Does a Power of Attorney need to be registered before you can use it to buy a vehicle?

Yes. Under the Powers of Attorney Ordinance, every POA, whether signed in Sri Lanka or abroad, must be registered at the Registrar General's Department — within one month if signed in Sri Lanka, or three months if signed abroad.

Can you sign a Power of Attorney at any notary overseas?

No. A POA signed outside Sri Lanka must be executed before a Sri Lankan Ambassador, High Commissioner, or Consular/Diplomatic Officer, or another person authorised to attest documents under the law of that country, with two witnesses present.

Is a General Power of Attorney good enough to buy a car?

It can work, but a Special Power of Attorney that names the specific task — buying and registering a motor vehicle — is safer, because it limits what your attorney can do and is easier for a seller, dealer or leasing company to accept.

Can your attorney also sign a lease or loan agreement for the vehicle?

Only if the leasing company agrees. Leasing firms set their own conditions for POA borrowers, so check directly with the company — see /leasing for how monthly payments work before you commit.

What if the DMT or seller refuses to accept your Power of Attorney?

This happens because DMT's published transfer document list does not spell out a POA procedure. Ask your DMT office in advance, carry the registered original, and have a backup plan such as a short visit home if they insist on your presence.

Advice7 min read4 views

Can You Buy a Vehicle in Sri Lanka Using a Power of Attorney?

Updated 2 November 2026 · Written by the Wahanaya.lk team

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Yes. Someone living abroad can give a Special Power of Attorney to a trusted person in Sri Lanka to inspect, pay for and register a vehicle, but the POA must be properly executed, registered with the Registrar General, and accepted by the DMT and the seller before you rely on it.

Key facts

A Power of Attorney (POA) lets someone abroad authorise a trusted person in Sri Lanka to inspect, negotiate, pay for and register a vehicle on their behalf.
A POA signed outside Sri Lanka must be executed before a Sri Lankan Ambassador, High Commissioner, or Consular/Diplomatic Officer (or a person authorised under that country's law), with two witnesses present.
Every POA — local or foreign — must be registered at the Registrar General's Department (RGD): within one month of signing if done in Sri Lanka, or three months if done abroad, as of November 2026 (rgd.gov.lk).
Since the Powers of Attorney (Amendment) Act, No. 28 of 2022, you also need an affidavit in the format set out in that Act when registering the POA.
A "Special" POA naming the exact task — buying and registering a specific vehicle, or vehicles generally — is usually easier for a seller, dealer or the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) to accept than a broad "General" POA.
Normal vehicle transfer at the DMT still needs the MTA 6 and MTA 8 forms, the Certificate of Registration (CR book), a valid revenue licence, and certified NIC copies of both parties.
The DMT's published document list for ownership transfer does not spell out a specific POA procedure, so always confirm acceptance with your DMT office before you rely on one.

Can you really buy a car in Sri Lanka while living abroad?

Yes, but you can't do it by email or a phone call alone — Sri Lankan law needs a proper, registered Power of Attorney before anyone else can sign documents, pay, and register a vehicle in your name. Many expatriates and dual citizens do this successfully every year, usually to buy a car for a parent, or to have a vehicle ready before they return. The part people get wrong is treating the POA as a formality instead of a legal document that the DMT, the seller, and sometimes a leasing company all have to be comfortable with.

What type of Power of Attorney do you need to buy a vehicle?

You need either a General POA (covering all your affairs in Sri Lanka) or a Special POA (limited to a specific task, such as buying and registering a vehicle). For a one-off vehicle purchase, a Special POA is the better choice. It clearly states that your attorney — the person you're trusting — can view vehicles, negotiate price, sign the sale agreement, pay the seller, sign the MTA 6/MTA 8 transfer forms, and collect the CR book in your name. A narrow, clearly worded POA is easier for a seller or a DMT officer to read and accept quickly, and it limits what your attorney can do if something goes wrong.

How do you create a Power of Attorney from abroad?

If you're overseas, the POA must be drawn and signed in the presence of two witnesses, and attested before a Sri Lankan Ambassador, High Commissioner, Diplomatic Officer, Consular Officer, or another person authorised to attest such documents under the law of the country you're in (desaram.com, rgd.gov.lk). You'll also need a self-certified copy of your passport bio-page attached. If the person you're appointing (your attorney) also lives overseas, they need an affidavit executed under the laws of their country of residence, and both the POA and the affidavit must state a local Sri Lankan address for that attorney.

Once signed, the POA must be registered at the Registrar General's Department within three months of the date it was signed abroad (one month if it was signed inside Sri Lanka). Registration needs the original POA, a notary-certified copy, certified NIC/passport copies of both you and your attorney, and the affidavit required under the Powers of Attorney (Amendment) Act, No. 28 of 2022. Ask a local notary or lawyer in Sri Lanka to help your attorney lodge this — don't leave it until the vehicle purchase is already in progress, since an unregistered POA can hold up the whole transfer.

What documents does your attorney need at the DMT?

Alongside the registered POA, your attorney still needs the normal buyer-side paperwork: a certified copy of your NIC or passport, the completed MTA 6 (application for transfer) and MTA 8 (notice of change of possession) forms signed as required, the seller's Certificate of Registration, a current revenue licence, and — depending on the vehicle — a valid emission test certificate and any mortgage cancellation letter if the vehicle was under a lease or bank facility (motorguide.lk; srilanka-information-zone.blogspot.com). Statutory transfer costs typically include a class transfer fee, a flat DMT service charge, and a stamp duty based on the declared sale value, but these amounts are reviewed from time to time — confirm the current figures at your district DMT office or on dmt.gov.lk before you budget, as of November 2026 (induwara.lk).

Before your attorney goes to the DMT, call or visit the specific office first. DMT's own published document checklist for ownership transfer does not mention a POA procedure, so acceptance can depend on the officer and branch. Carrying the original registered POA (not just a photocopy), plus your NIC/passport copy, gives your attorney the best chance of a smooth visit.

What mistakes do people make with vehicle POAs?

The most common mistake is using a POA that was never registered, or one that's too vague about what the attorney can do — some sellers and DMT staff will reject it outright rather than interpret it. Another is forgetting that the three-month registration window starts from the date the POA was signed abroad, not from when it arrives in Sri Lanka by post; delays in courier or notarisation can eat up that window fast. People also assume a POA automatically lets their attorney take out a lease or loan in their name — leasing companies have their own credit and signing rules for POA-based applications, so check directly with the leasing company before assuming it will work; see /leasing for how monthly instalments are worked out once financing is confirmed. Finally, some buyers skip inspecting the vehicle properly because they're not physically present — send your attorney with a checklist, or ask for a video call during the inspection, and read /safety-tips before any money changes hands.

How do you check the vehicle and price are right if you're not in Sri Lanka?

Use /price-check to see what similar makes and models are going for before your attorney negotiates, and browse comparable listings on /vehicles so you both agree on a target price range in advance. Ask the seller or dealer for extra photos, a video of the engine running, and the chassis and engine numbers so your attorney (or an independent mechanic) can verify them against the CR book before paying anything. If you still have questions about how a specific POA situation is being handled, post them on the /forum — other buyers and sellers who've been through the same process often reply with what worked for them at their DMT branch.

Checklist: buying a vehicle in Sri Lanka from abroad

Decide whether you need a General or Special POA — a Special POA naming the vehicle-buying task is usually clearer and safer.
Sign the POA abroad before an Ambassador, High Commissioner, Consular/Diplomatic Officer, or other authorised person, with two witnesses.
Attach a self-certified copy of your passport bio-page; if your attorney is also abroad, add their affidavit and local Sri Lankan address.
Register the POA at the Registrar General's Department within three months of signing (one month if signed locally).
Confirm with your DMT office in advance that they will accept a POA-based transfer, and ask what else they want to see.
Have your attorney carry the original registered POA plus certified NIC/passport copies — not just photocopies.
Agree on a price range using /price-check and inspect the vehicle thoroughly by video before paying.
If financing, confirm the leasing company's own POA rules before relying on your attorney to sign — check /leasing.

Sources

Questions

Does a Power of Attorney need to be registered before you can use it to buy a vehicle?: Yes. Under the Powers of Attorney Ordinance, every POA, whether signed in Sri Lanka or abroad, must be registered at the Registrar General's Department — within one month if signed in Sri Lanka, or three months if signed abroad.
Can you sign a Power of Attorney at any notary overseas?: No. A POA signed outside Sri Lanka must be executed before a Sri Lankan Ambassador, High Commissioner, or Consular/Diplomatic Officer, or another person authorised to attest documents under the law of that country, with two witnesses present.
Is a General Power of Attorney good enough to buy a car?: It can work, but a Special Power of Attorney that names the specific task — buying and registering a motor vehicle — is safer, because it limits what your attorney can do and is easier for a seller, dealer or leasing company to accept.
Can your attorney also sign a lease or loan agreement for the vehicle?: Only if the leasing company agrees. Leasing firms set their own conditions for POA borrowers, so check directly with the company — see /leasing for how monthly payments work before you commit.
What if the DMT or seller refuses to accept your Power of Attorney?: This happens because DMT's published transfer document list does not spell out a POA procedure. Ask your DMT office in advance, carry the registered original, and have a backup plan such as a short visit home if they insist on your presence.

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