If you’ve just sold, wrecked, or handed over an old car in Perth, there’s one government step that’s easy to forget once the tow truck has driven off: lodging a Notification of Disposal with the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) in Western Australia. It’s a short form, but skipping it can leave you legally responsible for a car you no longer own. Here’s exactly how it works.
Why This Step Actually Matters
In WA, the vehicle licence stays linked to your name until DTMI is told otherwise — regardless of who’s actually driving the car. If the new owner racks up parking fines, speed camera infringements, or toll charges before the transfer is processed, those notices are sent to the address on file, which is still yours. Lodging the disposal notice promptly is what officially ends your liability for the vehicle.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
The disposal notice is submitted using Form MR9 (Notification of Change of Ownership – Vehicle Licence Transfer). You’ll need:
- The vehicle’s plate number, VIN/chassis number, and engine number
- The date of sale and the sale price (or market value)
- The buyer’s name and details, if selling to an individual
- Your driver’s licence number
- The vehicle licence papers, so details match DTMI’s records
Step-by-Step: How to Lodge It
- Complete Form MR9 with the buyer. Both the seller and purchaser fill out and sign the form together at the point of sale. It splits into a seller’s copy (usually blue) and a purchaser’s copy (usually red).
- Choose how to submit your copy. You can lodge online through a free DoTDirect account at transport.wa.gov.au, in person at any DVS centre or regional agent, or by post to Driver and Vehicle Services, GPO Box R1290, Perth WA 6844.
- Hand the purchaser’s copy and licence papers to the buyer. They’ll need this to complete their side of the transfer.
- Lodge within 7 days of the sale. This isn’t a suggested timeframe — DTMI can issue a $100 infringement if the seller’s notice isn’t submitted within that window.
- Keep your receipt or a copy of the lodged form. If a dispute or fine ever comes up later, this is your proof the vehicle was no longer yours from the date of sale.
For questions specific to your situation, DVS can be reached on 13 11 56.
What Happens to Your Number Plates
Unlike a straightforward private sale where plates typically move with the car to the next driver, a vehicle being sold for wrecking or salvage is different. Since the car isn’t going back on the road, the plates aren’t handed over to the buyer — you keep them, or return them to a DVS centre yourself. It’s worth removing your plates before the vehicle is towed, rather than leaving that step for later.
Does It Matter If the Car Is Written Off or Not Running?
No — the disposal notice process is the same whether the vehicle is running perfectly, sitting dead in the driveway, or already listed on the written-off vehicle register. What changes is simply how the sale itself happens. Reputable buyers who take running, non-running, accident-damaged, or written-off cars will still expect this paperwork to be handled the same way, because it’s what legally closes out your ownership.
A Straightforward Way to Handle the Sale
If the car is old, damaged, or just not worth the hassle of a private sale, Cash For Cars Perth buys cars, utes, trucks, vans, and 4WDs in any condition — running or not, deregistered, written off, or damaged by accident, fire, or flood — for up to $9,999 cash, across the entire Perth metro area (this doesn’t extend to Bunbury or further south). Towing is free and often arranged the same day, usually within 2–3 hours if you call before midday, and payment is made in cash or instant OSKO bank transfer before the car leaves your property.
You’ll need valid photo ID to sell — it doesn’t have to be in the registered owner’s name, though it’s worth having the vehicle licence papers on hand to make lodging your MR9 form straightforward afterwards. Cars we can’t take include stolen vehicles, cars still under finance, and bodies without a chassis. The team operates out of a licensed wrecking yard at 5 Hantke Place, Welshpool, open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
Ready to Sell Your Car?
Once the sale is done, remember to lodge your Notification of Disposal within 7 days — it takes a few minutes and protects you from being chased for someone else’s fines. If you’d like a straightforward, same-day sale first, call Cash For Cars Perth on 0420 262 651 for a free quote, or get in touch to arrange your free tow.