You have bought a used car and handed over the money. What happens in the next few weeks determines whether the vehicle is properly yours on the record or becomes a problem for both you and the person who sold it. Registering the change of ownership is the step that matters, and there is a deadline on it.
This guide is the buyer’s checklist: what to verify before paying, what to collect from the seller, what to do afterwards, and what to watch for if things do not look right.
Requirements and the applicable period are set by regulation and administered by registering authorities. TrafficDepartment.co.za is an independent information resource. Confirm the current position with your authority.
Before you pay
Most used car registration problems are visible before money changes hands, if you look. These checks take minutes and prevent months of difficulty.
- Check the registration certificate matches the vehicle, including the identifying numbers.
- Check the seller is the person named on it. If not, ask why, and be cautious.
- Check whether a titleholder is listed, which indicates outstanding finance.
- Check for outstanding fines against the vehicle. See checking outstanding fines.
- Check the licence position, since arrears follow the vehicle. See licence arrears.
- Agree in writing who settles anything outstanding, before paying.
What to collect from the seller
- The registration certificate.
- A certified copy of the seller’s identity document.
- The completed notification of change of ownership, so you know they have done their part.
- A written agreement of sale showing the date, price and both parties.
- The current licence disc, and proof of any recent renewal.
- A roadworthy certificate if one was part of the deal. See roadworthy certificates.
Register it, and do it promptly
There is a set period after the date of sale for registering the vehicle in your name, and a penalty can apply if you miss it. Do not treat it as something to deal with when convenient. See the deadline after a sale and where to do it.
Then deal with the licence
Registration and licensing are separate. Once the vehicle is in your name, make sure the licence is current, since arrears attach to the vehicle regardless of who owned it when they accrued. See renewing a vehicle licence.
Warning signs
- The seller is not the registered owner and cannot explain why.
- The registration certificate is missing, and a replacement is promised later.
- The identifying numbers on the vehicle do not match the paperwork.
- A titleholder appears on the record but the seller says the car is paid off.
- Pressure to complete quickly without proper documentation.
Any of these is a reason to pause. See police clearance if you have doubts about a vehicle’s history.
The week after the sale
The paperwork tends to get done in the first few days or not at all. Once the car is in the driveway and running, the urgency evaporates, and the deadline passes quietly. Treating registration as part of the purchase rather than as an errand afterwards is the single habit that prevents almost every problem on this page.
- Day one: check you have every document the seller was supposed to hand over.
- Day one: confirm what the registering authority requires, and what it costs.
- Within the first week: book or attend the registering authority. See where to register a vehicle.
- At the counter: check the details on the new paperwork before leaving.
- Afterwards: confirm the record shows you as owner rather than assuming.
- Then: bring the licence current if it is not. See licence renewal.
Keep the file
Keep the sale agreement, the seller’s identity copy, your registration paperwork and every receipt together. If a fine arrives for a period before you owned the vehicle, or a question arises about when the sale happened, that file answers it in minutes rather than weeks.
Related guides
- Vehicle registration hub
- Change of ownership
- Used vehicle registration
- The seller’s side
- Registration certificates
What if I bought the car from someone who was not the owner?
This is common where a vehicle has been resold informally without the previous transfer being registered. It complicates your registration, because the record does not show the person you dealt with. Speak to the registering authority about what evidence they need, and expect it to take longer than a straightforward transfer.
Can I insure a car that is not yet registered in my name?
Insurers have their own requirements and may ask about the registration position. Deal with the registration promptly rather than assuming it can wait, since an unregistered vehicle raises questions in more than one place.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to register the vehicle?
A set period runs from the date of sale, and late registration can attract a penalty. Confirm the current period with your registering authority rather than relying on a remembered figure.
What if the seller never lodged their notification?
Register your side anyway, and keep your evidence of the sale. The seller’s failure to notify is their exposure, but an incomplete record can complicate your registration too.
Can I drive the car before registering it?
The vehicle needs to be licensed, and the record should reflect reality. Deal with the registration promptly rather than driving on the strength of a receipt.
What if the licence has expired?
Arrears attach to the vehicle, so establish the position before agreeing a price. See expired licence disc.
Do I need a roadworthy certificate?
Often, depending on the vehicle and the transaction. Confirm before agreeing who obtains and pays for it.
The car was advertised by a dealer. Is it different?
A dealer usually handles the paperwork, but confirm what they are doing and get proof that the registration was actually lodged in your name.