You must let us know immediately when you’ve sold a vehicle. The
Thequickest and easiest way to let us know you’ve sold a vehicle is online . Otherwise you can pick up a form at one of our agents and post it to us.Ask the buyer to give you a transfer receipt to show they are registered in respect of the vehicle before you hand over the vehicle.
Checklist
Make sure:
- you’ve paid all outstanding licence fees
- road user charges (RUC) are up-to-date
- the vehicle has a warrant of fitness (WoF) that is no more than one month old when the buyer takes possession.
You must notify us of the sale immediately. If you don’t, you may receive the new registered person’s:
- speed camera fines
- parking tickets
- vehicle licensing fees
- fines for not displaying a vehicle licensing label
- fines for not displaying a current WoF.
Protect yourself
Wait for the buyer to show you proof that they’ve notified us that they've bought the vehicle before handing over the vehicle.
Get the buyer to do it online while you are there, or get them to show you an email confirmation or receipt.
If you don't let us know you've sold a vehicleWhat happens next?
When the Motor Vehicle Register is updated with your notification, you will be sent a letter acknowledging that the form has been received and confirming whether the buyer has completed their notice. (Please note that sometimes exceptions exist that prevent a letter being sent.)
What happens if I don't notify a sale or acquisition?
If you don’t notify us of the sale, you could get a fine of up to $1000 as an individual and $5000 if a company.
If you sell a vehicle to a motor vehicle trader, they may complete some or all of the notification process on your behalf. However, you should always confirm that the trader has completed this process.
What happens next?
When the Motor Vehicle Register is updated with your notification, you will be sent a letter acknowledging that the form has been received and confirming whether the buyer has completed their notice. (Please note that sometimes exceptions exist that prevent a letter being sent.)
Warrant of fitness required
Buyers can insist on a WoF being less than one month old. This helps protect them if faults have developed in the vehicle since the last WoF check.
If the buyer doesn’t insist on this, they should give the seller written confirmation that they accept that the WoF is older than one month old. This protects the seller – it confirms that the buyer is aware that the current WoF is older than one month.
Vehicles without a current WoF must be advertised for sale ‘as is, where is’. If the buyer is happy with that, they should give the seller a written undertaking that the vehicle won't be used on the road except for taking it for repair or a new WoF inspection.
Can I sell an unlicensed or unregistered vehicle?
You can sell an unlicensed vehicle, but you are liable for any outstanding licence fees up to the date of the sale and acquisition.
If you sell an unregistered vehicle, the buyer will need to have the vehicle reregistered.
Find out more about the reregistration process