Who is allowed to complete a FIN-320 in British Columbia?

The FIN 320 form states it must be completed by a motor dealer registered under the BC Motor Dealer Act, a person authorized to carry on a similar business in another jurisdiction, or "a person whose business it is to appraise motor vehicles." Bulletin PST 308 repeats the same requirement. IC Appraisal BC qualifies under the third category, and the appraiser signs the Part 5 certification on every form.

How does BC decide how much PST you pay on a private vehicle sale?

PST is charged on the greater of the purchase price or the average wholesale value, which Bulletin PST 308 defines as the Canadian Black Book value. If you believe the vehicle is worth less than that, you may provide a completed FIN 320. The bulletin then says that where the appraised value and the purchase price are both below the average wholesale value, PST is calculated on the greater of the appraised value and the purchase price.

What is the difference between a FIN-320 and a FIN-355MV?

The FIN 320 is the appraisal; the FIN 355/MV is the refund application. You present a FIN 320 when you register the vehicle to have PST charged on the appraised value in the first place. If PST has already been paid, the FIN 320 instead becomes an attachment to a FIN 355/MV refund claim, which the Ministry of Finance must receive within 30 days of the registration date.

Can the seller get the appraisal, or does it have to be the buyer?

Either. Bulletin PST 308 states that appraisals "may be obtained by the purchaser or seller of the motor vehicle." In practice the buyer usually orders it, because the buyer is the one paying the PST.

ICBC Appraisal Form Guide: FIN-320 Step-by-Step

The ICBC appraisal form is FIN-320, a one-page certified motor vehicle appraisal. This guide walks through what goes on each line, who actually fills it out, the most common mistakes, and how the completed form moves through your broker or ICBC adjuster.

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Why buyers use this page

FIN-320 is the official BC motor vehicle appraisal form, used by ICBC, brokers, and the Consumer Tax Branch
It must be signed by a qualified appraiser, not the buyer or seller
It documents vehicle identification, condition, mileage, trim, and appraised value
It is used for PST support at registration, total loss disputes, transfers, and refund applications

ICBC Appraisal Form Guide

The form looks simple. The mistakes are not. FIN-320 is a one-page appraisal certificate that documents a specific vehicle and its appraised value, and it is signed by a qualified appraiser, not the buyer or seller. Many BC drivers see the form for the first time at an Autoplan broker counter, get told they need one, and have no idea what they are looking at. This page is the explainer that should have come first.

Who fills out FIN-320

The most common confusion is that buyers think they fill out FIN-320 themselves. They do not. FIN-320 is a certified appraisal form, signed by a qualified motor vehicle appraiser. The buyer provides the documentation (bill of sale, photos, mileage, history), the appraiser inspects the file, and the appraiser signs and certifies the appraised value. Brokers and ICBC adjusters rely on that signature.

Line-by-line walkthrough

The form has a small number of fields, each of which matters.

Vehicle identification

Year, make, model, trim, VIN, and licence plate number. These have to match the APV9T and bill of sale exactly. Typos here are a common reason brokers reject a file.

Mileage

Odometer reading on the date of appraisal. Photo evidence of the odometer is included with the file. The mileage is what most often justifies a value below Black Book.

Condition notes

Honest description of damage, wear, mechanical issues, missing parts, repairs needed, paint quality, and interior condition. This is what differentiates the appraisal from a generic reference value.

Appraised value

The certified market value supported by the comparable evidence and condition notes. The appraiser signs and dates this line.

Appraiser certification

Name, signature, qualifications, and contact information of the qualified appraiser. The signature is what makes the form legally usable.

Common mistakes that get FIN-320 files rejected

Most rejections come from the same handful of issues.

VIN typos

Even one wrong character causes a mismatch with the APV9T or bill of sale. Always double-check.

Missing photos

A FIN-320 prepared without odometer, VIN plate, and condition photos is at risk if the broker or Consumer Tax Branch wants to verify the file.

Buyer-completed form

Forms filled out by the buyer or seller without a qualified appraiser signature are not usable. Brokers will reject them.

Dated reference comparables

Comparable-sales evidence should be recent. Old listings undermine the appraised value if the file is reviewed.

How the form moves through the system

You provide vehicle details, paperwork, and photos to a qualified appraiser.

The appraiser reviews the file, prepares the FIN-320, and signs it.

You receive the signed FIN-320 by email and forward it to your Autoplan broker, ICBC adjuster, or attach it to your FIN-355MV refund file.

ICBC Appraisal Form Guide FAQ

Who fills out the FIN-320 form?

A qualified motor vehicle appraiser, not the buyer or seller. The buyer provides documentation; the appraiser certifies the value.

Where do I get the FIN-320 form?

The blank form is on the BC government website, but a blank form on its own is not usable. The signed certified version comes from a qualified appraiser.

How much does it cost to get a FIN-320 done?

IC Appraisal BC charges $75 flat plus tax for the FIN-320 appraisal service.

Do I need to inspect the vehicle in person?

Not for most BC private-sale PST cases. A complete photo set, the bill of sale, the APV9T, and condition notes are usually enough for a remote appraisal.

How long is a FIN-320 valid?

It reflects the value at the date of appraisal. For PST support at registration, it should be recent (typically within days, not weeks). For total loss or refund applications, it documents the value at the relevant date and that timing is what matters.

What if my Autoplan broker rejects the FIN-320?

The most common rejection reasons are VIN typos, missing photos, or out-of-date comparables. A properly completed FIN-320 from a qualified appraiser is accepted by Autoplan brokers across BC. If yours is rejected, contact us with the broker reason and we will review.

Helpful next steps

Use these supporting pages to keep moving.

How the remote appraisal process works

Order a FIN-320 now

FIN-320 vehicle photo checklist

ICBC appraisal use cases

FIN-320 appraisal service details

FIN-320 vs FIN-355 decision guide

FIN-355 refund walkthrough

Key facts, sources and verification

Form: FIN 320, Motor Vehicle Appraisal Form
Governing legislation: Provincial Sales Tax Act (British Columbia)
Value reported: Expected retail value on a private sale. The form states the appraised value is not a trade in figure.
What the value rests on: The specific vehicle: odometer, damage, mechanical condition, whether it runs, and its documented history. Not a lookup from the VIN alone.
Who may complete it: A registered motor dealer, an equivalent business in another jurisdiction, or a person whose business it is to appraise motor vehicles
Area served: All of British Columbia, handled remotely
Provider: IC Appraisal BC
Standard fee: $75 plus tax for an accepted standard remote FIN 320 file
Part 5 matters: The appraiser signs a certification that the information is true and complete, and the form warns that false or incomplete information may result in penalties, fines or imprisonment.

Quick answers

Who is allowed to complete a FIN-320 in British Columbia?: The FIN 320 form states it must be completed by a motor dealer registered under the BC Motor Dealer Act, a person authorized to carry on a similar business in another jurisdiction, or "a person whose business it is to appraise motor vehicles." Bulletin PST 308 repeats the same requirement. IC Appraisal BC qualifies under the third category, and the appraiser signs the Part 5 certification on every form.
How does BC decide how much PST you pay on a private vehicle sale?: PST is charged on the greater of the purchase price or the average wholesale value, which Bulletin PST 308 defines as the Canadian Black Book value. If you believe the vehicle is worth less than that, you may provide a completed FIN 320. The bulletin then says that where the appraised value and the purchase price are both below the average wholesale value, PST is calculated on the greater of the appraised value and the purchase price.
What value does a FIN-320 actually report?: Retail value, not a trade in figure. The form itself carries the note that the appraised value "is NOT intended to be trade-in value but represents the expected retail value when a motor vehicle is sold privately." This is the single most common misunderstanding, and quoting a trade-in figure on a FIN 320 is a defect in the form.
What is the difference between a FIN-320 and a FIN-355MV?: The FIN 320 is the appraisal; the FIN 355/MV is the refund application. You present a FIN 320 when you register the vehicle to have PST charged on the appraised value in the first place. If PST has already been paid, the FIN 320 instead becomes an attachment to a FIN 355/MV refund claim, which the Ministry of Finance must receive within 30 days of the registration date.
Can the seller get the appraisal, or does it have to be the buyer?: Either. Bulletin PST 308 states that appraisals "may be obtained by the purchaser or seller of the motor vehicle." In practice the buyer usually orders it, because the buyer is the one paying the PST.

Sources

The statements above are drawn from the following primary documents. Each was checked against the source on the verification date below.

Canadian Black Book returns one number from the VIN. It does not account for kilometres, damage, mechanical condition, or whether the vehicle runs at all. A FIN 320 appraisal is built on those things, which is why it produces a figure the Ministry of Finance accepts. The form itself states the appraised value “is NOT intended to be trade-in value but represents the expected retail value when a motor vehicle is sold privately”.

Verified against the source documents on 1 September 2026.

This page is general information about British Columbia vehicle appraisal and PST, not legal or tax advice. PST is assessed by the BC Ministry of Finance and registration is handled by ICBC and Autoplan brokers, so the amount of tax owing or refunded on any particular vehicle is determined by them, not by the appraiser. Figures quoted from government publications were verified against the source documents on the date shown.

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