How to transfer a vehicle, trailer, caravan or boat registration in person
If a used vehicle, caravan, trailer or boat changes hands, the registration must be transferred within 14 days.
Want to transfer your registration online?
Find out if you're eligible to transfer your registration online.
The transfer of registration online is not available to organisations.
Even if you intend to transfer your registration online, we recommend that all sellers complete Part B of the vehicle registration transfer application (F3520) form and have the buyer sign it on the day of sale.
If you need to make a change to a registration for reasons related to domestic and family violence, help is available. Please call 13 23 80 for advice.
Transfer a vehicle, trailer or caravan registration in person
To transfer a registration in person, the buyer and the seller must complete and sign a vehicle registration transfer application (F3520) form. The buyer lodges Part A of the form and the seller keeps Part B.
The buyer must lodge part A of the form, either by themselves or with the seller, at a transport and motoring customer service centre,
or a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides vehicle registration services.
Information for the seller
The seller does not pay any fees to transfer a registration out of their name—the transfer fee and vehicle registration duty are paid by the buyer.
If you are selling or disposing of your vehicle (for example, a car, motorcycle, heavy vehicle, caravan or trailer) to another person, you will need to give the buyer:
- a current Queensland safety certificate or certificate of inspection:
- handwritten certificates—give them the original blue copy
- electronic certificates—give them a printed copy or write the certificate number on the transfer application form. If requested, you must show the buyer your electronic certificate so they can ensure it is valid.
- a gas inspection certificate (for vehicles fitted with gas fittings or systems)
- the certificate must be less than 3 months old at the time of transferring the registration
- if you can't get a gas inspection certificate because there is no one authorised to issue a certificate within a reasonable distance of where you live, you can apply for a gas exemption certificate
- caravans and motorhomes are not exempt from providing a gas certificate.
You can't transfer a vehicle if it's subject to enforcement action by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER).
Find out what you'll need to do if your registration has personalised or customised number plates.
Selling heavy vehicles
If you’re selling a Queensland-registered heavy vehicle that’s part of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme maintenance module and the vehicle will not continue to be in the scheme, you will need to get a certificate of inspection before you can transfer it.
Visit the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website for information on adding or removing a vehicle from your fleet.
Completing the transfer form
On the day you sell the vehicle, you will need to:
- complete the Seller's Copy section (Part B) of the vehicle registration transfer application (F3520)
- have the buyer sign Part B of the form.
The transfer form can be signed digitally
This form can be printed, completed and signed or it can be downloaded, completed and signed digitally.
To sign the form digitally:
- download the file to your computer or mobile (you won’t have the option to sign the form if you open it in your web browser)
- open the file in Adobe Reader. You can use the free version of Adobe Reader—no purchase or software subscription is required
- complete the form, sign it and save it once you’re finished.
You can then email the form to the buyer. After the buyer completes part A of the form, they can bring it to a transport and motoring service centre to complete the transfer.
We recommend you keep the completed Part B section of the form until the registration is transferred out of your name.
You can log in and check My registrations for a list of vehicles that are registered in your name or contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads—message us or call 13 23 80.
If the buyer said they would lodge the completed transfer form with us and you believe they haven't, we recommend you lodge Part B of the form in person (or you may be eligible to lodge this transfer online). Please also bring a copy of the safety certificate or certificate of inspection.
You may be held accountable for offences committed by the buyer until the transfer has been finalised.
Seller's checklist
- Read the selling a used vehicle guide
Selling your vehicle can feel like a tricky process. Knowing the steps to take before and after you find a buyer can make it a lot quicker and easier. Read about selling a used vehicle. - Do you currently pay by direct debit?
If the registration is currently being paid by direct debit, we recommend you remove it from direct debit before the transfer request is lodged, ideally on the date of sale. - Remove toll tags
Remember to remove any toll tags from the vehicle you are selling and update your details with Linkt (the toll payment provider).
Information for the buyer
If you buy or receive a vehicle (for example a car, motorcycle, heavy vehicle, caravan or trailer) you will need to finalise the registration transfer within 14 days.
Fees payable
The transfer fee and vehicle registration duty (if applicable) are paid by the buyer—the seller does not pay any fees to transfer a registration out of their name.
When the buyer finalises the registration transfer, they will have to pay:
- registration transfer fee—exemptions are available for:
- swapping registered operators
- transferring from a deceased person to their Estate
- transferring a joint registration to a surviving registered operator.
- vehicle registration duty if applicable—duty is calculated on the higher of:
- the total sale price of the vehicle (including GST if applicable) or
- the market value of the vehicle.
You can use the duty calculator to find the duty payable on your vehicle.
Note: There is no vehicle registration duty payable on the transfer of a trailer, caravan or motorised wheelchair. Some other exemptions from paying vehicle registration duty are available.
If you bought the vehicle from someone who had concessional registration and you don’t have a concession, you may have to pay the difference between the concessional and standard amounts for the remaining period of registration.
Lodging the transfer request
To lodge a registration transfer in person, visit a transport and motoring service centre or a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides vehicle registration services.
Completing a transfer lodged online by the seller
If the seller has lodged an application online and you'd like to finalise the transfer in person:
- you will need to complete a vehicle registration transfer application (F3520) if you visit a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station
- you will not need to complete a vehicle registration transfer application (F3520) if you visit a transport and motoring customer service centre.
You may also be eligible to finalise the transfer online (as the buyer).
Buyer's checklist
Read the used vehicle guides
Find out more about buying a used vehicle and the responsibilities of the seller.
Documents you need to bring with you:
- Part A of the transfer form
Bring the completed vehicle registration transfer application (F3520), signed by the seller and the buyer. - Safety certificate or certificate of inspection
Bring a current Queensland safety certificate or certificate of inspection (unless you do not need to get a safety certificate): - handwritten certificates—bring the original blue copy
- electronic certificates—bring a printed copy or include the certificate number on the vehicle registration transfer application. If requested, the seller must show you the certificate so you can ensure it is valid.
- Evidence of identity
- Existing individual customers
Bring your licence or original evidence of identity—if the vehicle is to be registered in 2 names, both people must provide suitable evidence of identity. - New individual customers
Bring a completed new customer application (F3503) if it's your first time doing business with us (for example, you are an interstate or overseas driver licence holder). - If the vehicle is being transferred to an organisation
- Bring your own driver licence or other original proof of identity
- Bring identification for the organisation, such as:
- certificate of incorporation issued by the Office of Fair Trading
OR - certificate of registration of a company or business issued by the Australian Securities Investments Commission.
- certificate of incorporation issued by the Office of Fair Trading
- Existing individual customers
- If you are a new customer or the vehicle will not be stored at your address or business location, bring your driver licence, property rates notice or either a gas, phone or electricity bill as evidence of the Queensland address of where the vehicle is garaged.
- If you are transferring registration for a modified vehicle to suit a person with a disability
- When buying this type of vehicle, complete a modified vehicle statutory declaration to claim a concession on the vehicle modifications made to enable a disabled person to drive or be a passenger.
- Give this statutory declaration to the vehicle dealer when you buy the vehicle or a transport and motoring service centre when you lodge your vehicle registration transfer application.
Only a person with a disability, a relative or carer of a person with a disability can claim a concession when applying to transfer the registration of a modified vehicle.
If you have lost the use of one or both legs, you may be eligible for a vehicle registration duty exemption.