Proof of ownership
A bill of sale, purchase invoice or lease buyout letter shows the machine is yours. BC has no titles for equipment, so ownership is shown by documents like these.
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BC selling guide
Selling an Excavator in BC: The Paperwork, Plainly
What you need in hand, how liens work, and the local rules that catch people out.
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- Proof of ownership
- Lien checks and payouts
- What goes on a bill of sale
The basics
What you need to sell
- Proof it's yours: invoice, earlier bill of sale, finance or insurance records
- Photo ID for whoever signs
- Company authority if a business owns it
- Serial number from the data plate
- Lender release if it was financed
- ICBC registration only if plated (most track excavators aren't)
Liens
Checking for money owing
- Where: BC's Personal Property Registry.
- Search by: serial number or owner's name.
- Who runs it: BC Registry Services, a lawyer, notary or search company.
- Lien found? The loan gets paid out from the sale.
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Bill of sale
What it should list
- Date, buyer and seller
- Make, model, year and serial
- Hours on the meter
- Attachments, one by one
- Price paid
- Sold as is, signed by both
Metro Vancouver diesel registration
Registered engine of 25 hp or more? Tell Metro Vancouver when it's sold or retired. Retired engines may qualify for a partial fee refund. Details.
Sources: BC Personal Property Registry, Metro Vancouver engine registration. General information, not legal advice.
On the day
Have these ready
- Proof that the machine is yours
- Photo ID
- A lender release if money is owing
- Company authority if a business owns it
BC details
Selling an excavator in BC, in more detail
Excavators aren't registered like trucks, which keeps the paperwork simple.
Liens
Financed machines may have a lender's interest at the BC Personal Property Registry. It has to be released first. A search by serial number shows any registered interest, and a lawyer, notary or search company can run it.
Company machines
Someone with signing authority for the company signs. Bring proof that you can sign, such as company records or a letter from a director.
Estates
The executor signs and shows proof of their role. If probate is still under way, tell us early so we can wait for the right signature.
Bylaw 1329
In Metro Vancouver, diesel excavators of 25 hp or more need to be registered and meet emissions rules. Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission are outside the region. If your machine is registered, update or cancel the registration when it's sold.
Bill of sale
We provide a bill of sale with the make, model, serial number and date. Keep your copy. The bill of sale is your record that the machine is no longer yours.
Trailers
If the machine comes with a registered trailer, the trailer's registration transfers and you keep the plate.
Taxes on the sale
Business sellers may have GST obligations. Ask your accountant if you're unsure. We don't give tax advice.
Lost paperwork
If the original invoice is gone, a dealer's service records or an old bill of sale can help show ownership.
Questions
BC paperwork questions
Does an excavator have an ICBC registration?
Usually not. Most track excavators work off-road and are never registered or plated with ICBC. Some wheeled machines that travel on roads are. If yours has plates, bring the registration.
How do I check if there's a lien on my excavator?
Liens on equipment in BC are registered at the Personal Property Registry. A search by serial number, or by the owner's name, shows whether a lender has registered an interest. BC Registry Services can run one for you, or a lawyer, notary or search company can.
What if I lost the original purchase invoice?
Other proof can work: a later bill of sale, insurance records, a finance agreement or company asset records. Tell us what you have.
Who signs if a company owns the excavator?
Someone with authority to sell company assets, usually a director or owner. Bring something that shows the machine belongs to the company.
Do I need to tell Metro Vancouver I sold it?
If the engine is registered under Metro Vancouver's non-road diesel bylaw, contact their non-road diesel team about the sale or retirement so the registration is updated. Retired engines may qualify for a partial fee refund.
Do you give a bill of sale?
Yes. You get a signed bill of sale with the make, model, serial number and date.