Province-by-Province Comparison
See what the same vehicle would cost in every Canadian province at your entered price. Enter a price above and click Calculate to update this table.
| Province / Territory | Tax System | Rate | Tax Amount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enter your vehicle price above and click Calculate to see the comparison. | ||||
Why Car Taxes Vary Across Canada
Canada's decentralized tax system means vehicle buyers face vastly different tax bills depending on where they register their purchase. While the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% applies uniformly coast to coast, provincial governments layer on their own taxes โ each with different rates, structures, and special rules for used vehicles.
The result is dramatic: buying a $50,000 vehicle in Alberta costs $2,500 in tax (GST only), while the same vehicle purchased in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island carries a $7,500 tax bill (15% HST). That $5,000 difference is purely provincial policy โ the car is identical.
For used vehicles, the calculus becomes even more complex. Several provinces assess tax not on the sale price, but on an independently determined book value โ protecting tax revenue from artificially low declared prices between related parties. Understanding these rules before you buy can save you from unpleasant surprises at the motor vehicle registry.
HST Provinces (One Simple Rate)
Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Prince Edward Island have harmonized their federal and provincial taxes into a single Harmonised Sales Tax (HST). This simplifies administration โ buyers pay one rate, dealers remit one amount, and there's no separate federal/provincial calculation. Rates range from Ontario's 13% to 15% in the Atlantic provinces.
GST + PST Provinces
British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan collect GST and Provincial Sales Tax (PST) separately. The federal GST goes to Ottawa; the PST stays in the province. For vehicle buyers, this means two line items on your purchase agreement. Manitoba charges 7% PST, Saskatchewan 6% PST, and BC 7% PST โ all on top of the 5% GST โ for combined rates of 12%, 11%, and 12% respectively.
Quebec's Unique QST System
Quebec does not use PST โ instead it has the Quebec Sales Tax (QST) at 9.975%, collected by Revenu Quรฉbec alongside the federal GST. The combined rate of 14.975% is the highest vehicle tax rate of any province on dealer sales. Importantly, QST is calculated on the price inclusive of GST when purchased from a dealer (making the effective rate slightly higher in practice).
For private vehicle sales in Quebec, the QST is assessed on the higher of the declared sale price or an estimated value from Revenu Quรฉbec's standardized estimation table. This prevents buyers and sellers from declaring artificially low prices to reduce tax.
Alberta and the Territories: GST Only
Alberta has no provincial sales tax โ a point of considerable provincial pride. Vehicle buyers pay only the 5% federal GST, making Alberta the most tax-efficient province for buying cars. The three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut) also have no territorial sales tax, so buyers there also pay just 5% GST.
British Columbia's Luxury Vehicle Surtax
BC applies a sliding-scale PST surcharge on higher-priced vehicles. Vehicles priced between $125,000 and $149,999 attract 15% PST (instead of the standard 7%), and vehicles $150,000 and above face 20% PST. Combined with the 5% GST, a $200,000 luxury vehicle in BC carries a total tax rate of 25% โ some of the highest vehicle taxation in North America.
This luxury surtax applies to both new and used vehicles purchased through a dealer, and to private sales where the vehicle's market value exceeds the threshold. The BC government introduced and expanded these thresholds as a revenue measure targeting high-end vehicle imports.
Private Sales: Special Tax Rules
Buying a car from a private seller (not a dealership) has different tax implications than a dealer purchase. Here's what you need to know in each province:
- Ontario: 13% RST (Retail Sales Tax, which is essentially HST equivalent) applies on the greater of the purchase price or the Canadian Red Book wholesale value. The tax is collected at ServiceOntario when you register the vehicle โ not at the point of sale.
- British Columbia: PST applies on the greater of the declared purchase price or the NADA book value. The 7% standard rate applies (or the luxury rate if the vehicle value exceeds the threshold). Tax is paid at an ICBC Autoplan broker when transferring the registration.
- Quebec: QST is assessed on the higher of the sale price or Revenu Quรฉbec's estimated value from the ARQ estimation table. Private sale GST does not apply (only QST at 9.975%). Tax is paid at the SAAQ at the time of registration transfer.
- Saskatchewan: PST (6%) applies on the higher of the actual sale price or the VCRS (Vehicle Certified Reference System) book value. Paid at SGI when registering.
- Manitoba, Alberta, Atlantic Provinces, and Territories: Tax is generally assessed on the declared purchase price for private sales, with no mandatory book-value minimum (though grossly undervalued transactions may be reviewed).