Research checked 11 September 2026. Australian passenger cars and light vehicles.
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Your local handover rules
Ordinary local registered-car transactions. Confirm exemptions and current forms.
NSW / New South Wales
- Seller: Lodge a notice of disposal immediately after sale; retain confirmation.
- Buyer: Transfer a NSW-registered vehicle within 14 days.
- Check registration and inspection requirements for your transaction. Interstate purchases and some transfers need a service-centre visit. Service NSW: notice of disposal (opens in a new tab) Service NSW: transfer registration (opens in a new tab)
VIC / Victoria
- Seller: Notify VicRoads within 14 days; provide the required roadworthy certificate unless exempt.
- Buyer: Notify VicRoads within 14 days of purchase; the seller starts the online transfer.
- A roadworthy certificate remains current for 30 days. Check exemptions and certificate timing before sale. For interstate buyers, VicRoads recommends cancelling rego and removing plates. VicRoads: selling a vehicle (opens in a new tab) VicRoads: buying a vehicle (opens in a new tab)
QLD / Queensland
- Seller: Complete the seller transfer steps and keep buyer-signed Part B. Supply the required current safety certificate before disposal, unless exempt.
- Buyer: Finalise registration transfer within 14 days.
- Private certificate: 2 months or 2,000 km; dealer: 3 months or 1,000 km, whichever comes first. A certificate is not needed just to advertise. Check gas-certificate requirements if fitted. Queensland: transfer registration (opens in a new tab) Queensland: safety certificates (opens in a new tab)
WA / Western Australia
- Seller: Notify Transport WA within 7 days; use DoTDirect or the appropriate MR9 process.
- Buyer: Notify the transfer within 14 days and pay the issued transfer/duty charges.
- Check optional-plate transfer, licence concessions and inspection requirements for interstate or unlicensed vehicles before collection. Transport WA: sell a vehicle (opens in a new tab) Transport WA: buy a vehicle (opens in a new tab)
These are local-transfer summaries. Interstate purchases require destination registration checks; do not treat a local transfer deadline as permission to drive an unregistered car.
Your local handover rules
Ordinary local registered-car transactions. Confirm exemptions and current forms.
SA / South Australia
- Seller: Lodge the disposal notice within 14 days; give the buyer the signed transfer information.
- Buyer: Transfer an SA-registered vehicle within 14 days.
- Check registration status, transfer eligibility and any inspection requirements for interstate, modified or defected vehicles. SA driver handbook: seller responsibilities (opens in a new tab) SA Government: transfer registration (opens in a new tab)
TAS / Tasmania
- Seller: Submit the notice of disposal within 7 days.
- Buyer: Transfer the registration within 14 days.
- Check online eligibility, registration status and any special inspection requirements. Resolve TasPlates ownership and ongoing fees before handover. Service Tasmania: dispose of registration (opens in a new tab) Service Tasmania: transfer registration (opens in a new tab)
ACT / Australian Capital Territory
- Seller: Complete the signed transfer and disposal documents; notify Access Canberra promptly and keep proof.
- Buyer: Transfer ACT registration within 14 days. Private buyers generally attend an Access Canberra Service Centre.
- Roadworthy inspection is required on transfer for vehicles over 6 years old. Interstate and other registration scenarios have additional inspection triggers. Access Canberra: selling an ACT vehicle (opens in a new tab) Access Canberra: registration and transfer (opens in a new tab) Access Canberra: roadworthy inspections (opens in a new tab)
NT / Northern Territory
- Seller: Submit a notice of disposal to MVR within 14 days.
- Buyer: Apply for ownership transfer within 14 days; check the MVR process and required documents.
- From 9 February 2026, the light-vehicle transfer table requires an inspection for vehicles 7 years or older; buyer or seller may arrange it. First NT registration has separate compliance requirements. NT Government: seller responsibilities (opens in a new tab) NT Government: inspection requirements (opens in a new tab) NT Government: register or transfer a vehicle (opens in a new tab) NT Government: buyer responsibilities (opens in a new tab)
These are local-transfer summaries. Interstate purchases require destination registration checks; do not treat a local transfer deadline as permission to drive an unregistered car.
Keep your next move on MotorLoop
Compare cars or prepare your listing at motorloop.com.au (opens in a new tab). Use accurate vehicle details and supporting records to make your next buying or selling conversation more useful.
Research sources
- Service NSW: notice of disposal (opens in a new tab)
- Service NSW: transfer registration (opens in a new tab)
- VicRoads: selling a vehicle (opens in a new tab)
- VicRoads: buying a vehicle (opens in a new tab)
- Queensland: transfer registration (opens in a new tab)
- Queensland: safety certificates (opens in a new tab)
- Transport WA: sell a vehicle (opens in a new tab)
- Transport WA: buy a vehicle (opens in a new tab)
- SA driver handbook: seller responsibilities (opens in a new tab)
- SA Government: transfer registration (opens in a new tab)
- Service Tasmania: dispose of registration (opens in a new tab)
- Service Tasmania: transfer registration (opens in a new tab)
- Access Canberra: selling an ACT vehicle (opens in a new tab)
- Access Canberra: registration and transfer (opens in a new tab)
- Access Canberra: roadworthy inspections (opens in a new tab)
- NT Government: seller responsibilities (opens in a new tab)
- NT Government: inspection requirements (opens in a new tab)
- NT Government: register or transfer a vehicle (opens in a new tab)
- NT Government: buyer responsibilities (opens in a new tab)
General information only. Verify current government rules and vehicle-specific contract terms before committing. Auctions, imports, write-offs, deceased estates and commercial-use vehicles can require additional checks.