Sell and transfer a registered vehicle

When you sell or give as a gift a Victorian registered vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle or trailer), the buyer must notify VicRoads of the vehicle transfer within 14 days of taking possession of the vehicle.

Notify VicRoads of your transfer online

No more waiting for the buyer to complete the transfer, simply notify VicRoads of your vehicle transfer online via your myVicRoads personal account.

You won't be able to submit your transfer online if you don't know the buyer details or if the buyer does not have a Victorian licence/customer number.

All VicRoads accounts offer two-step verification by SMS or authenticator app.

Login to myVicRoads

If you’re selling a vehicle privately you’ll need: 

How to sell your car

This video 'Transferring registration - Selling Your Car' explains the steps you need to follow to sell a registered vehicle.

The vehicle transfer form has been designed to guide you through your vehicle sale. 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

Show proof of the right to transfer

As the current registered operator of the vehicle, you'll need to ensure the vehicle registration is current and not subject to any registration sanctions (e.g. Fines Victoria) and provide proof to the buyer that you have the right to transfer the registration.

You’ll need to show: 

  • some photo identification 
  • a copy of the vehicle’s registration certificate/renewal, or 
  • if you have a myVicRoads account you can show that the vehicle is recorded in your account.

If your vehicle is under finance, you’ll need to ensure that this has been paid out in full prior to transfer.

Decide if you want to keep your custom plates

Keeping your custom plates

If you have custom number plates and want to keep them, you’ll need to visit VicRoads, pay the fee for VicRoads to issue new number plates and attach them to the vehicle before you complete the sale.

Selling your vehicle with custom plates attached

If you transfer the vehicle with your custom number plates attached, the registration number rights to the custom plates will be transferred to the buyer.

Get a roadworthy certificate 

You’ll need an original roadworthy certificate issued within 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.

Before you complete the sale

Show the buyer some photo identification and proof of your right to transfer (refer to Step 2).

Check the buyer’s identity and ensure that the buyer has a Victorian licence/VicRoads customer number. If the buyer is going to keep the car registered in Victoria and doesn’t have a VicRoads customer number, they’ll need to visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with evidence of identity documents to get their customer number.

If you sell your vehicle to an interstate buyer who doesn’t have a VicRoads customer number, we recommend that you sell the vehicle unregistered.

Write a receipt as proof of purchase

When buying the vehicle, we recommend that you and the buyer 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 buyer’s name, address and signature 
  • the vehicle’s registration number, VIN or chassis number, make and model.

Download a receipt template [513 Kb].

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

  1. Complete the ‘seller details’ section, including your VicRoads licence/customer number
    a. If you're selling 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 appropriate ‘Representative’ section of the vehicle transfer form
  2. Check that the 'buyer details' section has been completed correctly by the buyer.
  3. Ensure both you and the buyer sign the completed transfer form
  4. Take a photo (or photocopy) of the form once completed 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.

The buyer must submit the transfer paperwork and payment within 14 days. If the buyer fails to submit the transfer, you may be liable for any traffic offences that the buyer may incur.

Should this occur, visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with your copy of the completed vehicle transfer form and valid evidence of identity to initiate the transfer yourself.

Don’t forget to update your toll operator, roadside assistance and insurance accounts.

Until VicRoads is notified of a transfer, you are still liable for any traffic offences incurred. To protect yourself, don’t rely on the buyer to notify VicRoads of the transfer, as they have up to 14 days to do so. 

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

  1. Login to your myVicRoads account
  2. Select the vehicle you’re transferring to the buyer and click ‘Transfer vehicle.’
  3. If the vehicle is eligible for transfer, you’ll land on Step 1 of the 'Notice of Disposal.'
  4. Read the instructions before proceeding to Step 2, as you can’t complete this process if:
  1. the buyer does not have a Victorian licence / customer number or
  2. you don’t know the buyer details.
  1. Enter the buyer and transfer details on Steps 2 and Step 3
  2. Review and submit the transfer - the vehicle will be out of your name within 2 business days.

Unable to submit the Notice of Disposal online

If you’re unable to submit the Notice of Disposal online and you want to protect yourself, visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with your copy of the completed vehicle transfer form and valid evidence of identity to initiate the transfer. 

If you (or a third party acting on your behalf) visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre to notify VicRoads of the transfer of a vehicle in your name to another person or company, when:

  • There are outstanding transfer fee and/or motor vehicle duty requirements from when you acquired the vehicle, you will be required to pay the outstanding fees before the notice of disposal can be processed.
  • There is an outstanding RWC requirement from when you acquired the vehicle,
    • You will be required to provide a RWC if the new registered operator is your current/former spouse/domestic partner before the notice of disposal can be processed.
    • In all other cases, you will not be required to provide a RWC, the new buyer is required to provide this. 

You will also be prevented from transferring a vehicle in your name via your myVicRoads account until outstanding requirements are complete.

When a transfer is lodged on your behalf

If someone else is lodging the transfer with VicRoads on your behalf, ensure that their details are recorded in the ‘Representative’ fields on the vehicle transfer form and that they bring their evidence of identity to VicRoads

Selling to a car dealer

When you sell a vehicle to car dealer, it's the dealer’s responsibility to complete the steps to transfer the vehicle out of your name. All you need to do is sign the vehicle transfer form and keep a copy as proof of transfer.

Interstate vehicle sales 

Visit the interstate transfers page to find information on:

  • Selling a Victorian vehicle to an interstate buyer.
  • Selling a Victorian vehicle to an overseas licenced driver. 

Other types of transfers

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