Change of ownership: buying or selling a car
1 point we are still verifying
- Late licensing penalties are calculated on eNaTIS under National Road Traffic Regulation 57. We have not yet checked the regulation's wording against an official copy, so KayaDisc does not estimate penalties.
General information from gov.za service pages and the gazettes, not legal advice.
The seller
- Complete the Notification of Change of Ownership / Sale of Motor Vehicle (NCO) form and submit it to your registering authority.
- Hand the vehicle registration certificate to the buyer.
According to the government's service page, a vehicle's registration becomes null and void when it is sold, which is why the new owner must register it again.
The buyer
Within 21 days, take these to your registering authority with a completed Application for Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicle (RLV) form:
- Your identity document.
- Proof of residential address (a utility account, or an affidavit from the account holder, or a ward councillor's letter in an informal settlement).
- The registration certificate in the seller's name.
- A certificate of roadworthiness if the current one is older than 60 days. It is the buyer's responsibility to make sure the vehicle is roadworthy.
- Proof of purchase.
- A valid licence: the licence fees must be up to date.
- A mass measuring certificate if the vehicle's tare has changed, and for a company, its certificate of incorporation or founding statement.
What it costs
You pay the fees your province prescribes: the registration fee, the licence fee and R72 transaction fee if the licence is due, and a roadworthy test if you need one. Work it out with the vehicle transfer cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Who must do what when a car is sold?
The seller completes the Notification of Change of Ownership (NCO) form, submits it to their registering authority and hands the registration certificate to the buyer. The buyer applies to register the vehicle on the RLV form.
How long does the buyer have to register?
21 days from buying the vehicle. If you do not register in time, you pay arrears and penalties.
How much is the registration fee?
It depends on the province: from R132 to R310 in the provinces we have verified. Eastern Cape is coming soon.
Is there an online option?
The RTMC regulations, as corrected in 2023, set a fee of R330 for a change of ownership done on NaTIS Online and R330 for an online registration certificate. Check on NaTIS Online whether the service is available for your vehicle.