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Both the buyer and the seller must tell us when they buy or sell a vehicle, to successfully change the vehicle over to the new registered person.

You may have sold the vehicle or disposed of it in another way (like giving it away or arranging to have it destroyed). Here’s what you need to know.

The basics

  • You must let us know straight away – do it online at the time of sale. You’ll need your New Zealand driver licence and the full name and address of the person or organisation you sold the vehicle to.
    Let us know you've sold a vehicle(external link)
  • If you’re a company or don’t have a New Zealand driver licence, you’ll need to contact us instead.
    Contact us
  • It’s a good idea to make sure the buyer has told us they’ve bought the vehicle before you hand over the keys. You can check if they’re now the registered person online.
    Confirm registered person(external link)
  • We may send you a letter or email to check if you’ve sold the vehicle (for example, if the buyer hasn’t told us it’s theirs). We don’t always do this, but we’ll contact you if we’ve noticed something that doesn’t add up.

Legal rights and responsibilities

Fees or fines

If you don’t let us know you’ve sold the vehicle, you could end up with the buyer’s fees or fines, like tolls or speeding tickets.

Vehicle licensing (rego)

If you sell a vehicle with overdue rego, you’re responsible for paying any fees owing up until the date you tell us you sold the vehicle.

Vehicle licensing (rego) - more information

Warrants and certificates of fitness (WoFs and CoFs)

The vehicle must have a WoF or CoF less than one month old, unless you agree to something different with the buyer. We recommend you get that agreement in writing.

Warrants and certificates – more information

Road user charges (RUC)

If it’s a RUC vehicle, it must have a current RUC distance licence, unless you agree to something different with the buyer. We recommend you get that agreement in writing.

Road user charges – more information

Toll account

If the vehicle is on a toll account, you'll need to log into the account and remove the vehicle.

Log into a toll account(external link)

Selling an unregistered vehicle

You should make sure the buyer knows the vehicle is unregistered before they buy it. They won’t be able to become the registered person unless they register it first.

Vehicle registration – more information

Selling vehicles with personalised plates

If you’re selling a vehicle and its personalised plates, you’ll need to:

  • agree on this separately with the buyer
  • fill in and send in a transfer of entitlement form for the plates.

Transfer of entitlement of a personalised plate (form)(external link)

Personalised plates – more information

Selling to a wrecker

If a vehicle isn’t roadworthy anymore, you must deregister it. You may also want to sell it to the wrecker while you're handing it over to them. Talk to them about options.

Selling a vehicle to a wrecker – more information

Selling a vehicle 'as is, where is'

Selling a vehicle ‘as is, where is’ doesn’t remove your legal requirements under consumer law and transport law.

Consumer rights and responsibilities (Consumer Protection)(external link)

Selling multiple vehicles

If you sell, gift or swap more than 6 vehicles within 12 months in a row, you may need to register as a vehicle trader.

Who needs to register as a vehicle trader(external link)

More advice

Buying or selling a vehicle (Factsheet 41) [PDF, 239 KB]