Buy and transfer a registered vehicle

The vehicle transfer form has been designed to guide you through your vehicle purchase. Use this form for the transfer of: 

• cars
• trucks
• motorcycles
• caravans and
• trailers. 

To ensure your transfer goes smoothly, it's a good idea to refer to the pre-transfer checklist on the form to make sure you've completed all the steps correctly.

Download the vehicle transfer form [PDF 678 Kb].

Check the vehicle registration status

Complete a registration check to confirm: 

• the Victorian registration is current (i.e. is not suspended or cancelled) 
• the vehicle is not subject to any sanctions on the purchase date that will prevent the registration transfer.

Use the Personal Property Security Register (PPSR) (External link) or call 1300 007 777 to check the vehicle:

• has no money owing on it
• hasn’t been reported stolen or 
• hasn’t been recorded as written-off.

Ensure you’ve got a VicRoads customer number 

You'll need a VicRoads customer number to complete the transfer form. This is a unique number issued by VicRoads to individuals or companies.

For individuals

Your VicRoads customer number is your:

• learner permit or 
• driver licence number. 

If you don’t have a licence but have a vehicle registered in your name, the customer number is recorded on your registration renewal notice.

If you don’t have a Victorian licence or VicRoads customer number, you must visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre and provide full evidence of identity documents. 

For companies

The VicRoads customer number of your company is:

• on your company’s myVicRoads account or
• on any registration renewal notice issued for vehicles registered in your company’s name.

If your company doesn’t have a VicRoads customer number, you must visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre and provide full evidence of identity documents for your company.

The personal details of the individual acting on behalf of your company will also need to be recorded on the transfer form.

Get a roadworthy certificate 

You’ll need an original roadworthy certificate issued not more than 30 days before the date of sale. Some vehicles and transfer types don’t need a roadworthy, visit transfer fees and roadworthy exemptions for more information.

Zero and Low Emission Vehicles (ZLEVs)

If you are selling a ZLEV, you will need to take a photograph of the odometer before selling the vehicle and submit the closing odometer reading declaration through your myVicRoads account. This will generate a Road Usage Charge Invoice for the distance travelled. You can also provide the declaration at a Customer Service Centre if you do not have a myVicRoads account.

Failing to provide the closing odometer declaration will result in the calculation of the Road Usage Charge pro-rata* invoice based on a yearly travelled estimate of 13,500km. (*If a ZLEV operator has had a vehicle registered in their name for 179 days, then their usage estimate will be 13,500km/365 x 179 = 6,620km.)

Before you buy the vehicle

Check that the person selling the vehicle is the registered operator and has the right to transfer the vehicle.

You should ask for:

• photo identification and
• the vehicles certificate of registration/registration renewal or
• confirm that the vehicle is recorded in the sellers myVicRoads account

Check that the vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis number (stamped on the physical vehicle) matches the certificate of registration, registration renewal or registration check details.

Complete the transfer form with the seller

Either you or the seller must download the vehicle transfer form [PDF 678 Kb] or get one from a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.

To complete the form:

1. Check that the seller has completed the ‘seller details’ section correctly.
   a. If the seller is selling the vehicle on behalf of a company, their personal details must be recorded in the appropriate ‘Representative’ section of the transfer form.
2. Complete the ‘buyer details’ section, including your VicRoads licence/customer number.
   a. If you are buying the vehicle on behalf of a company, your personal details must be recorded in the appropriate ‘Representative’ section of the transfer form.
   b. If you intend for a representative to lodge the transfer on your behalf, ensure that their details are recorded in the ‘Representative’ section of the vehicle transfer form
3. Determine the transfer fee and motor vehicle duty applicable using the transfer fee calculator on this page.
4. Ensure both you and the seller sign the completed transfer form.
5. Take a photo (or photocopy) of the completed form to make sure you have proof of transfer.

Make sure that all the details on the transfer form are complete and correct. Otherwise the transfer will not be processed.

Write a receipt as proof of purchase

When buying the vehicle, we recommend that you and the seller write a ‘receipt as proof of purchase and ownership’ and keep a copy (photo) for your records. 

VicRoads has a receipt template that you can use to ensure you’ve recorded all the information you need, but if you don’t want to use this template then make sure your receipt includes:

• date and time of sale
• your name and address
• the seller’s name, address and signature
• the vehicle’s registration number, VIN or chassis number, make and model.

Download the receipt template [PDF 513 Kb] 

Within 14 days of buying the vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, caravan or trailer), you need to provide VicRoads with the complete transfer requirements.

The easiest way to do this is online via your Personal myVicRoads account (the function is not available in Business myVicRoads accounts). 

To complete your transfer requirements online, the seller must first submit an online 'Notice of Disposal' via their myVicRoads account to notify VicRoads of the transfer. When the seller notifies VicRoads of the transfer, the vehicle will be transferred into your name and displayed in your myVicRoads account the next day. 

If you have purchased a Zero and Low Emission Vehicle (ZLEV), you will be required to provide an opening odometer reading along with a photograph of the dashboard. You can provide this online via your myVicroads account or at a Customer Service Centre. If you don’t provide the opening declaration within 14 days, your registration may be suspended.  

Complete the transfer online

To complete a transfer online you need to provide:

• details and a scan/photo of your original roadworthy certificate issued not more than 30 days before the date of sale, and 
• payment of the transfer fee and motor vehicle duty (if applicable)

If you don’t complete the transfer within 14 days, your registration may be suspended.  

Sometimes it's not possible to transfer registration online. You'll need to visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre to complete your transfer if any of the following apply:

• the seller hasn’t submitted the Notice of Disposal to your myVicRoads account
• you've bought the vehicle on behalf of an organisation/company 
• you're eligible for a roadworthy certificate or motor vehicle duty exemption

If you visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre make sure you bring:

• valid evidence of identity
• a completed vehicle transfer form [PDF 678 Kb], signed by the you and the seller
• an original and valid roadworthy certificate, unless exempt
• payment of motor vehicle duty and transfer fees, unless exempt
• any documentation required as evidence of your exemption eligibility.