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How to Transfer Your Car Registration in Victoria
How to Transfer Your Car Registration in Victoria
Written by
Kervin Mathew
Edited by
Andrew Kemp
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettCompare car insurance policies the easy way
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What’s a vehicle registration?
Long story short
A rego is like your state’s official tick of approval for your car
It proves that your car is safe, easily identifiable, and includes cover for injury liabilities – but it isn’t proof that you own the car.
VicRoads handles rego transfers online or in person
Both buyer and seller complete their parts, then the buyer pays transfer fees and motor vehicle duty to seal the deal.
You’ll need to transfer rego when buying, selling, gifting, or moving interstate
All rego transfers require a good deal of paperwork, including transfer forms and often a roadworthy certificate.
Transferring registration comes with fees and other charges
You’ll likely pay transfer fees, motor vehicle duty, and for a roadworthy certificate – with some exemptions.
What’s a vehicle registration?
Put simply, a vehicle registration is like a stamp of approval from your state government saying that your car can be driven on public roads across Australia. VicRoads issues and manages car regos and costs in Victoria.
A vehicle registration:
- Proves that your car is safe to drive: You can only register your car if it meets minimum safety requirements.
- Makes it easy to identify your vehicle: Your number plates are unique to your car’s registration.
- Helps cover you for some liabilities: Your Victorian rego includes compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance which covers injuries you may cause to others while driving.
It’s important to note that registration doesn’t imply ownership. Rather a certificate of registration from VicRoads only proves that you’re a vehicle’s registered operator. What this means is that the registration holder is accountable for the car and will receive any fines or infringements, but it doesn’t serve as proof of ownership in the same way a receipt or invoice does.
When would I need to transfer a car rego in VIC?
When you buy or sell a car privately
If you buy a registered vehicle in a private sale, you have 14 days from the date of sale to transfer the car’s rego to yourself. This typically involves a bunch of paperwork, including forms and identity documents – so, it might help to brace for the journey!
If you’re selling a car, you also need to let VicRoads know. You and the buyer need to fill out a vehicle transfer form and you should keep retain a copy. You’ll also need to submit a Notice of Disposal form to VicRoads.
When you receive a car from a family member
Transferring registration between current or former spouses or domestic partners or between family members is also pretty much the same as the process connected to private sale – but it can only be done at a VicRoads customer service centre. You might need additional documents that verify your relationship status. You’ll also be exempt from paying motor vehicle duty fees.
When you transfer registrations interstate
If you’ve taken ownership of a car registered outside Victoria and plan on driving it in the ‘Garden State’, you can register it at a VicRoads customer service centre. This can involve:
- getting a roadworthy certificate or an unregistered vehicle permit
- booking an appointment with VicRoads, which could include a vehicle inspection
- cancelling your existing registration.
If you plan on selling your vehicle to someone outside Victoria, it’s recommended that you cancel your rego and remove the car’s number plates.
Helpful tip
If you’re buying and registering a used car in Victoria, compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance is included in the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) charge. Third-party or comprehensive car insurance is something you’d have to choose and buy yourself. If you’re looking for a deal on car insurance, comparing a range of policies is a great place to start!
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
How do I transfer car registration in Victoria?
When you get the keys to a car, you must transfer the car’s rego to your name. While the rego doesn’t prove that you’re the legal owner (for that you’ll need some form of proof of receipt) it’s an important step before you start driving the vehicle.
You can transfer a car’s rego to your name online on the myVicRoads app or on the VicRoads website using your myVicRoads account, or in person at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.
If you’re buying a car
Before you buy the car
Before you transfer a car’s rego to your name, you might need to check off a few of boxes.
- You should ask to see their certificate of registration, which they can do in their myVicRoads account or with the old-fashioned paper rego.
- Consider getting a VicRoads Vehicle Report or checking the vehicle’s registration status on the VicRoads website to see if it’s been reported stolen or written off.
- Get an unregistered vehicle permit if you plan to buy an unregistered car and drive it before it’s registered.
After the necessary checks, you can move on to buying the car and transferring its rego to your name. That’s where the seller comes in.
When you buy the car
Ask the seller to kick-start the rego transfer process in their myVicRoads account. Some sellers may prefer using a paper form – no worries. You can print out the transfer application form the VicRoads website and get the seller to fill it in as required.
It helps to have two copies of the completed form as both you and the seller will need it to move the rego transfer process along.
Note: Be sure to provide the seller with your Victorian licence number or your VicRoads customer number and your family name or an Australian Company Number, or ACN, if you’re buying for a company. In return, the seller should give you their details and a valid roadworthy certificate (RWC) if required.
After you buy the car
You’re in the home stretch!
You’ll need to complete the rego transfer online – that is, after you get an email notification from VicRoads that the seller has completed their part of the transfer.
Then you pay the transfer fee and motor vehicle duty, if required. And you’re done!
If you’re doing the transfer in person at a VicRoads customer service centre, you’ll need:
- a completed vehicle transfer form
- a valid RWC, if necessary
- two forms of identification, including photo ID (think a driver’s licence or passport)
- proof that you’ve paid any motor vehicle duty and transfer fees.
If you’re selling
Before you sell
- Get a myVicRoads account if possible (if you don’t already have one)
- Get an RWC unless the vehicle’s exempt
- Cancel any direct debits you’ve set up to pay your rego
- Print the registration transfer form and enter your details
- Enter the buyer’s details into your myVicRoads account to transfer ownership online.
When you’re selling
- Collect and enter the buyer’s details into the transfer form
- If applicable, provide the buyer with the car’s RWC
- Complete a notice of disposal using your myVicRoads account.
You should get an email from VicRoads within 24 hours of completing the notice of disposal confirming the vehicle’s transfer.
After selling
That’s it!
It’s a good idea to keep all copies of all documents related to your car and the transfer, in case there are issues further down the line.
How much does it cost to transfer a car rego in VIC?
When you transfer a car’s registration to your name, you’ll likely need to pay:
- a transfer fee
- a motor vehicle duty fee
- RWC costs
Transfer fees
As of January 2026, you’ll need to pay $46.20 to transfer a car rego in a private sale. That said, you might be exempt from paying transfer fees depending on your situation. For example, a registration transfer to the surviving spouse or domestic partner of somebody who has passed away doesn’t require a transfer fee.
Motor vehicle duty (MVD)
MVD is calculated based on a variable rate for every $200 of the car’s market value. This rate can vary by vehicle type. A car’s market value can be its purchase price or how much the car would cost on the open market, whichever’s higher.
There may be concessions or exemptions for MVD. While concessions are automatically applied when you transfer registration, you’ll need to prove that you’re eligible for an exemption.
Roadworthy certificate costs
Roadworthy certificate costs can depend on your car’s age, type, and condition. If you want to be certain about what you’ll be paying, you might be able to get a quote from a licensed vehicle tester.
On top of these costs, it’s also worth considering any card payment fees that might apply.
How does car insurance work for registration transfers?
If you transfer your car rego in Victoria, you’ll usually get a refund of the unused portion – including the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) charge, which doubles up as compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance.
Because other types of car insurance – such as third-party or comprehensive policies – are not part of your car’s registration, sorting them out during a transfer requires some extra steps.
If you’re selling your car
You’ll need to cancel any car insurance policy attached to it as soon as the car’s rego is transferred. In most cases, your insurer will refund the premium for the remaining part of your policy term.
If you’re buying a car
You’ll need to consider buying a car insurance policy, whether that’s third-party or comprehensive cover, if you want to cover any accidental damage either to your car or to anyone else’s property.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to transfer a car rego?
If you’ve purchased a used car in a private sale, you have 14 days from the date of sale to officially transfer ownership of the vehicle to your name.
Can I keep my custom plates if I sell my car?
We get it! Custom plates can hold special meaning and can be hard to let go of. That’s why you’re allowed to keep your custom plates in Victoria – you’d just need to let VicRoads know.
Can I transfer a car registration without a roadworthy certificate?
Yes, but it depends on your situation and eligibility. VicRoads specifies a number of instances where a roadworthy certificate isn’t necessary, including if a rego transfer is:
- between current or former partners
- as part of a deceased estate
- between an individual and a dealer.
Are there any exemptions when transferring car registration?
Yes. VicRoads exempts some transfers from transfer fees, including from:
- a nominee, such as a parent, to a minor when they get their learner permit
- somebody who has died to a surviving spouse or domestic partner
- an owner to a trust or between a trust and a different trustee.
You may also be exempt from paying motor vehicle duty or getting a roadworthy certificate. For example, if you’re transferring ownership of a car to your spouse or domestic partner, you’d have to pay a transfer fee but not an MVD fee or RWC charge.
Can I transfer car registration online?
Yes. You can transfer your car registration through your myVicRoads account.
Do I need to transfer the rego if I buy an unregistered vehicle?
If you buy an unregistered vehicle in a private sale, you won’t need to transfer a registration because, technically, there’s no rego to transfer. But if you plan to drive an unregistered car to a nearby VicRoads customer service centre to get it registered, you might need an unregistered vehicle permit.
How do I choose a car insurance policy for my car?
Getting the keys to a car, whether it’s a reliable workhorse or a modded-out monster, comes with its own share of responsibilities – getting car insurance is one of them!
If you’re keen on getting a insurance policy for your ride, try comparing policies first. You can use a car insurance comparison tool like iSelect’s to look at polices from a range of car insurance brands in Australia.
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