Switching Boat Ownership in Ontario Depending on Your Circumstances

switching boat ownership in Ontario

If you own a commercial boat here in Ontario, you are well aware of the registration process. After all, you surely had to go through it after you purchased your vessel. Now, what happens if you are parting ways with your boat? How do you address changes that need to be done to the ownership at an official capacity? Well, to answer your questions, let’s go over the process of switching boat ownership in Ontario. This way, you can be ready to go when the time comes to apply for a transfer.

Switching Boat Ownership in Ontario

The documentation attached to the ownership over a boat isn’t exactly tied to the owner, as most people would believe. Instead, it is tied to the boat itself. This means that, should the boat change hands at some point, the registration will have to change hands with it. Now, this isn’t something that automatically happens when you receive payment for the boat you are selling. This comes with an administrative process of its own that can seem somewhat confusing at first. This is why we are here to help you with this overall process under different circumstances. If you have any doubts about what a transfer looks like, we hope you can find the answer here.

switching boat ownership in Ontario

Selling a Boat

If you’re selling your boat, part of the process is going to involve transferring the registration to the new owner. This means that you will have to submit the corresponding form to Transport Canada, informing them of the change of ownership and providing them with the new owner’s information. You will find the transfer form readily available on our menu, where you will be able to fill it out and, eventually, submit it. This process will make sure that the Transport Canada registry is properly updated to reflect the change in the ownership and the new owner’s standing in relation to the boat. Keep in mind that this process needs to be carried out by the previous owner rather than the new one, who won’t have to file for initial registration.

Changes to Shared Ownership

Now, the transfer forms will also be relevant when it comes to changes made to shared ownership arrangements. You will not always have to transfer the full claim to the vessel in question to someone else. Sometimes, what you’re looking for is shared ownership. For example, you might be getting married or forming a business partnership. In such cases, you might want to add an owner to the registration so that you can both have a claim. The same applies the other way around. The form for a Transport Canada ownership transfer will serve to add or remove an owner from a boat’s registration going forward.

Find Every Transport Canada Form

We are well aware that no one likes having to file paperwork, which is why we’ve made an effort to make it easier for everyone. Here on our website, you will be able to find all the forms you might need as part of the boat registration transfer process for your convenience. And not only will you be able to fill them out here, but you can also submit them. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by calling +1 (800) 419-9569 or email us at info@canadianvesselregistry.ca.