Services

Vehicle Licensing

YOUR VEHICLE IN ALBERTA

In Alberta, vehicles operated or parked on public roads or property must be registered and insured, as required by law. This includes off-highway vehicles such as snowmobiles and dirt bikes.

1. Registration Renewal

If your vehicle was previously registered in Alberta, you can receive a renewal reminder by text or email before your registration expires. If you have not signed up for reminders, click here to register for this service.

When renewing your registration, you must provide proof of insurance. You can do this by:

Presenting your insurance pink slip.
Displaying your electronic pink card on your mobile device.
Asking your insurance agent to fax a copy to (780) 465-8920.

Renewing or Registering on Behalf of Someone Else

You can register a vehicle on behalf of another person, provided the required authorization has been completed. The person named on the Bill of Sale must use their verified Alberta.ca account to authorize the registration.

If a vehicle is being registered jointly, all parties should be named on the Bill of Sale and should be present. If any party cannot attend, the absent party must provide authorization through their verified Alberta.ca account.

Important – Consent and Authorization

Anyone under 18 years of age must have parental consent to register a vehicle in their name.
All required authorizations must be created using a verified Alberta.ca account.
Effective October 26, 2026, paper authorization forms and written authorization letters will no longer be accepted.

2. Registering a Vehicle for the First Time

Previously Registered in Alberta

If you purchase a used vehicle that was previously registered in Alberta, you must register it in your name. The registration cost will be prorated according to the applicable expiry date.

Please bring the following documents:

Bill of Sale: We can provide a Bill of Sale form free of charge, if needed. Lease documents may be used where applicable.
Proof of Insurance: Your insurance pink slip.
Identification: Your driver's licence will generally be sufficient to confirm your identity and verify that you are the person named on the Bill of Sale.

Important: If the vehicle has been identified as previously written off by an insurance company, an inspection by an authorized mechanic may be required before registration can be completed.

Brand-New Vehicle

If you are registering a brand-new vehicle that has never been registered before, you will need the three documents listed above, along with the New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) supplied by the dealership.

The original NVIS must be presented, as a faxed copy is not acceptable. The original document will be retained by our Registry office.

3. Out-of-Province Vehicle Registration

Vehicles last registered outside Alberta must undergo an inspection by an authorized mechanic before they can be registered in Alberta.

Here's how the process works:

Bring your Bill of Sale or Out of Province Registration to our Registry office.
We will search the vehicle's record to determine its previous status.
Based on that status, we will advise whether an Out-of-Province Inspection or a Salvage Vehicle Inspection is required.
We can provide the appropriate Request for Inspection form and a list of authorized mechanics.
Once the inspection is complete, return the completed form to our office within 14 days.

After the required inspection and documentation are completed, the vehicle can be registered in Alberta and its previous provincial registration record closed.

4. In-Transit Permits

An in-transit permit allows you to move an insured vehicle from one location to another without obtaining full registration. Depending on the vehicle's status, the permit may be valid for 1 or 7 days.

You will need:

Moving a vehicle within Alberta: Proof of insurance (pink slip).
Moving a vehicle into or out of Alberta: Proof of insurance and a Bill of Sale.

5. Antique Vehicle Registration

Cars, trucks and motorcycles that are 25 years old or older may qualify for antique registration.

Antique registration permits you to drive the vehicle:

To exhibitions, club meets and similar events, including travel to and from those events.
To and from a service station for maintenance.

The following restrictions apply:

The vehicle may only be driven during daylight hours unless it has been upgraded with lights that meet current safety requirements.
It cannot be used for general transportation unless it is also registered as a regular vehicle through dual registration.

The documents required for regular vehicle registration must also be provided when registering an antique vehicle.

For further information on the Antique Vehicle Program, click here.

6. CARFAX Vehicle Reports

Before purchasing or registering a vehicle, you may wish to obtain a CARFAX report to learn more about its history.

You can purchase a report at our Registry office or visit www.carfax.ca.

Other vehicle information services available through our office include lien searches and Vehicle Information Reports (VIRs).

PRICE LIST – GST INCLUDED

CARFAX Vehicle Report: $65.00–$80+
Lien Search: $18.00
Vehicle Information Report (VIR): $37.00
Passenger Car or Truck Registration (1–2 years): $102.00–$182.00
The expiry month depends on the first two letters of your name.
Transfer of Registration from One Vehicle to Another: $30.00
This fee also applies when a new registration certificate must be printed, such as when replacing a lost plate
In-Transit Permit: $30.00
Off-Highway Vehicle or Motorcycle Registration: $67.00
Trailer Registration: $165.00
Antique Car, Truck or Motorcycle Registration: $45.00
Specialty or Personalized Licence Plates: $90.00–$229.25
Plates have a maximum of 7 characters, including spaces. All requested wording must be unique and is subject to a search. Please allow 3–4 weeks for delivery.
Out-of-Province Vehicle Inspection Form: $9.45

Please contact our Registry office if you have questions about the documents required for your vehicle or the applicable registration fees.