How to Change Your Address on a Vehicle's CR Book in Sri Lanka

If you've moved house, your vehicle's Certificate of Registration (CR book) should still show your current address. You do this by submitting form CMT 72 to the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT, also called the RMV), along with your CR book, NIC, and proof of the new address. It's a simple paper process, but it's easy to put off — and that causes problems later when you try to sell, lease, or renew documents tied to that address.

Key facts

• The form you need is CMT 72 — "Change of Licensing Authority / Change of Other Particulars in the Certificate of Registration."
• As of October 2026, the DMT's listed fee for a CMT 72 application is Rs. 300, per the Department of Motor Traffic's own guidance — check the current amount at your district secretariat or the DMT before you go, since fees do get revised.
• You'll need your original CR book, a copy of your NIC, and proof of your new address (a Grama Niladhari report, affidavit, or another acceptable ID document).
• CMT 72 forms are free to collect from the DMT head office (No. 341, Alvitigala Mawatha, Colombo 05) or from district secretariats.
• The same "Change of Attributes" category also covers name changes, colour changes, and engine number changes, each with its own extra documents.
• Your driving licence address is updated through a separate DMT service — changing the CR book doesn't automatically update your licence.
• Your revenue licence is issued by the Provincial Department of Motor Traffic (or a Divisional Secretariat) for the province you're registered in, so an address change across provinces can shift where you renew it.

What is the CR book address change process in Sri Lanka?

It falls under the DMT's "Change of Attributes" service, the same category used for colour and engine changes. For a name or address revision, the DMT asks for documents confirming the change — a birth certificate, your NIC, a Grama Niladhari report, or an affidavit — alongside the CMT 72 application and your original CR book. There's no vehicle inspection involved for an address change, unlike a colour or engine number change, which needs a Motor Vehicle Examiner's certificate (form CMT 130) first.

What is form CMT 72, exactly?

CMT 72 is the DMT's general-purpose form for changing particulars on a Certificate of Registration that aren't the ownership itself — mainly address, name, or licensing authority details. It's different from the MTA 6 and MTA 8 forms used when you transfer a vehicle to a new owner. You can collect CMT 72 free of charge from the DMT head office in Colombo or from your local district secretariat, so you don't need to download or print anything in advance in most cases — though it's worth checking if your district secretariat has a copy before you travel.

What documents do you need to change your address on the CR book?

At minimum, bring:

• The vehicle's original CR book
• A photocopy of your NIC
• Proof of the new address — a Grama Niladhari certification, an affidavit, or another document the DMT accepts
• The completed CMT 72 form

If you're changing your name at the same time (for example after marriage), add your birth certificate or marriage certificate to the pile. If the vehicle has a number plate starting with English letters, you may also need to bring the Vehicle Identity Card.

How much does it cost to change your address at the RMV?

As of October 2026, the DMT's published fee for a CMT 72 change-of-particulars application is Rs. 300. This is a small administrative fee, not a tax, but government fees are reviewed periodically, so confirm the exact figure with your district secretariat or the DMT counter on the day — don't assume the amount above still applies by the time you read this.

Step-by-step: how to update your address

1. Get the CMT 72 form from the DMT head office or your nearest district secretariat.
2. Fill it in with your current CR book details and your new address.
3. Gather supporting documents — CR book, NIC copy, and proof of the new address.
4. Submit the form and documents at the counter, along with the fee.
5. Collect your updated CR book once the DMT processes the change. The DMT doesn't publish a fixed turnaround time for this service, so ask the counter staff what to expect when you submit — it can vary by office and season.

Do you need to change your address if you move within the same district?

Yes. The requirement isn't tied to how far you moved — any permanent change of address should be reflected on the CR book, whether you've relocated across the country or just down the road. Keeping it current matters most when the vehicle's documents need to match your NIC exactly, such as during a sale.

What happens if you don't update your address?

There's no separate fine for simply having an outdated address on your CR book. The real cost shows up later: mismatched address details can slow down other RMV transactions, cause revenue licence renewal notices or traffic fine correspondence to go to the wrong place, or raise questions during an ownership transfer. If you're planning to sell the vehicle soon, it's worth sorting the address out first — buyers and the DMT both expect your documents to line up with your NIC. Before you post the vehicle on /post-ad, it's worth running an eye over all your paperwork, and our /safety-tips guide covers more on keeping documents in order generally.

Does an address change affect your revenue licence?

It can. The revenue licence is issued by the Provincial Department of Motor Traffic or a Divisional Secretariat for the province tied to your registration — so if you've moved to a different province, check with the provincial office or Divisional Secretariat nearest your new address about where to renew going forward. If you're also comparing financing costs on a vehicle you're about to buy, the /leasing calculator can help you work out a monthly payment before correspondence from a leasing company starts arriving at your old address.

Is this the same as updating your driving licence?

No. Your CR book is the vehicle's registration document; your driving licence is a separate document tied to you personally. The DMT handles licence particulars (including your address) through its own duplicate-licence and change-of-particulars service, so moving house usually means two separate visits — one for the vehicle's CR book, one for your driving licence — unless your local office tells you otherwise.

Can you change other details at the same time?

Yes, the "Change of Attributes" category also covers colour and engine number changes, but each comes with extra steps. A colour change needs prior approval and an inspection certificate (CMT 130) from a Motor Vehicle Examiner before the CR book is amended. An engine change needs Commissioner General approval and the purchase receipt for the new engine. If you only need the address changed, you don't need any of this — just the CMT 72 form and your supporting documents.

If your situation is unusual — joint ownership, a vehicle registered to a company, or documents that don't quite match — it's worth asking in the Wahanaya forum before you go to the counter, since other owners may have dealt with the same district secretariat. And if you're in the market rather than sorting paperwork, you can browse current listings on /vehicles or check whether an asking price looks fair with /price-check.

Sources

• Department of Motor Traffic - Change of Attributes
• motortraffic.gov.lk Registration Of Ownership Transfer Sri Lanka : Department Of Motor Traffic
• Motor Traffic Forms - Puttalam District Secretariat
• Vehicle Colour Change Rules and RMV Procedure
• Department of Motor Traffic, Southern Province - Revenue Licences