Change of vehicle ownership

If you sell your vehicle or trade it in for a new model, you must legally register the change of ownership. You register free of charge with the Department of Transport. The Department of Transport keep a record of vehicles called the national vehicle and driver file (NVDF).

Ownership and address details must be kept up to date at all times. This is important because, for example, if your vehicle is subject to a safety recall, manufacturers will contact all registered owners using their record.

This page tells you how to change a vehicles ownership detail online or by post a Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC, also known as the logbook).

Private vehicle owners can now transfer ownership online through the Online Change of Vehicle Ownership service or at motortax.ie or motarchain.ie (in Irish). This replaces the need to post the Vehicle Registration Certificate or visit a motor tax office in person.

You can also check key vehicle details such as make or model, tax status, and ownership history, in real time before buying.

Change of vehicle ownership online

These are the steps you need to follow:

1. Go online
2. Enter your vehicle registration and vehicle registration certificate number.
3. A one-time transfer PIN is emailed to you. (This is the email address recorded on the NVDF for the owner).
4. You share this PIN with the buyer. (After 30 minutes, the PIN expires)
5. The buyer enters this code and logs in through their verified MyGovID to complete the transaction. (The buyer must have a verified MyGovID to confirm their identity)
6. The buyer is presented with a declaration confirming that they are taking ownership of the vehicle and their legal obligations.
7. Ownership of the vehicle is transferred to the buyer and a new Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) is posted to the new owner’s address. The date of sale recorded is the date the transaction was processed online.

Change of vehicle ownership by post

There are 4 steps in a private sale for changing vehicle ownership by post. Once received it takes approximately 2 to 5 days to process a Vehicle Registration Certificate.

1. Complete and sign the change of ownership section on the back of the Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC).
2. The buyer must sign the same form.
3. Send the completed form to the Department of Transport for updating (see ‘Where to apply’).
4. The Department of Transport will post the VRC to the new owner.

If you sell your vehicle to a motor dealer, you must give the dealer the Vehicle Registration Certificate.

Both the seller and the dealer must complete the Form RF105 (pdf).

An approved dealer can use the online change of vehicle ownership service to notify the details online. Otherwise, the seller must send the RF105 to the Department of Transport.

If you buy a vehicle and the current owner (seller) is deceased, you will need the Vehicle Registration Certificate and a letter to show you have the right to the vehicle. This can be a letter from:

• The executor of the deceased's will, or
• The solicitor dealing with the will

If there is no VRC

If the VRC is not available, you can use a declaration of ownership form. To do this, you must get a statutory declaration sworn before a commissioner for oaths or a solicitor. The statutory declaration is a way of swearing that something is true. It is a written statement and must be witnessed by someone who is authorised to witness your declaration. The statutory declaration form should go with the letter from the executor of the will or the solicitor.

You can get a statutory declaration form from your local motor tax office.

Pre-1993 vehicles

See change of ownership for vehicles registered before January 1993.

1993 – 2004 vehicles

Owners of vehicles registered before May 2004 may still have a ‘Vehicle Licensing Certificate’ if they haven’t changed ownership. In such cases, a Vehicle Registration Certificate will be issued to the new owner upon change of ownership.

You can only tax your vehicle once the registration of the change of ownership has gone through.

You can renew your motor tax online or by completing a Form RF100A.

See our page on motor tax.

If you need to change ownership of a vehicle that has never been taxed either by the current or last owner see motortax.ie.

If you are a driver or a passenger with a disability, you may get tax relief when buying a vehicle.

If your address has changed, tick the change of address option on the reverse side of your Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC). Fill in your new address details and post it to the Department of Transport. An updated VRC will be posted back to you. You can change your address online, but only as part of an online motor tax transaction. You cannot change your address by email or over the phone.

It is possible to get replacement documents associated with changes to vehicle ownership. List of documents and the cost of their replacement is as follows:

To get replacement documents:

• Download and complete form RF134 (pdf).
• Have this form witnessed by a member of the Garda Síochána at a Garda station.
• Send your completed form with the correct fee to your motor tax office.

You can pay by cheque, postal order or by bank draft. You should make it payable to your local motor tax office.

If you are having problems and the seller won’t send the VRC to the Department of Transport.

You as the buyer can do the following:

• Contact the Department of Transport, you can email dvcsdchangeofownership@dttas.ie, (include your postal address), and you will be given a statutory declaration form.
• Complete the declaration form and have it witnessed by a Commissioner for Oaths or a practicing solicitor.
• Send both completed documents back to the Department of Transport – see ‘Where to apply’ below.

This does not apply if you bought the car from a motor dealer. The motor dealer is responsible for following the procedures for change of vehicle ownership notification.