hi all, just want some info about cars.....what do you have to pay for in Canada..in the UK we pay for mot, tax etc. does Canada have anything similar and if so how much are they? thanx all

Define Canada?

Or to put it another way, this will vary by province so define province.

As an example for Newfoundland....

Annual licence sticker (road tax) $162 if you pay online $180 if you pay at the DMV.
No MOT per se. but cars do need an inspection I think when sold on and over a certain age.
Here's the kicker, buy a used car and you have to pay GST/HST to the govt, even though it was paid when new.

Car prices widely available on any car manufacturers website.

this GST/HST thing on used cars.... is that on private sales too or just on sales through dealers/garages etc?
if it's on all, how is the tax paid and how does the govt know you've purchased a used car and need to pay them some money??

All. You'll want plates for the car. When you go to get the plates they'll charge the tax due on that model of car according to their book.

I think that only applies to PST.

I don't remember that happening in Alberta regarding GST on private sales.

ok guys. Not everyone knows what these abbreviations are. So could you explain what GST/HST, PST mean. You have to remember there are a lot of newcomers every day to these forums and are not familiar with these terms. Thanks and regards Garry.

GST - Good and Services Tax (Federal) Similar to VAT

PST - Provincial Sales Tax (Alberta is the only province to not have one)

HST - Harmonized Sales Tax a blend of GST and PST.

Thanks Steve. And here's me thinking the UK is killing us with tax.

Maybe it is only PST. The details for Ontario are here:

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/used.htm

Yep it would appear to be PST only for private sales according to the note just above the section on tax exemption.

Don't forget driving license costs, in Manitoba it was 60ish CAD a year, yep, every year. In Ontario it's only 75 every 5.

Maybe they should read the wiki and read me files

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Canadian_Abbreviations

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:Canada

yip. you are right. always forget about the wiki. Thanks. regards Garry

Think your right - not something we've come across either

thanks DBD & Steve for invaluable advice and links as ever