate of Registration, also called a certificate of ownership or title document. The certificate shows your name, the serial number or vehicle identification number (VIN), the date of issue, and a description of your vehicle. Your Certificate of Registration is valid for as long as you own the vehicle.

• To obtain a Certificate of Registration for a new vehicle, you must apply to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. You must bring the New Vehicle Information Statement or Certificate of Origin supplied to you by the dealer. You must pay all applicable tax, transfer, permit, or plate fees at the time of application.