BC PST Refund on a Used Vehicle
Paid tax at ICBC on the Black Book value instead of what you actually paid? You may be owed a refund — but the Ministry has to receive your claim within 30 days of registration.
The 30-day clock starts at registration. The Ministry of Finance must receive your completed application and appraisal within 30 days of the date your vehicle was registered. This is a receipt deadline, not a postmark deadline — mailing on day 29 is cutting it far too close.
The appraisal is the part that takes time to arrange, so sort that out first.
When you qualify for a refund
PST on a private used vehicle sale is charged on the greater of the purchase price or the average wholesale value from the Canadian Black Book. A refund becomes possible when both of these are true:
- The price you actually paid is less than the average wholesale value
- The appraised retail value is also less than the average wholesale value
That second condition is where most claims fail. A low purchase price on its own is not enough — the vehicle has to genuinely be worth less than the guide says. That is common with high mileage, accident history, mechanical faults, or cosmetic damage the Black Book average cannot see.
The two forms you need
Motor Vehicle Appraisal Form
Records the appraised retail value. Must be completed by a motor vehicle dealer or someone whose business it is to appraise vehicles. You cannot fill this out yourself.
Application for Refund of PST
The refund claim itself. Must be in your full legal name, and you must enter the dollar amount claimed — applications submitted without an amount get returned unprocessed.
What to include
- Completed FIN 355/MV refund application
- Completed FIN 320 appraisal form
- Copy of the bill of sale
- Copy of the validated ICBC Transfer/Tax Form (APV9T) showing tax paid
Send copies, not originals. Refunds under $10 are not issued.
How the process runs
- Get the vehicle appraised by a qualified appraiser or dealer, who completes your FIN 320.
- Complete the FIN 355/MV in your legal name, including the refund amount claimed.
- Gather your documents — bill of sale and validated APV9T.
- Mail everything to the Ministry of Finance at the address on page 2 of the form, in time to arrive inside the 30 days.
- Wait. Processing can take up to six months. That is normal.
A better route: appraise before you register
The refund process works, but it means paying the higher tax up front and waiting months to get it back. If you have not registered yet, get the appraisal first and present the FIN 320 at ICBC. You pay the correct PST at the counter — no application, no six-month wait, no deadline to miss.
If you are mid-purchase, this is almost always the better path.
Mistakes that get claims rejected
- Counting from the wrong date. The clock runs from registration, not from when you decided to apply.
- Leaving the refund amount blank on the FIN 355/MV.
- Using an unqualified appraiser. The FIN 320 must come from a dealer or working appraiser.
- Assuming a low price alone qualifies you. The appraised retail value must also fall below the guide value.
Need your FIN 320 appraisal?
We are a licensed BC motor vehicle dealer and complete FIN 320 appraisals remotely across British Columbia. We tell you the appraised value before you pay, so you know whether a claim is worth making.
Related: PST vehicle appraisals in BC · How the appraisal process works · All appraisal services
Forms and full rules are published by the Province of British Columbia — see the provincial sales tax forms page and Bulletin PST 308, PST on Vehicles. The Ministry can be reached toll free at 1-877-388-4440.
This page is general information, not tax advice. Rules change — confirm current requirements with the Ministry of Finance or a tax professional before relying on them.
