A new online change of vehicle ownership service has been launched, which will allow private (non-trade ) vehicle owners to transfer vehicle registration to another private owner, entirely online.
The new Government service will allow buyers to check vehicle details against the vehicle register. These include make/model, colour, motor tax status, test status, number of previous owners, and whether or not the vehicle was imported.
This enables the buyer to get accurate and real-time information about the vehicle before completing the purchase, making the experience more transparent and efficient.
Previously, anyone transferring ownership of a vehicle would need to post their Vehicle Registration Certificate to the Department of Transport’s offices in Shannon, or visit a motor tax office.
This new online service is expected to complement other initiatives of the Department of Transport, such as the plan to remove the need for paper discs in vehicle windscreens and a new motor tax website.
How does the new system work?
The seller begins the process by entering their vehicle registration and vehicle registration certificate number.
Once this matches the record on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF ), proving that the seller is the recorded vehicle owner, a one-time transfer PIN (which lasts for 30 minutes ) is emailed to the seller’s email address as recorded on the NVDF.
The seller then shares this transfer PIN with the buyer. The buyer enters the transfer PIN and logs in through their verified MyGovId to complete the transaction.
The buyer is presented with a declaration confirming that they are taking ownership of the vehicle and their legal obligations. Ownership of the vehicle is transferred to the buyer and a new Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC ) will be posted to the new owner’s address.
The date of sale recorded will be the date the transaction was processed online. The service uses MyGovID and is also available in Irish.
The new online change of vehicle ownership service can be accessed at www.vehicleservices.gov.ie/cvo/ or through www.motortax.ie
