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Sell a vehicle (transfer licence)

You must advise the Department within 7 days of selling a licensed vehicle. Failure to do so may result in a penalty.

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  Information for the seller

You have the choice of transferring your vehicle online through DoTDirect or by submitting a form in person or via post.

You must transfer your licensed vehicle within seven days of selling. Penalties may apply if you fail to do so.

If you submit your transfer via DoTDirect, a transfer form is not required by the Department. You may wish to keep proof of sale documents for your own records.

The seller and buyer do not have to complete the transfer in the same way. For example, the seller could transfer it online and the buyer could submit the transfer form.

Statutory declaration: Deceased estates (Form MR172) is the only form required if the vehicle being transferred is part of an Estate.

Sale of vehicle to an interstate purchaser

A WA licensed vehicle cannot be transferred to a person who is not a WA resident. If you want to sell a WA licensed vehicle interstate, you will need to either:

  • De-license the vehicle by returning the plates to DoT prior to the sale to an interstate buyer.
  • Re-license the vehicle in the new state or territory before selling the vehicle to an interstate buyer.

To claim a refund of any remaining part of the WA licence you will need to de-license the vehicle by returning the plates to the Department. This must be done before sale to an interstate buyer.

An interstate buyer of a WA licensed vehicle cannot claim a refund of the remaining part of a WA vehicle licence.

Once a vehicle is re-licensed in another state or territory, the WA licence is cancelled. No refund is payable to either the WA owner or the interstate buyer. Only the WA owner is entitled to a refund, provided the WA plates are returned to DoT prior to the sale.

  Selling a vehicle - Transfer options

As the buyer or seller you have the choice of transferring the vehicle online using DoTDirect or by submitting a form.

Option A: Transfer a vehicle via your online account

DoTDirect logo

Customers with DoTDirect online accounts can conveniently transfer vehicles online. You can even do it on your mobile phone.

Online vehicle transfers are available to individuals and all the information you need to transfer a vehicle out of your name is the buyer's driver's licence number and surname.

Some vehicles cannot be transferred online. These include vehicles that are:

  • Being transferred between spouses or de facto partners.
  • Heavy vehicles.
  • Issued with optional plates.
  • Part of a court order or deceased estate.
  • To be jointly owned.
  • Transferring to or from a company/organisation.
  • Where the seller, purchaser or vehicle cannot be matched to our records.

Make sure you give the vehicle licence document (rego papers) and any other applicable documentation to the purchaser of the vehicle. If you have a DoTDirect account you can purchase a copy of the vehicle licence document online if required. You will first be prompted to login to your account, if you don't have one use the prompts to set up your account.

Obtain a copy of vehicle licence documents

 

Option B: Transfer a vehicle via a form

 

If your vehicle cannot be transferred online, it can be transferred by submitting a Notification of Change of Ownership Vehicle Licence Transfer (MR9) form. Please complete Steps 1 to 4 below.

Note: For transferring a vehicle from an Estate, completion of form MR172 (Statutory Declaration: Deceased Estates) will be required. Please refer to our section on Transferring by court order or deceased estates for more information.

  Step 1:Obtain a copy of the vehicle licence transfer form

The Notification of change of ownership (Form MR9) form can be downloaded below or you can collect one from a Driver and Vehicle Services Centre or regional Agent.

  Step 2:Complete the Notification of change of ownership vehicle licence transfer (MR9) form

Both the seller and the buyer need to complete the MR9 transfer form together at the time of sale. Ensure that you complete all the information required on the form, including the declaration at the foot of the MR9 transfer form.

Note:

A downloaded copy of the vehicle transfer form is not carbonated. The seller’s copy and the buyer’s copy must be completed and signed by both.

From 1 July 2008, the section of the Stamp Act 1921 dealing with vehicle licence duty was replaced by the Duties Act 2008. Some commonly used terms have also changed:

  • Market value (for vehicles) is now known as dutiable value.
  • Stamp duty (for vehicles) is now known as vehicle licence duty.

The definition of dutiable value for a new vehicle may now mean,

  • the retail selling price published in an advertisement; or,
  • in a temporary pricing bulletin provided the manufacturer, importer or principal distributor is fixing the price for a specific promotional period.

For all other vehicles, dutiable value is the amount for which the vehicle might reasonably be sold, free of encumbrances on the open market.

  Step 3:Give the buyer the 'Purchaser's copy' (red) and other documents

You will need to forward the Seller's copy (blue) to the Department of Transport and give the Purchaser's copy (red) to the buyer.

Give the vehicle licence document (rego papers) and any other applicable documentation to the buyer of the vehicle.

If you have a DoTDirect account you can buy a copy of the vehicle licence document online if required. You will first need to login to your account, if you don't have one use the prompts to set up your account.

The buyer needs to complete the transfer of the vehicle and to ensure a Government approved immobiliser is fitted (if required). As a courtesy, please supply any information about the immobiliser to the buyer.

If the vehicle being sold is subject to a concession, you should tell the buyer of the concession.

It is recommended that you tell the buyer if the vehicle is subject to a concession rate as the buyer will need to restore the vehicle licence to full rates prior to the vehicle being driven on the road.

Until the vehicle licence has been restored to full rates, the vehicle licence will be deemed invalid, and the new vehicle owner will not be authorised to drive the vehicle. The continued use of the vehicle will be in contravention of the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Act 2012 (WA).

Obtain a copy of vehicle licence documents

  Step 4:Mail the 'Seller's copy' to DOT

You will need to mail the 'seller's copy' to the Department of Transport within 7 days from sale of the vehicle. The address is provided on the form. We recommend you keep a copy of the form for your records.

Page last updated: Fri Oct 20 2023 1:14:17 PM