Transfer ownership

• If you are selling or buying a second-hand vehicle from a motor dealer, engage a reputable or CaseTrust-SVTA accredited motor dealer for greater assurance of after-sales service. You can also conduct checks on the dealer by checking the dealer’s reviews on social media and visiting the dealership in person.
• Avoid vehicles with illegal modifications (e.g. additional fittings, facelifted vehicle lamps, etc.) as they may not be compliant with LTA regulations and you may incur additional costs to rectify them later. Report any illegally modified vehicles to LTA.
• Physically inspect the vehicle and tally the vehicle details (e.g. make/model, engine and chassis number, etc.) with LTA’s records. The engine and chassis number markings must be clearly visible and not tampered with. You can send the vehicle for a professional evaluation at an LTA-Authorised Inspection Centre (AIC) or Automobile Association of Singapore to check the engine and chassis numbers at a fee. Illegally modified vehicles may be subject to deregistration as they cannot be used on the roads. PARF and/or COE rebates of illegally modified vehicles will not be granted upon deregistration.
• Verify the vehicle registration details (e.g. age of vehicle, COE expiry, PARF eligibility, etc) by using the Enquire Transfer Fees digital service. You will need to obtain the current owner details from the seller to do so.
• If you are buying from a direct owner, or a consignment dealer, your interests will not be covered by the Lemon Law.
• Refer to the SAFE checklist (PDF, 106kB) developed by CASE to guide second-hand vehicle buyers.
• Take your time to compare prices and reviews of different dealers and vehicles.

Verify vehicle registration details with the physical vehicle.

• Read the terms and conditions of the agreements carefully (e.g. selling price, deposit, trade-in, warranty, insurance, payment milestone, financing interest rates, etc.) before signing.
• Any verbal promises given by the dealer should be put in writing in the sale/service agreement.
• Secure financing approval before taking possession of the vehicle to avoid scams where the dealer may change the financing terms.
• Opt to pay in stages instead of making a lump sum payment.
• Make sure that payment is made to the company, e.g. PayNow to the company’s Unique Entity Number (UEN) and not to individuals.
• Transact within the premises of the dealership.
• Ask for an official receipt bearing the company's stamp/printed logo and company information.
• Do not allow a third-party to transact / accept the transfer online on your behalf with your Singpass.
• The ownership of the vehicle must be transferred to you (the new owner) within 7 days upon your physical possession of the vehicle.
• Ensure that the vehicle details (e.g. vehicle registration number, make/model, COE expiry, etc.) are correct before accepting the ownership transfer.
• Upon successful transfer, you can login to your dashboard to check that the vehicle is registered under your name. When the vehicle is successfully transferred, LTA will send a letter and SMS to notify both the previous (seller) and the new owner (you).

Check and confirm all details before transacting via OneMotoring digital services.

Seller or current owner:

You will need the following to initiate the transfer:

• Vehicle registration number
• Next owner’s identification number

o    NRIC number (for Singaporeans and PRs) or

o    FIN (for foreigners) or

o    Company registration number (for businesses and companies)

• Next owner’s name
• Next owner’s mobile number and email address (optional)

Transfer Vehicle

You will receive SMS after you have successfully applied to transfer your vehicle. SMS will also be sent to the next owner to login and confirm the transfer.

Buyer or next owner:

You will need the following to confirm the transfer:

• Vehicle registration number
• A valid credit/debit card (VISA or MasterCard only) or Internet Banking account with DBS/POSB, OCBC/Plus!, Standard Chartered Bank or UOB (eNETS Debit) with sufficient balance and payment limit to pay fees or SGQR PayNow
• Valid motor insurance under your name, covering the full period of the vehicle’s valid road tax
  
  

Additional requirement from next owner of Private Bus/Private Hire Bus/School Bus and heavy vehicle before next owner can confirm vehicle transfer online

For Private Bus/Private Hire Bus/School Bus:

• Obtained prior approval from LTA Bus Licensing Division for the transfer

For heavy vehicle such as:

• Goods vehicle or trailer with maximum laden weight (MLW) of more than 5,000kg
• Bus with seating capacity of more than 15 passengers (excluding driver)
• Mobile crane or recovery vehicle with unladen weight (ULW) of more than 2,500kg
• Original Vehicle Parking Certificate in the buyer's name, covering the full period of the vehicle's road tax

Confirm/Reject Vehicle Transfer

Both the current and next owner will receive an SMS after the next owner has successfully confirmed the vehicle transfer.

After transfer of Light Goods Vehicles (LGV) and small buses:

After an LGV or a small bus with seating capacity of not more than 9 persons (excluding the driver) has been successfully transferred, the next owner has up to 7 days to display the following information on both sides of the vehicle:

• Registered owner’s name and business address
• Business/company registration number
• Passenger capacity
• Any other additional information as required by the Registrar

Only the Administrator or Executor of the Estate of the deceased may transfer the ownership of a vehicle belonging to a deceased vehicle owner.

The Administrator or Executor must first transfer the ownership to his/ her name before transferring it to a third party, if the original Grant of Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate has not been obtained from the Court.

Alternatively, the Administrator or Executor can approach the Public Trustee for assistance if the value of the deceased’s estate does not exceed $50,000. For more information, you may check on Public Trustee’s website. 

As the Administrator or Executor, you may apply to transfer the vehicle ownership online using your Singpass 2FA. You will need the next owner's name, identification number and mobile number to perform this transaction, as well as the submission of the following documents:

• Certified True Copy of Grant of Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate or a copy that is included in the Authentic Court Order (ACO) system; or Letter from the Public Trustee on the administration of the estate of the deceased owner
• Grant of Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate that were obtained overseas must be resealed by the Singapore Courts

Application to Transfer Asset of Deceased Owner

If the vehicle is under hire-purchase, you must settle all outstanding financial matters with the hire-purchase company before applying for the Grant of Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate, or before you apply to the Public Trustee for assistance to administer the deceased owner’s estate.

If a Solicitor is in the midst of applying for the Grant of Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate, the applicant may submit the following documents for LTA's consideration:

• An undertaking letter from the solicitor stating that a copy of the Grant of Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate will be sent to LTA once it is obtained from the Singapore Court.
• A certified copy of Ex Parte Originating Summons for Grant of Letters of Administration or Probate granted by the Singapore Court in the Estate of the Deceased.
• A letter from the Administrator(s)/Executor(s), witnessed by the solicitor, stating that the Administrator(s)/Executor(s) indemnifies the Land Transport Authority against any claims in connection with the transfer of the vehicle’s ownership.

If the vehicle is a light goods vehicle, the vehicle has to be transferred to a business, company or an individual with a valid hawker or farm licence.

You would need to bring the following documents if you are buying a Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) as a hawker or farmer. Both the current owner and next owner have to be present for the appointment.

• Completed Application Form (M01) (PDF, 130kB).
• Current owner’s and next owner’s identification documents (See this list for documents required) (PDF, 88kB).
• Transfer Fee of $25. Payment is available by NETS or SGQR PayNow only. 
• Additional levy (if applicable).
• Motor insurance certificate in the next owner's name, covering the full period of the vehicle's road tax.
• Original vehicle inspection certificate issued by an LTA’s Authorised Inspection Centre, if vehicle inspection is required, before road tax can be renewed.
  
• For LGV with MLW not more than 3,500kg: The original hawker licence or original farm licence issued by Singapore authorities to the next owner, if the next owner is a hawker or farmer in Singapore. 

After transfer of LGVs and small buses:

After an LGV or a small bus with seating capacity of not more than 9 persons (excluding the driver) has been successfully transferred, the next owner has up to 7 days to display the following information on both sides of the vehicle:

• Registered owner’s name and business address
• Business/ company registration number
• Passenger capacity
• Any other additional information as required by the Registrar

To transfer ownership of a diplomatic vehicle, as the registered owner, you must first seek approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to sell the vehicle.

When you have obtained MFA’s consent, follow these steps:

Step 1 (for seller): Obtain the vehicle's Singapore Customs Open Market Value (SCOMV)

• To get the SCOMV for your excise duties and GST payment, complete a valuation form and send it to:

Singapore Customs
55 Newton Road
#10-01 Revenue House
Tel: 6355 2000

Step 1 (for buyer, if the buyer is a diplomat):  

• Obtain Cargo Clearance Permit (Inward Non-Payment Permit) from Singapore Customs

Step 1 (for buyer, if the buyer is not a diplomat), he/ she must complete the following:

• Obtain a Certificate of Entitlement (COE)

The buyer may opt to pay for a pro-rated non-renewable COE for 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 years, or for the full 10 years. Only the 10-year COE can be renewed.

To obtain the COE, the buyer will need to pay the following:

• Pay excise duty at Singapore Customs

For more details, contact Singapore Customs at Tel: 6355 2000.

Step 2 (for seller):

Send the vehicle to an LTA-Authorised Inspection Centre (AIC) if the vehicle is due for periodic inspection (you will receive your inspection notice about 3 months before your road tax expires).

Step 3 (for buyer and seller):

Make an appointment with LTA to convert the tax-exempted vehicle to a non-tax-exempted vehicle (if buyer is not a diplomat) and transfer the vehicle registration.

You would need to bring the following documents for the appointment:

For conversion of the tax-exempted vehicle to a non-tax-exempted vehicle:

• Application Form R16 (PDF, 64kB)
• COE in the buyer's name
• Customs Inward Declaration Permit with the SCOMV shown and receipt(s) for excise duty (and GST, where applicable) paid

Note: If the vehicle does not have the emission pollutant values in our register, vehicle owner will have to provide LTA with the values. The values can be obtained from (1) a certificate/ test report issued by the manufacturer; or (2) a VICOM Emission Test Laboratory (VETL) test report. 

For transfer of vehicle registration:

• Approval letter from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for seller to sell the diplomatic vehicle.
• Approval letter from MFA for buyer to buy the diplomatic vehicle, if buyer is a diplomat.
• Application Form M01 (PDF, 130kB) for transfer of vehicle completed by the seller and the buyer.
• Original passport or Employment/ Immigration pass card* issued by MFA of the seller and buyer (if buyer is a diplomat):
  • If the vehicle is registered in the name of an embassy or consular mission, the embassy or consular mission's official seal must be affixed onto the transfer of vehicle application form.
  • The original passport of the diplomat who is authorised by his embassy or consular mission to sign the transfer of vehicle application form and effect the transfer of vehicle registration must also be submitted.
• Original identification documents of the buyer, if buyer is not a diplomat:
  • NRIC (For Singaporeans and PRs)* or
  • Employment/ Immigration pass card* issued by MOM or ICA (for foreigners)

• Motor insurance certificate in the buyer's name, which should already be in force on the transfer date and covers the full period of the new road tax licensing period that the buyer is applying for.
• Cargo Clearance Permit (Inward Non-Payment Permit), if buyer is a diplomat.
• Original vehicle inspection certificate issued by an LTA-Authorised Inspection Centre, if vehicle inspection is required before road tax can be renewed.
• Notification letter of a vehicle registration number successfully bid for or retained by the buyer, if the buyer would like to replace the vehicle registration number.

Step 4 (for seller or buyer): Pay fees and taxes

• Transfer fee of $25. Payment is available by NETS or SGQR PayNow only. 
• If the buyer is not a diplomat, these fees need to be paid:
  
  
  • Registration Fee

o   Additional Registration Fee (ARF)

• Road tax for 6 or 12 months
• Outstanding Quota Premium (i.e. Quota Premium less COE deposit)

You would need to bring the following documents if you are a foreigner who is not eligible for Singpass and would like to transfer your vehicle registration. Both current owner and next owner have to be present for the appointment with LTA.

• Completed Application Form (M01) (PDF, 130kB).
• Current owner’s and next owner’s identification documents (See this list for documents required) (PDF, 88kB).
• Transfer Fee of $25. Payment is available by NETS or SGQR PayNow only.  
• Additional levy (if applicable).
• Motor insurance certificate in the next owner's name, covering the full period of the vehicle's road tax.
• Original vehicle inspection certificate issued by an LTA’s Authorised Inspection Centre, if vehicle inspection is required, before road tax can be renewed.

Step 1: Temporarily transfer the vehicle to your name via your Electronic Service Agent (ESA) account

To enjoy the exemption from the transfer count, log in to your ESA account (i.e. login to LTALink with your Netrust Token) to confirm the temporary transfer of a vehicle to your name.

Step 2: Transfer the vehicle to a new buyer within 3 months

Login to LTALink with your Netrust Token and initiate a transfer of vehicle ownership to the buyer.

Extension of the temporary ownership period

You have up to 3 months from the first temporary transfer date to permanently transfer the vehicle to a new buyer. To extend in 3-month periods, a fee will be deducted from your designated GIRO account. The maximum extension period of 12 months will only be granted to vehicles:

• With a temporary ownership start date on or after 7 March 2013; or
• With a 9-month temporary ownership period expiring on or after 7 March 2013

The extension fees are as follows:

When the temporary ownership period cannot be further extended, the vehicle dealer or hire purchase company will need to carry out a permanent transfer of the vehicle to himself, before the vehicle can be further transferred to another buyer, or deregistered. You will need to pay the full transfer fees comprising the Transfer Fee and Additional Transfer Fee (where applicable). The transfer count of the vehicle will also be increased accordingly.