Non-Resident Registration Regulations
made under Section 25 of the
Motor Vehicle Act
R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 293
O.I.C. 74-868 (effective August 13, 1974), N.S. Reg. 72/74
as amended to O.I.C. 2015-96 (effective June 1, 2015), N.S. Reg. 129/2015
1 A passenger motor vehicle owned by a non-resident who does not carry on business in
Nova Scotia shall be exempt from registration for a period of ninety days from the date on
which such passenger motor vehicle was first operated in Nova Scotia in any registration
year; provided, however, that there shall be only one such ninety day exemption between
the date the vehicle was first operated in Nova Scotia in any registration year and twelve
months thereafter.
2 A passenger motor vehicle owned by a non-resident and operated within Nova Scotia for
the transportation of persons or goods for compensation shall be exempt from registration
for a period of thirty days from the date on which such motor vehicle was first operated in
Nova Scotia in any registration year; provided that no such persons or goods are taken on
within the Province of Nova Scotia; provided further that there shall be only one such
thirty-day exemption between the date the vehicle was first operated in Nova Scotia in any
registration year and twelve months thereafter.
3 A passenger motor vehicle owned by a non-resident and registered in any province of
Canada and operated within Nova Scotia for the purpose of providing transportation for
commercial travellers or other persons temporarily engaged in business in Nova Scotia and
having no fixed place of abode therein shall be exempt from registration for a period of
thirty days.
4 A passenger motor vehicle registered in the Province of New Brunswick or Prince Edward
Island shall be exempt from registration provided the registered owner does not reside in
Nova Scotia.
5 A passenger motor vehicle registered in the Province of New Brunswick or Prince Edward
Island carrying passengers for compensation shall be exempt from registration provided no
passenger is taken on in Nova Scotia to be discharged in Nova Scotia.
6 (1) A motor vehicle or trailer owned by a non-resident shall be exempt from registration
in Nova Scotia to the same extent as a motor vehicle or trailer owned by a resident of
Nova Scotia would be exempt from registration if it were operating in like
circumstances in the province or state in which such non-resident is resident;
provided that this exemption shall not apply to a commercial motor vehicle or trailer
owned by a non-resident which takes on any goods within Nova Scotia to be
discharged or unloaded within Nova Scotia.
(2) The Deputy Minister of Service Nova Scotia, or acting Deputy may, on behalf of the
Province of Nova Scotia, enter into agreements with other provinces or states, where
the purpose of the agreement is to specify the mutual exemptions as referred to in
subsection (1) as between the parties.
7 (1) A commercial motor vehicle or trailer owned by a non-resident to whom
Regulation [Section] 6 does not apply shall be exempt from registration provided
that a single trip permit, which is in force and effect, has been issued in respect to
that vehicle and further provided that it does not take on any goods within Nova
Scotia to be discharged within Nova Scotia.
(2) A single trip permit shall be valid for one entrance into the Province and shall
remain in force and effect until the expiry of thirty days from and including the date
of issuance, whichever comes first.
(3) The Registrar of Motor Vehicles is authorized to issue a single trip permit on
payment of one of the following fees:
(a) for a single vehicle..................................................................................$66.40
(b) for a combination of vehicles................................................................$133.35
(c) for a truck or truck-tractor with a trailer or semi-trailer
attached, that is operated without a load..................................................$13.20
8 A bus owned by a non-resident shall be exempt from registration provided that all
passengers brought into Nova Scotia in such bus are taken out of Nova Scotia in the bus
and no passengers are taken on in Nova Scotia.
9 The exemptions contained in these regulations shall apply only to vehicles duly registered
in the province or state in which the owner resides and upon condition that all
requirements of that province or state in regard to the display of number plates and the
carrying of permit, registration certificate or registration card are complied with while the
vehicle is being operated in Nova Scotia.
10 The exemptions set forth in these regulations shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a
person residing or carrying on business in any province or state which does not grant
substantially similar privileges to vehicles registered in the Province of Nova Scotia and,
where such province or state grants a lesser privilege in respect to the operating period or
to the style of vehicle affected, the exemptions authorized by these regulations shall be
diminished accordingly.
11 All regulations heretofore made by the Minister of Highways respecting exemption from
registration of vehicles owned by non-residents are repealed.
The following regulations are not
yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation: