With the help of these instructions, buying a car, motorcycle, moped or any other vehicle will be smooth and stress-free.
Do the following
Check the vehicle's registration information before buying it
Buy the vehicle only from the owner entered in the register. This avoids problems related to ownership, motor vehicle liability insurance and vehicle tax. As the buyer, you can require the seller to register the vehicle in their own name before the deal.
Make sure that the vehicle has been commissioned. You must not drive a decommissioned vehicle before is it is recommissioned for traffic use. The consequence of using a decommissioned vehicle is a tax surcharge of at least EUR 1,000.
If the previous holder or owner has not paid vehicle tax, the vehicle is banned from use.
Please also note that the due date of the previous holder's or owner's vehicle tax period may be after the sale. Remind the seller to pay the tax.
Fill in two copies of the deed of transfer and check the seller's identity
Agree with the seller in advance that they print two copies of the deed of transfer, one for themselves and one for you. You can also print them if necessary.
Fill in and sign both copies of the deed of transfer together with the seller. Check the seller's identity when buying the vehicle. Also note that the seller needs your personal identity code or Business ID to submit a notification of transfer.
Give one copy of the deed of transfer to the seller
Give one copy of the deed of transfer to the seller and keep the other for yourself in case of conflicts.
Report a change of vehicle ownership with a notification of transfer
An electronic notification of transfer is the easiest and cheapest way to handle the transfer and change of ownership. By submitting an electronic notification of transfer, the seller confirms that they have sold the vehicle and that it is now the buyer's responsibility.
Ask the seller to submit an electronic notification of transfer after the sale. After this, you can report the change of ownership of the vehicle in My e-Services.
Transfer of vehicle ownership with a digital certificate or the notification part of the registration certificate
f the seller does not submit a notification of transfer, you can report the transfer of ownership of the vehicle with a digital certificate or with the notification part of the registration certificate (part II). However, we recommend that a notification of transfer is submitted for each vehicle sale.
Exceptional situations when buying a used vehicle
The instructions above are sufficient for most transactions. Sometimes additional advice may, however, be required. These are the most common exceptional situations.
- You are buying a vehicle with no paperwork.
Refer to Registration inspectio n or Register a used and undocumented vehicle from abroad (External link) for instructions. for instructions. - You are buying a vehicle from someone other than the owner recorded in the register.
Read more on the page What is a “notification of transfer” entry in a vehicle’s registration data? (External link) - You are buying a rescue vehicle, a hearse or a veterinary vehicle. Special use vehicles may be exempted from car tax under certain conditions, see page (External link)Exemption from car tax for special use vehicles (External link).
- You want to register a vehicle that belongs to an estate or acquire a vehicle in the name of an estate. Read more on the page Changes in the registration data of a vehicle belonging to the estate of a deceased person (External link).