Frequently Asked Questions

It comes down to the vehicle's weight, usable parts and today's scrap metal prices. Send us the year, make, model and condition, plus a photo or two if you can, and we'll give you an accurate offer. Quotes are free and there's no obligation.

Yes. Towing and pickup are included with every vehicle we buy inside our service area, which covers Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Courtice, Bowmanville, Clarington and Newcastle. You never pay for the tow.

Absolutely. Non-running, damaged, rusted and accident vehicles are most of what we buy. You don't need to fix it or move it anywhere. Just tell us where it's parked and we handle the rest.

Usually within a day or two of accepting your offer, and often same-day in Oshawa. When you book, you choose a pickup window that fits your schedule.

Just the vehicle ownership (the green permit) and a piece of photo ID. At pickup we walk you through signing over the ownership. It takes a few minutes, and we bring the paperwork.

You get paid when we pick up the vehicle. The offer we agreed on is what you receive. Towing is never deducted.

Someone has to sign the ownership transfer, so usually yes. If you can't be there in person, give us a call first and we'll work out an arrangement.

Good parts get recovered and reused. Fluids, batteries and hazardous materials are drained and handled the right way. The remaining metal gets recycled. Very little of your old car ends up as waste.

No. Those only apply to vehicles staying on the road. A scrap car doesn't need a safety certificate, and Ontario's emissions program ended back in 2019. You just need the ownership and photo ID.

Yes, and you should. Remove them before we take the vehicle. Plates stay with you in Ontario, so you can move them to another vehicle or return them to ServiceOntario for a refund on any unused validation.

We still take it. Missing parts affect the offer because there's less to recover, so mention it when you request your quote and the price won't change at pickup.

Yes. Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs and most commercial vehicles. Heavier vehicles usually earn more because there's more metal to recycle.

Clear out your belongings, take off the plates and have the ownership permit ready. Leave the vehicle somewhere our truck can reach, and park it nose-out if it's in a tight spot.

Tell us when you book. Our trucks carry winches and we've pulled vehicles out of garages, backyards and muddy lots before. The more we know ahead of time, the smoother it goes.

Not directly. We need the vehicle permit (the green ownership slip) to complete the transfer properly. If yours is lost, ServiceOntario can replace it in a few minutes with your licence.

We'll adjust the offer to match what we see at pickup. If you're not happy with the revised number, you're free to decline. That's exactly why accurate details and photos matter up front.

It is not strictly required to transfer ownership at ServiceOntario, but it is strongly recommended. It is your written proof of the sale price, date and terms, and it protects the seller if the buyer delays transferring ownership.

The seller must provide a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP), the signed vehicle permit (ownership), and a bill of sale is recommended. The seller keeps the licence plates. The buyer needs insurance before registering the vehicle.

No. A bill of sale for a private vehicle sale in Ontario does not need to be notarized or witnessed. Both parties simply sign and date it, and each keeps a copy.

The buyer pays HST when registering the vehicle at ServiceOntario, calculated on the purchase price or the wholesale value shown in the UVIP, whichever is greater.

It means the buyer accepts the vehicle in its current condition with no promises or warranties from the seller. Private sales in Ontario are normally final, so anything extra the seller agrees to should be written on the bill of sale.