Transfers made easy for buyers

Every vehicle, unless it is exempt, must have either a factory fitted or Government approved immobiliser fitted before the licence can be transferred.

It is the Purchaser's responsibility to fit or ensure that the vehicle is fitted with an approved immobiliser.

Exempt Vehicles;

• vehicles that are 25 years or older,
• vehicles that have a tare weight over 3000 kg or a GVM or aggregate weight over 4500 kg,
• motorcycles and
• some farm vehicles.

Transfer fees and vehicle licence duty cannot be paid unless the Purchaser makes a declaration that a factory fitted or other approved immobiliser is fitted to the vehicle. A false or misleading declaration may result in a fine.
If the vehicle you are buying is already fitted with an immobiliser you must confirm that it is an approved device. The immobiliser is compliant if:

• The immobiliser was 'factory fitted' (ie, fitted at the time of manufacture).
  
  
• Immobiliser fitted prior to July 1st 1999: The immobiliser is self arming (ie, when the engine is switched off the device automatically arms without any assistance from the driver) and prevents the vehicle from being started.
  
  
• Immobiliser fitted on or after July 1st 1999: The immobiliser is a Government Approved Immobiliser.  The immobiliser should be labelled Australian Standard compliant, AS/NZS 4601:1999 or AS/NZS 3749.1:1997.
  
  
  If you are unsure about the compliance of the immobiliser installed in the vehicle you are purchasing, please contact us.
  
  
• If you are buying a new car, most new vehicles are now fitted with an immobiliser at the time of manufacture (factory fitted) or provided by the manufacturer. These immobilisers meet vehicle transfer requirements.
  
  
• When buying a vehicle, you must complete the Vehicle Transfer form with the seller of the vehicle. The seller then forwards the green copy (seller's copy) to Licensing Services, and gives you (as the new owner) the pink copy (buyer's copy) with current licence papers.
  
  
• Within a few days of lodgement of the Vehicle Transfer form Licensing Services will invoice you, as the buyer of the vehicle, for the vehicle licence duty and transfer fee. Please refer to your invoice for payment options.
  
  Please remember: Failure to notify Licensing Services of a transfer, or late payment of transfer fees, will incur penalties for the buyer.

More details on how to transfer ownership of a vehicle