Notice Of Disposal: What Car Sellers Must Know In Perth WA

If you sell a vehicle in Perth WA, you should submit notice of disposal as soon as the deal is done. In Western Australia, you must notify the Department of Transport within 7 days that you have ceased to be the owner and provide the new owner name and address. This protects you from future risk like a speeding fine, toll notices, parking tickets, and other fines being sent to you as the last listed registered operator.

At Sell My Car Pro, we see the same problem come up again and again: a seller completes the sale, gets paid, then forgets the paperwork. The fix is simple. Lodge the notice, keep your receipt, and store it with your sale records.

What A Notice Of Disposal Means In Western Australia

A notice of disposal is your official notification to Transport WA that the ownership of a vehicle has changed. It tells the system you are no longer the owner or seller of the car, motorcycle, or trailer.

This matters because your vehicle exists in government records until the vehicle licence transfer is processed. Submitting the notice creates a clear line in the records, so the vehicle is no longer linked to you after the disposal date.

When You Must Submit A Notice Of Disposal

You must submit a notice of disposal when you:

• sell a vehicle privately to another person
• sell a vehicle to a business or company
• trade a vehicle in at a dealer dealership location as part of a trade in
• gift, donate, or otherwise dispose of a vehicle
• scrap a written off vehicle or an old car through a wrecker or removal service

In short, if you stop being the listed owner, you should notify the department. Leaving it “for later” is where penalties and disputes start.

What Can Happen If You Do Not Lodge It

If you do not notify the department within 7 days, you can face penalties. More importantly, you can stay legally connected to the vehicle in official records.

That can lead to real headaches, including:

• infringement notices for parking or traffic offences
• toll charges and enforcement notices
• follow-up from authorities if the vehicle is involved in an accident or worse
• stressful disputes where you have to prove the sale happened and when

A simple lodged notice reduces this risk fast.

Notice Of Disposal vs Transfer Of Ownership

These terms are commonly referred to together, but they are not always the same action for each person.

• Notice of disposal is the seller telling Transport WA: “I no longer own this vehicle.”
• Transfer of ownership is the broader process of changing the vehicle licence into the buyer’s name.

In practice, both parties are involved in the overall transfer process, but the seller’s priority is to lodge the notice so liability is removed from them.

The Key Form You Need: MR9

In Western Australia, the key document is the Vehicle Licence Transfer Application/Notice of Disposal of Licensed Vehicle (Form MR9).

The MR9 includes sections for:

• seller details (including your driver’s licence number)
• vehicle details
• buyer details
• sale details like selling price and date

If you submit online, the same inputs are still required, just captured digitally.

How To Submit A Notice Of Disposal Online With DoTDirect

For most straightforward sales, you can submit online using a DoTDirect account. This is usually the fastest process and gives you a confirmation you can keep as proof.

To submit online, you typically need:

• your DoTDirect login (create the account first if needed)
• the vehicle plate number
• buyer name and address
• sale date and selling price
• the details of the sale (including dutiable value where applicable)

After submission, save the confirmation or receipt. If anything “happens” later, that receipt is your best protection.

When You Need Driver And Vehicle Services Or A Regional Agent

Some transfers cannot be completed online. In those cases, you may need to visit Driver and Vehicle Services (also referred to as vehicle services) or use a regional agent, or submit by mail.

Common reasons you may be pushed offline include:

• special ownership changes like a deceased estate or court order
• ownership changes involving a business or company entity
• certain plate restrictions or optional plates
• mismatched department records (seller, buyer, or vehicle details do not match)
• heavy vehicle and other restrictions

If you are unsure, you can still start by gathering the form, your identity, and all sale details, then confirm the correct channel before you submit.

What Information You Need Before You Lodge

To avoid delays, collect all the details first. A clean submission reduces errors and protects your side of the transaction.

Prepare:

• your full name and address
• your driver’s licence number
• vehicle plate number and number plates status
• VIN or chassis number, engine number (where required), and odometer reading
• buyer full name and address
• sale date and selling price
• any supporting sale paperwork you plan to keep for your records

If you are selling privately, it also helps to keep a signed letter of sale and, where appropriate, a copy of the buyer’s licence. That is not always mandatory, but it is useful evidence if disputes arise.

Number Plates, Cancelling Rego, And Refunds

Plates and registration rules vary depending on the scenario.

If you cancel registration, you generally need to return the number plates to the Department of Transport. Once registration is cancelled and plates are surrendered, you may be eligible for a refund on any remaining registration fees, depending on timing and eligibility.

If you are selling to a WA buyer and the vehicle remains licensed, the plates usually stay with the vehicle. If you are dealing with optional plates, you may need extra steps to transfer plates or swap them before sale.

The practical rule is this: decide early whether the vehicle will be sold licensed in WA, or cancelled and sold unlicensed, because the paperwork path changes.

Selling To An Interstate Buyer In Perth

An interstate buyer is a special case. A Western Australian vehicle licence cannot be transferred to a person who is not a WA resident. That changes what you should do as the seller.

A common safe approach is:

• remove and return the plates to cancel registration before the sale
• sell the vehicle as unlicensed
• keep clear sale records including date, price, buyer details, and signatures

Interstate buyers may need an Unregistered Vehicle Permit to legally move the vehicle to NSW or another state for registration. If you want to reduce risk, handle plates and cancellation before the handover, then lodge the notice via the required in-person process if online submission is not available for that case.

Scrapped, Written Off, Or Junked Vehicles

If the vehicle is scrapped or written off, you still need to protect yourself. Until the department records show you are no longer the owner, you can still be contacted for infringements.

In many scrap situations:

• plates must be surrendered
• you should lodge the MR9 notice of disposal promptly
• you should keep the recycler or buyer details and the disposal date

This is where sellers often relax because the car is “gone”. From a paperwork point of view, it is not gone until the notice is lodged and recorded.

Roadworthy Certificates And Private Sales In WA

A roadworthy certificate is not required for private vehicle sales in Western Australia. That said, the absence of a roadworthy requirement does not reduce the importance of lodging the notice. The notice protects you regardless of vehicle condition, whether it is an old car, a used vehicle, or a damaged vehicle.

Common Mistakes That Create Problems

Mistakes are usually simple, but the impact can be big. These are the errors we see most often when people submit notice of disposal:

• wrong VIN or plate number
• incorrect sale date
• incomplete buyer address details
• forgetting to keep the confirmation receipt
• assuming the buyer will handle everything
• delaying beyond the 7-day window

If you spot an error after you submit, act quickly. Follow the department process to correct or edit the submission, and keep a record of the update.

A Simple Checklist To Protect Yourself After The Sale

Use this quick checklist the moment you complete the deal:

1. Confirm the buyer’s full name and address.
2. Record the sale date and selling price.
3. Lodge the notice online via DoTDirect, or submit MR9 in person, via a regional agent, or by mail if required.
4. Save your receipt and store it with all paperwork.
5. Handle plates correctly for your situation, especially for an interstate buyer.
6. If you cancelled registration, check whether you are eligible for a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have To Submit A Notice Of Disposal In Western Australia?

In Perth WA and across Western Australia, you must notify the Department of Transport within 7 days of selling, gifting, or disposing of the vehicle.

Is A Notice Of Disposal The Same As A Bill Of Sale?

No. A notice of disposal is the notification to the department. A bill of sale or letter of sale is your private record of the transaction. Keeping both helps protect the seller.

Can I Submit A Notice Of Disposal Online?

Often yes, using a DoTDirect account, as long as the transfer is eligible for online processing and the buyer details match the department records.

What If I Do Not Have The Buyer’s Address?

You generally need the buyer’s name and address to complete the notice properly. If you do not have the details, contact the buyer immediately and do not delay. If you are stuck, visit Driver and Vehicle Services for guidance before the deadline.

Do I Need To Remove Number Plates Before Submitting?

Not always. For standard WA-to-WA sales, plates usually stay with the vehicle. For an interstate buyer, it is often safer to return plates and cancel registration before sale, then sell the vehicle unlicensed.

Does Submitting A Notice Of Disposal Cancel My Insurance?

Not automatically. Insurance is separate from the transport authority process. Contact your insurer after the sale date and follow their cancellation or transfer steps.

Does Submitting A Notice Of Disposal Remove Liability From Me?

It is a key step that reduces liability because it updates official records to show you are no longer the owner. Keep the receipt as proof of the date you notified the department.

Do I Need A Notice Of Disposal For A Motorcycle Or Trailer?

Yes. The obligation applies to Western Australian licensed vehicles including a motorcycle and trailer.

Do I Need To Submit One If I Trade In My Car?

Yes. A trade-in is still a change of ownership. The dealership will often assist with paperwork, but you should still confirm the notice/transfer has been completed and keep your documentation.

Conclusion

A notice of disposal is the fastest way to protect yourself after a vehicle sale in Perth WA, because it updates Department of Transport records and helps prevent future fines, penalties, and disputes tied to your old registration. If you want a simple sale with paperwork handled by a local team, contact Sell My Car Pro today and we will help you sell your car with a clear, documented process.