To change ownership of a vehicle in South Africa, the seller completes parts A and C of the yellow NCO form and the buyer completes part B. The seller submits it to the registering authority within 21 days of the sale. The buyer then registers the vehicle in their own name on the RLV form, also within 21 days.
That’s the whole process. Problems start when each side assumes the other will handle it, and the car stays linked to the seller for longer than anyone expected.
Below is what each of you needs to do, the forms to download, and how to fix a transfer that never went through.
The 21-day rule applies to both of you
There are two deadlines, and both run from the date of the sale.
| Who | Form | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Seller | NCO (Notification of Change of Ownership/Sale of Motor Vehicle) | Within 21 days after the sale |
| Buyer | RLV (Application for Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicle) | Within 21 days after buying or taking delivery |
If the buyer misses the 21 days, they’ll pay arrears and penalties before the vehicle can be registered and licensed in their name (South African Government).
The licence also has to be current. A note on the NCO form, citing regulation 53, says nobody may buy, sell or trade in an unregistered or unlicensed motor vehicle. So if the disc has expired, renew the licence before you sell.
The NCO form, part by part
The NCO is printed on yellow paper, which is why most people call it the yellow form. It has three parts and two signed declarations, and the form itself sets out who completes each one.
Download the NCO form (PDF). It’s the national form, so it applies in every province.
Yes, the famous yellow form downloads as a white PDF. It left its colour at the licensing office, where you can also pick up a printed copy.
| Part | Completed by | What goes in it |
|---|---|---|
| A | Seller | ID type and number, name and contact details, plus a signed declaration that the vehicle was sold or delivered to the buyer |
| B | Buyer | ID type and number, name, postal and street address, the address where notices must be served, plus a signed declaration that the buyer took delivery |
| C | Seller | Licence number, vehicle register number, VIN or chassis number, make, odometer reading, the reason for the change (sold, repossessed or deceased estate) and the date of change |
Both declarations warn that a false statement is punishable with a fine, imprisonment or both. Check every number against the registration certificate before anyone signs.
If a company, bank or deceased estate is involved, its proxy, representative or executor completes the extra section on the form.
The seller also hands the current registration certificate (the RC1) to the buyer, who needs it for the RLV application.
What the seller should do
The NCO protects you, so submit it yourself.
Giving the form to the buyer and trusting them to lodge it is a common mistake. It’s how sellers end up paying fines on cars they no longer own.
- Wait until the money has cleared in your account before you hand over the car and the RC1. A proof of payment slip isn’t cleared funds.
- Complete parts A and C, and have the buyer complete and sign part B.
- Submit the NCO to your registering authority within 21 days and keep your proof of submission.
- Keep a copy of the signed sale agreement and a note of the handover date and time.
- Tell your insurer about the sale and confirm with them when to take the car off your policy.
Once the NCO is processed, the vehicle’s status changes to “Sale Pending”. If the buyer then fails to register it, the penalties that build up after 21 days are for the buyer’s account. Your proof of submission is what shows this if fines keep arriving.
The sellers who get into trouble almost always gave the NCO to the buyer to submit. Do it yourself, keep the proof, and you’ll never have to argue about a fine on a car you don’t own.
Johannes Jooste, Trafico
What the buyer should do
Until your RLV is processed, the car is still officially someone else’s. The Western Cape Government lists these documents for registering a used vehicle:
- a completed RLV form (download the RLV form, PDF)
- your ID
- the vehicle registration certificate in the seller’s name
- a roadworthy certificate, if the current one is older than 60 days
- proof of purchase, such as the signed sale agreement
- proof of residential address
An expired roadworthy doesn’t stop the registration. The vehicle can still be registered on the RLV, but the licence disc won’t print. Once the vehicle passes a new roadworthy test, you’ll need to have the disc reprinted.
If the utility bill isn’t in your name, the account holder must make an affidavit confirming you live there, with the bill attached.
Bring certified copies of your ID and supporting documents too. Not every office asks for them, but this is the traffic department. It never hurts to be the most prepared person in the queue.
Once the application is accepted and the fees are paid, a new registration certificate is issued to the title holder and the vehicle is licensed.
Speak to your insurer before you drive the car away, so cover starts from the day you take it.
Put the sale in writing
A short written agreement gives you both a record of exactly what was agreed and when. Include:
- full names and ID numbers of the buyer and seller
- the VIN or chassis number and registration number
- the date of sale and the date of handover
- the purchase price
- both signatures
Documents for each type of transfer
Private sales are the simplest. Company, finance and estate transfers need extra paperwork, and one missing item usually means a second trip. Here’s what Trafico asks for on each type:
| Transfer | Documents needed |
|---|---|
| Private to private | IDs of both parties, buyer’s proof of address, NCO forms |
| Private to company | Buyer company’s BRNC or TRNC, proxy ID, seller’s ID, buyer company’s CIPC certificate (COR14.3), proof of address for the buyer’s BRNC, NCO forms |
| Company to company | BRNC or TRNC of both companies, proxy IDs of both, CIPC certificates (COR14.3) of both, proof of address for the buyer’s BRNC, NCO forms |
| Bank or finance house to private or company | The bank’s settlement pack (settlement letter, proxy ID, partly completed NCO, original RC1), bank proxy ID, buyer’s proof of address, CIPC certificate (COR14.3) if a company, RLV forms |
| Deceased estate | RC1, executor’s letter, executor’s ID, new owner’s ID and proof of address, NCO and RLV forms |
Not sure what a BRNC is? Our guide to the business registration number certificate explains it.
Financed cars: owner versus title holder
When a car is financed, the bank or finance house is the title holder and the person paying it off is the owner.
The title holder is the one with the right to sell, and it must be registered before the owner can license the vehicle (Department of Transport).
So if you’re buying a car that still has finance on it, the seller’s settlement has to go through first. The bank then releases its settlement pack (listed in the table above) and the transfer carries on from there.
The NCO form has two sets of instructions for this. A change of title holder covers a normal sale to a cash buyer or a bank, and follows the parts A, B and C process above.
A change of owner covers cases where only the owner changes. The owner completes parts A and C and delivers the form within 21 days.
When the transfer isn’t straightforward
The seller’s name isn’t on the RC1
Before you pay, check that the name and ID number on the registration certificate match the seller’s ID. Your application needs the registration certificate in the seller’s name, so a mismatch stops the transfer.
This usually means the seller bought the car and never registered it in their own name. That registration has to be finished before your transfer can go through. Trafico helps the seller complete the registration in their name first, so the sale can go ahead. Ask Trafico to sort it out.
The registration certificate is lost or damaged
The buyer’s application has to include the current registration certificate, so a lost RC1 needs replacing before the sale. Only the title holder can apply for a duplicate, and it’s done in person (South African Government).
Take your ID and proof of address to the registering authority. You’ll complete a DRC form and a DCT declaration for lost documents, then pay the fee.
- Download the DRC form (PDF): application for a duplicate registration certificate
- Download the DCT form (PDF): declaration in respect of lost documents
It can take up to seven days, so sort it out before you advertise the car.
Driving the car before it’s registered in your name
As a private buyer, you can apply for a 3-day special permit. The vehicle doesn’t need to be licensed, registered or roadworthy for it.
The 21-day temporary permit you may have heard about can only be issued by a dealership, so it isn’t an option on a private sale.
The application is made on a TSP1 form (download the TSP1 form, PDF). Trafico can apply for your 3-day special permit as part of its service. Ask Trafico for a special permit.
How much does a change of ownership cost?
There’s no single national price. Each province sets its own fees, so the total depends on where the vehicle is registered and what kind of vehicle it is. Budget for:
- the registration fee and the new registration certificate
- licence fees, which are based on the vehicle’s make and tare (its empty weight)
- arrears and penalties, if the licence has lapsed or the 21 days have passed
- a roadworthy test, if the current certificate is older than 60 days
- number plates, if new ones are needed
Your provincial transport department publishes its current fee schedule, and your registering authority can confirm the amount for your vehicle.
How long does it take?
At the licensing office, it depends on the queue and whether your pack is complete.
When Trafico handles your NCO, it takes 7 to 14 days after we receive payment. You also get proof that the vehicle’s status has changed to “Sale Pending”.
Sold your car but still getting fines?
This happens when the NCO was never submitted, or went in late. The fix is to prove when the sale happened.
For recent sales, Trafico can help backdate the NCO and move fines and licence liability to the new owner. Have your sale agreement and handover records ready.
Why applications get sent back
Most rejections at the counter come down to a handful of problems:
- ID, VIN or registration numbers that don’t match across the forms and the RC1
- proof of address that doesn’t meet the registering authority’s rules
- an expired licence or unpaid arrears
- an admin mark or enforcement block on the vehicle, the owner or the BRNC (see our guide to admin marks and licence renewal blocks)
An expired roadworthy isn’t on this list. The registration still goes through, but the disc only prints after a new roadworthy test and a reprint.
Let Trafico handle it
A change of ownership can’t currently be done online through eNaTIS. You don’t have to queue at the licensing department, though. Trafico prepares and submits the seller’s NCO and the buyer’s RLV for you, on every type of purchase: private to private, private to business, company, finance and deceased estate transfers.
- Submit your details. Complete our secure form and upload your sale documents.
- We process it. Trafico prepares and processes your change of ownership.
- Receive proof. You get proof that the vehicle’s status has changed to “Sale Pending”.
- Keep a record. Trafico keeps a digital record for future reference.
Fleets and dealerships can use bulk transfers, interprovincial transfers, dealer stocking and BRNC-to-BRNC transfers. All documents are handled in line with POPIA.
More on the NCO form
Can I do a change of ownership online?
Not through eNaTIS, which doesn’t currently offer it. Through Trafico, yes. You upload your documents online, we prepare and submit the NCO and the buyer’s RLV, and you receive proof that the vehicle’s status has changed to “Sale Pending”.
What happens if the buyer never registers the car?
Once your NCO is processed, the vehicle shows as “Sale Pending” and penalties after 21 days are for the buyer’s account. Keep your proof of submission and sale agreement in case fines still arrive.
Can I sell a car with an expired licence disc?
No. Regulation 53, quoted on the NCO form, says nobody may buy, sell or trade in an unregistered or unlicensed vehicle. Renew the licence before you sell.
