{"sample":true,"note":"Two fixed sample inputs: Ontario ($25,000 private sale) under `ca`, and California ($25,000 private sale) under `us`. Pay per-call for any province or US state via /v1/purchase-costs?country=CA|US — see /discovery.","ca":{"country":"CA","province":"ON","provinceName":"Ontario","input":{"province":"ON","priceCad":25000,"saleType":"private","familyGift":false,"buyerHasPlates":false},"lines":[{"id":"sales_tax","paidTo":"ServiceOntario at time of registration/transfer","sourceUrl":"https://www.ontario.ca/document/retail-sales-tax/specified-vehicles","confidence":"high","label":"RST (13%)","amountCad":3250,"rangeCad":null,"kind":"tax","notes":"RST of 13% is paid by the buyer at ServiceOntario at registration (not to the seller). For cars/vans/light trucks (≤2,200 kg) the tax base is the greater of the purchase price or the Canadian Red Book wholesale value. An appraisal option exists if the Red Book value is ≥ $1,000 (appraisal within 60 days, by an OMVIC-registered dealer or a Ministry of Finance appraiser). Vehicles 20+ model years old require an appraisal."},{"id":"uvip","label":"Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP)","amountCad":20,"rangeCad":null,"kind":"fee","paidTo":"seller (statutory obligation)","notes":"The UVIP costs $20. In a private sale the seller is legally required to provide it to the buyer; dealers are exempt.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/register-vehicle-permit-and-licence-plate","confidence":"medium"},{"id":"permit_plus_plate","label":"Vehicle permit + new licence plate","amountCad":59,"rangeCad":null,"kind":"fee","paidTo":"ServiceOntario","notes":"The permit plus a new plate costs $59 (buyer needs new plates). The buyer must register within 6 days of the sale. In Ontario, plates stay with the seller.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/register-vehicle-permit-and-licence-plate","confidence":"medium"},{"id":"plate_renewal","label":"Licence plate renewal","amountCad":0,"rangeCad":null,"kind":"informational","paidTo":"ServiceOntario","notes":"Plate renewal is $0 for passenger vehicles (the fee was eliminated March 13, 2022). Renewal is still mandatory but free.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/register-vehicle-permit-and-licence-plate","confidence":"medium"},{"id":"inspection","label":"Safety / mechanical inspection","amountCad":null,"rangeCad":{"low":60,"high":200},"kind":"market_estimate","paidTo":"licensed inspection station","notes":"A Safety Standards Certificate is required to plate a used vehicle in the buyer’s name (only spouse transfers are exempt). It is valid for 36 calendar days. The price is not government-regulated — the typical market range is $60–$200 (most commonly ~$100–150); any repairs are extra.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ontario.ca/page/safety-standards-certificate","confidence":"medium"}],"totalKnownCad":3329,"estimatedTotalRangeCad":{"low":3389,"high":3529},"caveats":["Figures verified 2026-07-04 against provincial/territorial sources; recurring/annual registration items are shown as first-year costs; public-insurer premiums (ICBC/SGI/MPI/SAAQ) are excluded.","The tax is assessed on the greater of the sale price and the vehicle’s book value (Canadian Red Book / Black Book wholesale, or provincial estimated value) — the amount shown assumes the sale price is not below book value."],"rulesAsOf":"2026-07-04"},"us":{"country":"US","state":"CA","stateName":"California","input":{"state":"CA","priceUsd":25000,"saleType":"private","tradeInUsd":0,"localRatePct":null},"lines":[{"id":"sales_tax","label":"Sales / use / excise tax","paidTo":"state / county tax authority","sourceUrl":"https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/rates.aspx","confidence":"high","amountUsd":1812.5,"rangeUsd":{"low":1812.5,"high":2687.5},"kind":"tax","notes":"7.25% statewide base (includes 1.25% uniform local) + district taxes up to ~3.5% (combined max ~10.75%); rate is set by the buyer's registration address. NO trade-in credit — tax is on the full purchase price. Private-party sales incur use tax at the same rate, collected by DMV at transfer; immediate-family transfers and bona fide gifts exempt."},{"id":"title","label":"Title / certificate of title","amountUsd":15,"rangeUsd":null,"kind":"fee","paidTo":"state DMV","notes":"Transfer fee $15 (Veh. Code §9255) per the DMV fee schedule. The $28 sometimes cited is the replacement/duplicate-title fee (§9265), not the transfer fee.","sourceUrl":"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/registration-fees/","confidence":"medium"},{"id":"registration","label":"Vehicle registration (first year)","amountUsd":null,"rangeUsd":{"low":280,"high":650},"kind":"market_estimate","paidTo":"state DMV","notes":"Registration basis: mixed. 2026: $76 registration (incl. $3 alt-fuel fee) + $34 CHP + Transportation Improvement Fee $33-$231 by value + VLF 0.65% of value (declines over first 11 years) + county/district fees ($25-$50). EVs add $100 ZEV fee. This is the first year’s registration only.","sourceUrl":"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/registration-fees/","confidence":"medium"},{"id":"inspection","label":"Safety / emissions inspection","amountUsd":null,"rangeUsd":{"low":30,"high":70},"kind":"market_estimate","paidTo":"licensed inspection station","notes":"Smog check: biennial once vehicle is 8+ model years old; ON SALE the seller must provide a smog certificate if the car is more than 4 model years old — key buyer protection. No safety inspection. Smog abatement fee $20 for years 7-8 in lieu of test.","sourceUrl":"https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/smog-inspections/","confidence":"medium"}],"totalKnownUsd":1827.5,"estimatedTotalRangeUsd":{"low":2137.5,"high":3422.5},"caveats":["Figures verified 2026-07-04 against state sources; registration is first-year only; value-based recurring taxes (e.g. AZ VLT, AL ad valorem) appear under registration notes.","California county/city surtax of up to 3.5% may apply — pass local_rate for an exact figure."],"rulesAsOf":"2026-07-04"},"disclaimer":"Vindex provides informational vehicle data aggregated from public sources (NHTSA, Transport Canada). It is not professional, legal, or purchasing advice, and is provided as-is without warranty. Recall/complaint data reflects the source databases at fetch time. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada."}