MVIL: HOW TO TRANSFER CAR OWNERSHIP TITLE - WHAT TO DO BEFORE BUYING CAR FROM SOMEONE

I know the feeling when you don’t have all the documents required to transfer car ownership title the first time you went to Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL).

Produce the required documents in full will save you time and frustration, follow the steps and you’ll get title without hassle.

Documents from the previous owner

Documents from the new owner

1.    Original certificate – this is the registration certificate, including current safety sticker docket too. 2.    License copy – copies of both the front and back of your license 3.    State Declaration Form – complete the SDF and give details of owner and car and intention of title transfer, amount received etc… Ensure that the SDF is signed and stamped at the court house or by a legal entity.

1.       Bring the vehicle for inspection – MVIL employee at the enquiries will check all documents and inspect car              2.       License copy – copies of both the front and back of your license              3.       State Declaration Form – give details of new owner, amount spent, etc… Ensure that the SDF is signed and stamped at the court house or by a legal entity.

Note: MVIL requires that the new owner pays for a full registration before title transfer. 

This means that any unexpired registration fee, if any, would have to be calculated and reimbursed to the previous owner.

There are three things to do. 

As a new owner, you could let the registration run out (expire) then renew the registration and transfer the title at the same time. 

But, to do this you’ll have to ensure you have all the required documents signed and stamped with the previous owner.

 You can pay the full registration and talk to the old owner to reimburse the registration fee that is owed to you.

Also, if you are clever, you can negotiate with the previous owner to reduce the car selling price by taking into consideration the registration fee.