Registration transfer is the buyer's obligation. But in most states it can't happen until the seller has done their part — which is why a surprising number of transfers stall, and why the confused phone call usually comes to the seller.
Here's who does what, and in what order, in each jurisdiction.
The order matters more than the paperwork. In Queensland and New South Wales the buyer literally cannot complete the transfer until the seller has lodged first.
The sequence, in general
- The seller lodges the notice of disposal. 7 days in WA and Tasmania, 14 in most of the rest, no stated deadline we could find for the ACT.
- The buyer applies to transfer, pays the transfer fee, and pays stamp or vehicle duty.
- Registration changes hands, and any inspection certificate the state required is part of the file.
Steps 1 and 2 are separate transactions with separate deadlines, lodged by different people. That's the bit that surprises people who expect a single form.
Who can do it online, and who goes first
New South Wales — online through Service NSW, with two conditions: the buyer needs a NSW driver licence, and the seller's notice of disposal has to be lodged first.
Victoria — transfers are now seller-initiated through myVicRoads, so the whole process starts with you rather than the buyer.
Queensland — online, but a strict two-step where the seller must go first. If you haven't lodged your disposal notice, the buyer's transfer simply won't proceed. This is the single most common cause of a stalled Queensland transfer.
Western Australia — online through DoTDirect. Remember the seller's 7-day deadline on the MR9.
South Australia — online through mySA GOV.
Tasmania — online, but both parties need a Tasmanian licence. An interstate buyer means the paper route.
The ACT — no online transfer for private individuals. In person at an Access Canberra service centre.
The Northern Territory — in person, by email or by mail. No online option for private transfers.
What the buyer pays
Two separate charges, and the second one is much larger than the first.
The transfer fee ranges from $20 in the Northern Territory and $20.50 in Western Australia at the low end, through South Australia at $33, Queensland at $33.65, Tasmania at $35.28 and Victoria at $47.50, up to the ACT at $51.70. New South Wales indexes its fees periodically — read the current figure there.
Stamp or vehicle duty is the bigger number, and the basis of the calculation differs by state — value bands, per-$100 rates, engine cylinder count in Queensland, CO₂ emissions in the ACT. Our cost breakdown has the basis for each with links; the rates themselves change too often to quote here.
Late transfers
Every jurisdiction gives the buyer a limited window, and late lodgement attracts a penalty. The ACT's is the one to warn a buyer about: a non-refundable additional fee of $139.50 on top of the transfer, which is more than double the transfer itself.
Check your state's current figure, and tell your buyer. A late fee they didn't know about becomes a conversation about whose fault it was.
What if the buyer never transfers it?
This is the scenario the notice of disposal exists for.
If you've lodged yours, the record shows you disposed of the vehicle, when, and to whom. If you haven't, you're relying on a stranger's paperwork to protect you from their driving — and the fines, tolls and infringements keep arriving in your name.
If it's already happened: contact your transport department, lodge the notice of disposal now even though it's late, and provide your receipt as evidence of the sale. This is exactly why the receipt matters — see what documents you need.
Transfers that aren't sales
Some transfers attract concessions or exemptions — between spouses, into or out of a deceased estate, or between related companies. The rules differ by state and the concessions are real money, so check your state's transfer page rather than paying the standard rate by default.
What this means if you're selling on MotorLoop
The transfer is between your buyer and your state — but your notice of disposal is what unblocks it, so lodge yours the day you sell. Listing a car on MotorLoop is free.