What paperwork will I need when selling my car?

We recommend completing a NZTA change of registered person form straight after selling a car. Doing this ensures you aren’t liable for any fines, tolls, or speeding tickets the new owner might pick up.

Changing the ownership of a car is not complicated. You can finish this online or at an NZTA agent. Since you need details for both yourself and the buyer, try to sort the paperwork together during the handover.

Notify your insurer to cancel your policy only once you have confirmed the sale. We recommend doing this straight after completing the change of ownership to stop further payments.

Every vehicle requires registration. This typically happens one time in a car's life and includes a safety inspection, certification, and entry into the Motor Vehicle Register. Avoid confusing registration with licensing, or 'rego'. All vehicles need both to be road-legal.

The buyer needs to drive away in a car that has an updated vehicle licensing (rego) or they could be fined $200 by the NZ Police or parking enforcement. You’ll find the rego in the corner of the vehicle's windshield.

• If your car doesn’t have a rego, you should drop your price slightly to make up for this fee – if you haven’t already priced your vehicle to reflect this.
• If your car has been without a rego for less than a year, you can apply to the NZTA for renewal and back pay outstanding licence fees.
• The seller is liable for money owed on the licence fees up to the point of sale – either pay online or to receive an instant rego label, go to your nearest AA, NZ Post shop, VTNZ, VINZ or an independent outlet displaying the NZTA logo.
• If the car has been unlicensed for more than 12 months, its rego will be cancelled and getting it renewed involves a bit more work including inspection, certification, re-registration, new vehicle licensing and getting new plates.
• If you have personalised plates and want to keep them, work out a transfer agreement with the buyer.

Driving a car without a current Warrant of Fitness (WoF) is illegal. If you’re selling, ensure the buyer understands the rules. They can only drive an unwarranted vehicle directly to an authorised mechanic or testing station to get one.

We recommend selling your vehicle with at least one month remaining on the certificate. If the current expiry is less than 28 days away, you must tell the buyer. You can read our guide on how to get a WoF if you want more info on the inspection.

Diesel-powered cars for regular road use and light electric vehicles need to display a current distance licence in the windscreen showing up to date payment of road user charges (RUC), or mileage. If the RUC on the car you’re selling has expired, it will need to be up to date before the buyer takes ownership – you’ll still be liable for the outstanding costs until it’s paid. Find out more about what cars don’t need to pay RUC.

Download a copy of our vehicle sale receipt and have both parties sign it – it will protect you both if there are any future problems. Include your names, the vehicle, the price and the date and time.

By getting all of this paperwork sorted you’ll be ensuring the smoothest possible handover process, for you and your buyer. Meaning they can get on with enjoying their new purchase, and you can finish your selling journey on a positive.

Unless you reach a different agreement with the buyer, specific rules apply when selling a car. Light vehicles needing a Warrant of Fitness (WoF) must have one that is less than one month old. For heavy vehicles or those needing a Certificate of Fitness (CoF), the document must simply be current. A recent inspection gives the buyer peace of mind and ensures the vehicle is roadworthy for the sale.