How to Transfer Car Ownership in QLD (2026)

Whether you're selling your car privately, through a dealer, or to a cash-for-cars buyer in Brisbane, you need to transfer ownership properly. Getting it wrong can leave you liable for fines, tolls, or even accidents after the car has left your hands. Here's how to handle it correctly in Queensland.

The key document is the vehicle's registration certificate — also called a Certificate of Registration. In QLD, the seller must complete the disposal section on the back of this certificate and submit it to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) within 14 days of the sale. This step is non-negotiable. Until TMR updates their records, the car is still registered in your name.

For the buyer, they need to complete a Transfer of Registration application (Form 18). This form is available at any TMR customer service centre or online. The buyer pays a transfer fee, which currently sits at around $37.85 for a standard vehicle, plus stamp duty based on the sale price or market value — whichever is higher. Stamp duty in Queensland is calculated at $3 per $100 of the dutiable value up to $100,000.

If the car is sold with an active safety certificate (formerly known as a roadworthy certificate), the transfer is straightforward. Without one, the buyer will need to obtain a safety certificate before they can register the vehicle in their name. Safety certificates in Brisbane typically cost between $80 and $150 from an approved inspection station, though repairs to pass the inspection can add to that cost.

Here's what the seller needs to provide: a signed transfer section on the registration certificate, a valid safety certificate (if the vehicle is being sold registered), and a receipt showing the agreed sale price. It's good practice to include the vehicle's VIN, make, model, year, and the odometer reading on the receipt. Both parties should keep a copy.

Don't forget to notify your insurance company. Cancel or transfer your comprehensive or CTP insurance on the day of sale. If you forget, you could be paying premiums on a car you no longer own. In QLD, CTP insurance (also called a green slip) is included in your registration cost, so cancelling your rego will automatically end your CTP cover.

One common mistake Brisbane sellers make is forgetting to cancel tolls and e-tag accounts linked to the vehicle. If the new owner racks up toll charges on the Gateway Motorway or Logan Motorway before you've updated your details with Linkt or another toll provider, those charges may land on your account. Remove the vehicle from your toll account on the day of sale.

What if you've lost your registration certificate? You can apply for a replacement through TMR before the sale, or complete a statutory declaration confirming you are the registered owner. This adds a small delay, so sort it out early if you know your papers are missing.

For cash-for-cars transactions, the process is simpler. Reputable buyers like Caraway handle much of the paperwork for you. When our team picks up your vehicle in Brisbane, we complete the transfer documentation on the spot and ensure TMR is notified. You still need to bring valid photo ID and sign the transfer forms, but the heavy lifting is done for you.

If you're selling a written-off vehicle, there are extra rules. Statutory write-offs in Queensland cannot be re-registered — ever. Repairable write-offs can be re-registered, but only after passing a written-off vehicle inspection through TMR. Make sure you know which category your car falls into before listing it for sale.

A few final tips to keep the transfer clean. Always conduct the sale during business hours so you can contact TMR if questions arise. Never hand over the keys before receiving full payment — in cash transactions, count the money before signing anything. And take a photo of the buyer's licence for your records, just in case.

Transferring car ownership in QLD is not complicated, but skipping steps can create headaches weeks or months down the track. Whether you're selling a near-new sedan in Paddington or offloading a twenty-year-old ute in Logan, following this process protects both you and the buyer. If you'd rather skip the paperwork entirely, a cash-for-cars service handles it all — and you walk away with cash on the same day.