Selling or scrapping a vehicle in Western Australia carries a legal obligation that many owners overlook: informing the Department of Transport that ownership has changed. The guidance is aimed at private sellers and people disposing of an unwanted, damaged or written-off car, including those selling to a wrecking yard rather than another individual. It explains why WA has no separate "Notice of Disposal" form like some other states, and clarifies that the standard ownership-transfer process serves the same purpose.
The process involves lodging details either online through a DoTDirect account or via a paper form (MR9) available at Driver and Vehicle Services centres, using the seller's licence details, the vehicle's registration, the sale date, and the buyer's or wrecker's information. Sellers have seven days from the date of sale to submit this notification, with a financial penalty for missing that window. The guidance also covers keeping proof of submission, retaining number plates rather than transferring them to the buyer, and notes that a prior insurance write-off recorded on the Written-Off Vehicle Register doesn't replace this separate ownership notification.
The central point is that legal responsibility for a vehicle - including fines, tolls or other liability - stays with the registered owner until the Department of Transport is formally told otherwise, regardless of who is actually using or driving the car. Meeting the seven-day deadline is a small administrative step, but skipping it can leave a former owner dealing with infringements tied to a vehicle that's already been sold or dismantled. Keeping a record of the submitted notification protects the seller if any disputes or correspondence arise later.
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