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Motorcycle Title Transfer Procedure 2022 – A Comprehensive Guide to Navigate the Process Seamlessly

The process of transferring motorcycle ownership is an essential step in legitimizing the sale or exchange of used motorcycles. This guide aims to provide an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of the procedures involved in transferring ownership of a used motorcycle, whether it's within the same province or between different provinces.

Administrator

14 July, 2024

When buying a used car, there are a few procedures and documents that need to be prepared. Let’s guide you through the necessary paperwork and procedures for transferring ownership of a used motorbike.

1 Why is it necessary to transfer the ownership of a motorbike?

It is mandatory to transfer the ownership of a used motorbike within 30 days

Due to commuting needs and to save costs, many people choose to buy used motorbikes.

However, according to regulations, you must transfer the ownership of a used motorbike within 30 days of purchase. If you fail to do so and are caught driving without the proper registration, you will be subject to heavy fines, and your motorbike may even be impounded. Additionally, the previous owner of the motorbike will also be held jointly liable.

The fine for not transferring the ownership of a motorbike ranges from 100,000 to 200,000 VND.

2 Procedures for transferring ownership of a motorbike according to the latest regulations in 2022

Prepare the necessary documents for the motorbike sale

Prepare documents for the motorbike sale

To ensure that the motorbike sale is legal, both the seller and the buyer need to prepare the following documents:

Documents required from the seller:

Original vehicle registration documents

Original ID card/Citizenship Identification Card

Original household registration book

Certificate of marital status if single

Marriage certificate if married, to avoid future disputes over assets

The seller can authorize another person to act on their behalf by using a Power of Attorney if they are unable to complete the transaction themselves. The procedure is as follows:

Step 1: Prepare a Power of Attorney and have it notarized by a competent authority.

Step 2: The authorized person will then enter into a sales contract with the buyer.

Documents required from the buyer:

Original ID card/Citizenship Identification Card

Original household registration book

Notarize the sales contract

According to Point B, Clause 2, Article 8 of Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA: The sale, donation, or transfer of motor vehicles by individuals must be notarized or certified by the People’s Committee (PC) of the commune, ward, or town regarding the signature of the seller, donor, or transferor. Therefore, the sales contract for the motorbike must be notarized or certified.

According to Official Dispatch No. 3956/BTP-HTQTCT: For the sale, donation, or transfer of special-use motor vehicles, the signature of the seller, donor, or transferor must be certified by the PC of the commune where the seller, donor, or transferor resides.

For the sale, donation, or transfer of motor vehicles by individuals, the parties involved have the right to choose to notarize the relevant documents at a notary public office or to certify the signatures on the documents at the PC of the commune where the seller resides.

If you choose to certify the signatures on the sales documents, you must do so at the PC of the commune where the seller resides.

Pay the registration fee for the motorbike transfer

Declare the registration fee

The next step is to pay the registration fee. The calculation of the registration fee is as follows:

Registration fee (VND) = Value of the asset subject to registration fee (VND) x Registration fee rate (%)

Where:

Value of the asset subject to registration fee = New asset value x (% of remaining asset quality / Depreciation rate).

This means that the older your motorbike, the lower the percentage. According to regulations, a motorbike used for one year will have a remaining quality percentage of 90%, while a motorbike over ten years old will have a percentage of 20%.

The registration fee rate for used motorbikes is 1%. The following special cases are exempt from this rate:

If the owner of the asset has already declared and paid a registration fee of 2% for the motorbike and then transfers it to an organization or individual in a centrally-controlled municipality (such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City), the registration fee will be 5%.

If the motorbike has already been subject to a 5% registration fee, subsequent transfers will be subject to a 1% registration fee.

Procedures for transferring ownership of a motorbike within the same province

Procedures for transferring ownership of a motorbike within the same province and across provinces

This is the final step and is carried out according to the guidelines of Circular 58 issued by the Ministry of Public Security in 2020.

Seller’s responsibilities: The vehicle owner must directly or through an authorized individual or service organization, submit the vehicle registration certificate to the vehicle registration authority. If the organization or individual purchasing the vehicle, receiving it through a transfer, donation, or inheritance, immediately completes the change of ownership procedure, the original registration certificate does not need to be submitted.

Buyer’s responsibilities:

Step 1: Prepare the following documents:

Vehicle registration application (Form No. 01)

Proof of registration fee payment

Proof of transfer of ownership

Vehicle owner’s documents.

The new vehicle owner will be issued a vehicle registration certificate within two days of receiving the valid application. The license plate will be issued immediately upon completion of the valid application.

Note: If the license plate is a 3, 4, or other non-standard number, it must be returned for a change to a 05-series license plate according to regulations upon receiving the valid vehicle registration application.

Procedures for transferring ownership of a motorbike to a different province

The seller completes the procedure at the place where the vehicle registration was issued. They must directly or through an authorized individual or service organization, submit the vehicle registration certificate and license plate to the vehicle registration authority.

The person completing the procedure is exempt from paying fees and will receive a Certificate of Registration and License Plate Revocation. They will also be issued a temporary vehicle registration certificate and a temporary license plate.

The buyer completes the procedure at the destination province.

Step 1: Prepare the following documents:

Vehicle registration application (Form No. 01)

Proof of registration fee payment

Proof of transfer of ownership

Certificate of Registration Revocation

License plate, and vehicle owner’s documents.

Step 2: Submit the above documents to the receiving and returning results department at the headquarters of the Traffic Police Department or the District-level Public Security Office. The buyer will pay the fees according to the regulations in Circular No. 229/2016/TT-BTC and will then be issued a new license plate and vehicle registration.

3 Comprehensive experience in transferring ownership of a motorbike from A to Z

Comprehensive experience in transferring ownership of a motorbike from A to Z

How much does it cost to transfer ownership of a motorbike?

The cost of transferring ownership of a motorbike includes the following:

Notarization or certification fee for the sales contract or vehicle sale document
Registration fee: calculated as mentioned above
Vehicle registration fee: approximately 50,000 VND
License plate change fee: 50,000 VND

Don’t forget the sales contract when buying a used motorbike

To transfer the ownership of a motorbike, don’t forget the sales contract and the Power of Attorney.

As mentioned above, to transfer the ownership of a motorbike, you must have a sales contract and a Power of Attorney.

Carefully review the handwritten sales documents

According to government regulations, handwritten documents are only valid if they are notarized. If the transaction was carried out without notarization, the transaction is still considered valid, and the handwritten sales documents are legally binding.

That’s all the information you need to transfer the ownership of a used motorbike. Good luck finding your dream motorbike and have a smooth transaction!

Frequently asked questions

A motorcycle title transfer is the process of changing the ownership of a motorcycle from one person to another. This is necessary when buying or selling a motorcycle, or when gifting it to someone else.

The requirements may vary slightly depending on the state, but generally, you will need the following: a completed title transfer application form, the original title certificate, proof of ownership (bill of sale or gift letter), a valid photo ID, and payment for the transfer fee.

Yes, many states now offer online services for title transfers. You can usually find the necessary forms and instructions on your state’s DMV website.

In this case, you will typically need a bill of sale that includes the purchase price, date of sale, and signatures of both the buyer and seller. Some states may also require a vehicle inspection or emissions test.

Yes, if you’re gifting a motorcycle, you may need to provide a gift letter stating that you are transferring ownership without payment. This letter should include the make, model, VIN, and both parties’ signatures.

The fees vary by state but typically include a title transfer fee and a registration fee. There may also be additional fees for things like a new license plate or a vehicle inspection.

The timeline can vary depending on your state and the method of transfer. Online transfers are often faster, while mail-in or in-person transfers may take a few weeks to process.

If there is a lien on the motorcycle (meaning you still owe money to a lender), you will need to contact the lienholder and provide them with the new owner’s information. They may require additional documentation and fees to release the lien.

Yes, failing to transfer the title within the specified timeframe can result in late fees and penalties. It may also cause issues with insurance coverage and registration renewal, so it’s important to initiate the transfer process promptly.