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Buying a seized vehicle in Montréal: Denver boot sales, bailiffs and the SAAQ
Montréal's "seized car auctions" are mostly bailiff sales based on offers. Here's how they work, step by step.
Dates, locations and terms change often. Always confirm directly with the auction house or agency before you travel or bid. Montréal Auctions is not affiliated with any organization listed here and sells nothing.
Where do these vehicles come from?
In Montréal, a vehicle can be immobilized with a Denver boot and towed when traffic tickets remain unpaid despite reminders, as reported by La Presse. The vehicle is then sold by a bailiff. Every sale of seized property is preceded by a notice in the Registre des ventes, at least 30 days before the sale date (Québec.ca – Avis de vente).
The two weekly sales to know
| Valade et associés | CBL Huissiers | |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing | Wednesday, 1–3 p.m. | Wednesday, 1–3 p.m. |
| Location | 9405 boul. Saint-Michel | 9405 boul. Saint-Michel |
| Award | Thursday, noon | Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. |
| Payment | Within one hour (Interac or at the office) | Within one hour (Interac) |
| Pickup | Same day before 4 p.m. | Same day before 4 p.m. |
Sources: Valade – vente sabot, CBL – Denver Boot Vehicle Sales. Listings: Valade, CBL.
Step by step
- Pick a vehicle on the bailiff’s page and note the offer deadline.
- Go see it on Wednesday. Check the body, tires, leaks and odometer. Bring a flashlight.
- Run your checks before you make an offer (see below).
- Submit your offer using the bailiff’s form. Budget for towing if there are no keys.
- If your offer wins, pay within the hour, sign the contract and pick up the vehicle before 4 p.m.
- Register it with the SAAQ.
Checks before making an offer
- Liens on the vehicle: the SAAQ recommends searching the Register of Personal and Movable Real Rights (RDPRM) to make sure the vehicle is free of debt (SAAQ).
- Ownership history: available from the SAAQ through SAAQclic, for a fee. It shows, among other things, whether the vehicle was rebuilt and how it was used.
- Stolen vehicle: Québec’s consumer protection office (OPC) also suggests checking the Canadian Police Information Centre (OPC).
Registering the vehicle
A vehicle that isn’t allowed on the road, or that was stored off-road for a year or more, must pass a mechanical inspection at an SAAQ-authorized agent before it can go back on the road. The date the previous owner took it off the road is what counts (SAAQ). Factor that time and cost into your offer.
Other ways to buy a vehicle at auction
- CAG – Québec government vehicles
- GCSurplus – federal vehicles
- City of Laval – municipal auction
- ADESA – public auction and IAA Montreal West (salvage vehicles)
Frequently asked questions
Is it a real auction with an auctioneer?
Not really. At both Valade et associés and CBL Huissiers, these are private-agreement sales under judicial authority: you submit an offer before a deadline and the bailiff accepts a commercially reasonable one.
Can I test-drive the vehicle?
Both firms let you view vehicles on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the storage lot. CBL states that vehicles are sold as is and without keys.
Does the Montréal police (SPVM) hold vehicle auctions?
We found no official source confirming public vehicle auctions run by the SPVM. The seized-vehicle sales we could verify go through bailiffs. Québec government vehicles are sold by the CAG.
How long do I have to pick up the vehicle?
At Valade and CBL, you must pick it up the same day before 4 p.m., or daily storage fees apply.
Information checked on 2026-10-27.