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.
Both sections need to be filled in, 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.
Provide the ‘Notice of disposal’ section to Access Canberra.
Lost, damaged or destroyed registration papers
If you have don’t have the registration papers you must supply a receipt or invoice to the buyer:
Print and complete the Notice of disposal [PDF 144KB] 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.
Notifying Access Canberra
Submit the completed 'Notice of disposal' to Access Canberra:
- online
- by email to lara@act.gov.au
- by post to PO Box 582, Dickson ACT 2602
- in person at an Access Canberra Service Centre.
Keep a copy for your records.
Submitting the Notice of disposal, positively identifying the purchaser, and signed by joint operator if applicable, will mean you no longer receive registration reminders or infringements for the vehicle.
The notice of disposal won’t be recorded if all details aren’t filled in. This will mean you’ll continue to receive any infringements.
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.
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.