Change of vehicle ownership

Seller

2. Prepare a way to transfer ownership. Do the following, if you are transferring the ownership of the vehicle to the buyer:

• Using a notification of transfer

Print two copies of the empty deed of transfer for the sale meeting.

Do not submit a notification of transfer until the sale has been completed.

• Using a digital certificate

Sign in to My e-Services and create a digital certificate for the vehicle. Print copies of the deed of transfer, pre-completed during the creation of the digital certificate, for yourself and the buyer. You can also print an empty deed of transfer without signing in.

Youtube-video: Seller: Create a digital certificate (External link)

• Using the notification part of the registration certificate

Make sure that you are using a valid notification part. You can order a new registration certificate (External link) in My e-Services or at the vehicle inspection company performing registrations, if necessary. 

Print two copies of the empty deed of transfer for the sale meeting.

2. Take a proof of identity with you when carrying out the sale.

Buyer

1. Check the vehicle’s details

• Is the vehicle in traffic use or has it been decommissioned ? Please take note that it is not permitted to drive a decommissioned vehicle even from the point of sale to your home. 
• Has the vehicle tax been paid?
• Has the regular vehicle inspection been carried out?
• Is the owner recorded in the register selling the vehicle, or is it someone who the owner has handed the vehicle over to? Traficom recommends that you buy a vehicle only from the owner marked in the register.

2. Take a proof of identity with you when carrying out the sale. 

Seller

1. Check the buyer’s identity.

2. Fill in the deed of transfer together with the buyer. Keep a copy of the deed of transfer in case of disputes. 

3. Give the buyer a valid digital certificate or the notification part of the registration certificate or submit a notification of transfer.

• If you are using the notification part, fill in the buyer’s details and the transfer date before signing.
• If you sell a vehicle to be registered abroad or Åland, provide the buyer with both parts of the registration certificate.

Buyer

1. Check the seller's identity. 

2. Fill in the deed of transfer together with the seller. Keep a copy of the deed of transfer in case of disputes. 

3. Make sure that the seller gives you a digital certificate or the notification part of the registration certificate or that the seller has submitted a notification of transfer. Check the details and validity of the digital certificate.

• The information cannot be used illegally or for purposes that may compromise the personal privacy of individuals.

Seller

1. Sign into My e-Services and submit a notification of transfer at this stage, if you have not already done so. 

• With this notification, you ensure that you do not need to pay vehicle tax or other expenses after the sale. 
• To make the notification of transfer, you will need the buyer’s name, address, and either their personal identity code or business ID.

YouTube-video: Seller: Make a notification of transfer (External link)

Buyer

1. Purchase vehicle liability insurance if the vehicle is in traffic use.

• You can either purchase insurance beforehand from your insurance company or handle the change of ownership and purchase of insurance at the same time using the insurance company’s digital registration service .

2. Make notification of the ownership change within 7 days of the date when the registered owner has transferred the vehicle to you. At the same time, you can also add other owners or holders for the vehicle.

• Sign into My e-Services and make a notification of transfer using the digital certificate. If the seller has made a notification of transfer for you using a personal identity code or business ID, you do not need a digital certificate to make the change of ownership.
• If the seller gave you the notification part of the registration certificate instead of a digital certificate, the change of ownership has to be done at a registration service point .
• If no natural person is registered as the holder of a vehicle owned by a company, the company must register a person in charge of use .

YouTube-video: Buyer: Change of ownership with a digital certificate (External link)

YouTube-video: Buyer: Change of ownership when the seller has made a notification of transfer (External link)