A vehicle can be sold with or without registration. Buyers of a registered vehicle must lodge an application to transfer the registration within 14 days of the sale. Your responsibilities when buying or selling a vehicle depend on whether the vehicle is registered or unregistered.

When buying from a vehicle dealer, the dealer is responsible for sending all required paperwork to VicRoads.


Buying or selling a registered vehicle
A registered vehicle must be sold with a Roadworthy Certificate. You can still transfer registration up to 3 months after it expires. After this time the registration will be cancelled.

Seller’s responsibilities

• provide the buyer with a Roadworthy Certificate that is no more than 30 days old when the sale takes place.
• fill in the ‘seller’ part of the vehicle registration transfer form [PDF 384KB].

Buyer’s responsibilities

• complete the ‘buyer’ part of the vehicle registration transfer form [PDF 384KB].
• submit the form, roadworthy certificate, transfer fee and Motor Vehicle Duty (see: registration fees) to VicRoads within 14 days of the sale.

To submit your transfer application:

• post it to: VicRoads, GPO Box 1644, Melbourne, VIC 3001 (cheque or money order)
• visit a Customer Service Centre (cash, cheque, EFTPOS, Visa or MasterCard).

Buying or selling an unregistered vehicle
An unregistered vehicle can be sold without a Roadworthy Certificate.

Seller’s responsibilities

• cancel vehicle registration, remove number plates and return them to VicRoads. Refunds on registration are available if you cancel registration before it expires and the registration was in your name.

Buyer’s responsibilities

• ask the seller for a receipt and keep this as proof of purchase and ownership. 
• get an Unregistered Vehicle Permit (if you want to drive the vehicle home)
• register the vehicle (if it will be used for driving on the roads), see: light vehicle registration.

Check vehicle details before purchase
Learn more about a vehicle before you buy, such as if it’s been reported stolen, written-off or has money owing on it. See: Check vehicle details before purchase.


Exemptions from registration transfer requirements

• trailers under 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass are exempt from Certificate of Roadworthiness and from paying motor vehicle duty
• transfer between domestic partners (eg. a husband and wife) can be exempt from Certificate of Roadworthiness and from paying motor vehicle duty
• recreational motorcycles are exempt from Certificate of Roadworthiness
• beneficiaries of deceased estates with will or without a will may be exempt from Certificate of Roadworthiness and/or paying transfer fees and/or paying motor vehicle duty.