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Selling an ACT registered vehicle

Sellers have obligations when they sell registered vehicles.

Selling to a buyer in the ACT

When you sell your ACT registered vehicle to a buyer in the ACT, they must transfer registration to themselves within 14 days of the date of sale.

If the registration isn’t transferred within 14 days a late fee will apply when they transfer registration.

Read about transferring registration.

Seller obligations

When you sell the vehicle, complete the 'Application to transfer vehicle registration' and the 'Notice of disposal' on the back of your current registration certificate.

Make sure it is completed in full, signed and dated, by you (and the other person if it’s jointly operated) and the person buying the vehicle.

Give the buyer the ‘Application to transfer vehicle registration section’ of the document. They need to present this when they transfer registration.

Keep the ‘Notice of disposal’ so you can notify Access Canberra of the sale.

Lost, damaged or destroyed registration papers

If you don’t have the registration papers you must supply a receipt or invoice to the buyer:

Print and complete the Notice of disposal [PDF 188 KB] form.

Give the buyer the invoice or receipt for the vehicle. A copy of the notice of disposal can also be used as a receipt. They need to present this when they transfer registration.

Make sure to keep a copy of the 'Notice of disposal' document for your records.

Hand-written or self-made receipts

For private sales, a handwritten receipt is acceptable, if it contains all of the following:

  • vehicle details (minimum of plate numberplate or Vehicle Identity Number (VIN))
  • sale date
  • sellers’ details (minimum of full name or licence number)
  • sellers’ signature (both signatures if in joint names)
  • buyer’s details (minimum of name or licence number)
  • price for which the vehicle was sold.

The receipt must clearly state the sale of the vehicle from the seller to the buyer.

Selling to an interstate buyer

If you sell your vehicle to an interstate buyer, you will need to follow the same process as you would if you were selling your vehicle in the ACT.

The buyer will need to contact the appropriate authority in their state or territory to find out what they need to do.

Keep a copy of the 'Notice of disposal' document so you can notify Access Canberra of the sale.

Notifying Access Canberra

ACT licence holders can complete a notice of disposal online. You will need the following information:

  • your ACT driver licence information
  • for vehicles registered in 2 names, the notice of disposal online must be completed together in one submission with both operators' ACT driver's licence information
  • the name and ACT driver's licence number of the buyer
  • the disposal date and sale price of the vehicle.

Submit your notice of disposal online

Notice of disposals can also be submitted:

Please keep a copy of the notice of disposal for your records.

Selling a vehicle with registration

Typically, sellers include the value of any remaining registration on a vehicle in the selling price.

If you sell the vehicle with current ACT registration, leave the numberplates on the vehicle.

Interstate buyers can surrender the numberplates in their home state or territory when they register the vehicle.

They can then get a refund for any unused ACT registration and Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) insurance.

Selling a vehicle without registration

If you want to sell the vehicle without registration you need to cancel the registration first and sell the vehicle without numberplates.

To cancel the registration and surrender the numberplates visit an Access Canberra Service Centre.

You can then get a refund for any unused ACT registration and Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) insurance when you cancel registration.

Read about cancelling vehicle registration.