Procedure to Be Followed in Ownership Transfers

Are you planning to buy a vehicle? Is it a 2nd hand vehicle? Then this is very important for you. Because if you are buying a 2nd hand vehicle, you need to know how to transfer registered ownership. Here, both the current registered owner of the vehicle and the person buying the vehicle have a responsibility. There is also a procedure for transferring ownership. Therefore, it is very important for you to know about this. So today, MotorGuide will tell you how to transfer registered ownership if you are buying a 2nd hand vehicle.

Procedure to Follow When Transferring Registered Ownership

What Should the New Owner and Current Owner Follow?

• Obtain the set of forms provided free of charge by the Department of Motor Traffic, all District Secretariat / Divisional Secretariat offices, or Divisional Secretariat offices.
• This set of forms consists of two forms: MTA 6 and MTA 8.
• Form MTA 6 has four copies: A, A1, B, and B1.
• Form MTA 8 consists of two copies: C and C1.
• When transferring registered ownership, these MTA 6 forms must be filled out. The current owner must keep copies A and A1 of the properly completed MTA 6 form and hand over copies B, B1 of MTA 6 and C, C1 of MTA 8 to the new owner.
• Documents required for the transfer of registered ownership of a motor vehicle under normal services should be submitted to the Registered Ownership Transfer (Normal Services) section relevant to the vehicle class at the Head Office of the Department of Motor Traffic in Narahenpita, Colombo 05. Alternatively, they can be submitted to a District Office of the Department of Motor Traffic or the relevant Divisional Secretariat office during government office hours, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on working days.

What Should the Current Owner Follow?

• The current registered owner of the vehicle must complete all copies of the MTA 6 form. Here, several other required documents are needed. All of these can be taken to obtain one-day service if necessary. Otherwise, this service can also be obtained by submitting them to the Divisional Secretariat office and receiving it via mail.

What Should the New Owner Follow?

• The new owner must submit copy B of the properly completed MTA 6, copy C of MTA 8, and other relevant documents to the Registered Ownership Transfer section pertaining to the vehicle class at the Department of Motor Traffic and obtain receipt C.M.T 52.

What Documents are Required for Registered Ownership Transfer?

• MTA 6 B form (Notice of Assignment)
• MTA 8 C form (Application)
• If the assignor or new owner is a C/S company, the forms must be signed with the company seal. If there is no seal, a copy written on the company letterhead stating this fact and a photocopy of the company registration certificate must be submitted.
• If the assignor is a partnership, a letter expressing the consent of the other partners must be submitted.
• If the assignor is a sole proprietorship, a letter from the business owner and the registration certificate are required as mentioned above.
• Two color or black and white upper body photographs of the assignee, sized 2.0 x 2.5 inches, taken within six months of the application date, are required. One photograph must be certified on the reverse side by the Grama Niladhari (Village Officer) of the relevant area, a Justice of the Peace, or a government staff officer. The Justice of the Peace's registration number must also be recorded on the seal.
• The assignee's National Identity Card must be submitted along with a photocopy.
• Revenue license for the year applicable to the date of assignment and a photocopy thereof.
• An essential document here is the vehicle's registration certificate or the vehicle's book. The original is required.
• If a mortgage, absolute ownership, or lease is registered, it must be canceled. The cancellation letter is also a required document for transferring registered ownership.
• A written declaration from the assignor (i.e., the current registered owner) stating no objection to the transfer of vehicle ownership and a photocopy of their National Identity Card are required. Both these documents must be certified and signed with an official seal by the Grama Niladhari of the area, a Justice of the Peace / Commissioner of Oaths, a lawyer, or a government staff officer.
• Copy A of MTA 6 signed by the registered owner or assignor is required. This copy is not applicable if the assignor has sent it via mail or brought and submitted it.
• If luxury tax is applicable, original copies of paid receipts and their photocopies are required.
• If the vehicle assignor is a woman and states a changed name after marriage, a certified copy of the marriage certificate is required.

What Services are Provided Under One-Day Service?

• Registration of ownership transfer from the current registered owner to the new owner.
• Registration of absolute ownership on the registration certificate.
• Removal of absolute ownership from the registration certificate.
• If the Assistant Commissioner of the branch is satisfied, activities such as revision of an engine number based on a weight certificate or identity certificate, and revision of name or address carried out legally.

What if the Current Registered Owner has Passed Away?

Above, we discussed how to transfer registered ownership when both the current registered owner and the assignee of the vehicle are alive. But what if the current registered owner has passed away, how is ownership transferred then? To know more details about this, and everything we said about how to transfer registered ownership if you are buying a 2nd hand vehicle, you can visit the official website of the Department of Motor Traffic.

This is how the transfer of registered ownership is done when buying a 2nd hand vehicle. At first glance, you might think this article describes a somewhat difficult task. However, if the new owner and the current owner of the vehicle do things correctly as we explained today, and submit the necessary documents without any omission, it is not that difficult. Therefore, always remember what we have told you today without forgetting.