Can one director sign the transfer papers alone?

Usually no. RMV/DMT practice is to require the company's embossed seal, or signatures from two directors with a letterhead letter if there's no seal. Check the exact requirement with your district DMT office before the appointment.

Does the buyer need a TIN to buy a vehicle from a company?

Yes. Since 5 January 2026, the Department of Motor Traffic requires the new owner's NIC or Business Registration Number plus their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) for every registration and ownership transfer, except motorcycles, three-wheelers, tractors, hand tractors and tractor trailers.

What if the original directors who bought the vehicle have left the company?

The current directors can still authorise the sale, but you should carry proof of the director change — typically the Form 20 filed with the Registrar of Companies — so RMV/DMT can confirm who is entitled to sign.

Is a sole proprietorship treated the same as a Pvt Ltd company?

No. If the vehicle is registered to a sole proprietorship (a "single owned company"), RMV/DMT generally asks only for the owner's written consent and a copy of the Business Registration certificate — no board seal or two-director signatures are needed.

Do we still need the revenue licence and CR book for a company sale?

Yes. A valid revenue licence for the year of transfer and the original CR book (Certificate of Registration) are required regardless of whether the seller is an individual or a company.

Guide7 min read12 views

How to Sell a Vehicle Registered Under a Company Name in Sri Lanka

Updated 30 October 2026 · Written by the Wahanaya.lk team

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Selling a company-owned vehicle needs the same CR book and revenue licence as a personal sale, plus company paperwork: MTA 6 and MTA 8 signed with the embossed seal (or a letterhead letter) by two directors, a no-objection letter, and the Business Registration certificate.

What's different about selling a vehicle that's registered to a company?

If your CR book shows a company name instead of a person's name, you cannot just sign the back of the CR and hand over the keys. The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT, formerly RMV) wants proof that whoever signs on the company's behalf is actually authorised to sell that asset. That means extra paperwork on top of the usual documents — the revenue licence, CR book, and transfer forms you'd need for any sale. Read our general guide on how to transfer vehicle ownership in Sri Lanka for the baseline steps, then add the company-specific items below.

Key facts

A limited (Pvt Ltd) company transfer needs MTA 6 (statement of change of possession) and MTA 8 (application for registration on transfer), signed with the company's embossed seal.
If there's no embossed seal available, a letter on company letterhead can substitute for it.
Common practice is for two directors to sign the transfer documents and a "no objection" letter addressed to DMT.
You also need a certified copy of the Certificate of Business Registration/Incorporation.
A sole proprietorship ("single owned company") only needs the owner's written consent plus a copy of the business registration — no seal or second director needed.
Since 5 January 2026, DMT requires the new owner's NIC or Business Registration Number plus their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) for every vehicle registration and transfer (motorcycles, three-wheelers, tractors, hand tractors and tractor trailers are exempt), per Ada Derana and Daily Mirror.
The valid revenue licence for the transfer year and the original CR book are still required, exactly as for a personal sale.
Transfer fees and stamp duty change from time to time — confirm the current amount at your DMT office or by calling 1919 before you pay anything.

What documents does a Pvt Ltd company need to provide?

A private limited company selling a vehicle needs to show that the sale was properly authorised. Based on documented DMT practice, expect to prepare:

MTA 6 (statement of change of possession) and MTA 8 (application for registration on transfer), filled in with the company's name and address exactly as they appear on the CR book, and signed with the embossed company seal.
A "no objection" letter addressed to DMT, on company letterhead, signed by two directors, confirming the company agrees to transfer the vehicle to the named buyer.
A certified copy of the company's Certificate of Business Registration (or Certificate of Incorporation), showing the registered company name and number.
Photocopies of the NICs of the directors who sign the documents.
The valid revenue licence for the current year, and the original CR book.

Keep an extra set of copies of everything — some DMT counters ask you to leave copies behind in addition to the originals you bring for verification.

What if the company has no embossed seal?

Not every small or older company still has its embossed (rubber or metal) seal on hand. In that case, DMT practice accepts a letter typed on the company's official letterhead instead, confirming the transfer and signed by the authorised directors. If your company has misplaced its seal, get this letterhead letter prepared and signed well before your DMT appointment, since it needs to match the director details DMT has on file.

Is a sole proprietorship treated differently from a limited company?

Yes. If the vehicle is registered under a "single owned company" — effectively a sole proprietorship trading under a business name, rather than a Pvt Ltd company with directors — the process is lighter. DMT generally only asks for:

Written consent from the registered business owner, and
A copy of the business registration certificate.

You don't need an embossed seal or two-director signatures, because there's no board of directors to coordinate. This is the most common setup for small trading firms, workshops and transport businesses that register a single vehicle under the business name for tax or liability reasons.

Do you need a TIN to transfer a company vehicle?

Yes, for the buyer's side. As of October 2026, the TIN requirement that came into force on 5 January 2026 is still in effect: DMT's data system requires the new owner's NIC (for an individual buyer) or Business Registration Number (for a company buyer), together with their Taxpayer Identification Number from the Inland Revenue Department, before registering any ownership transfer. This applies to motor cars, vans, double cabs and most other categories — motorcycles, three-wheelers, tractors, hand tractors and tractor trailers are specifically exempt. If your buyer doesn't already have a TIN, they can register for one with the Inland Revenue Department before the DMT appointment — it doesn't cost anything to obtain. Check wahanaya's price check tool once the sale is agreed so both sides know the vehicle's fair market value before any payment changes hands.

What if the vehicle is still leased or mortgaged to a finance company?

Company vehicles are often bought on a lease or loan, with the finance company registered as having an "absolute ownership" interest or a mortgage on the CR book. Before DMT will process any transfer, you need a cancellation letter from the leasing company or bank confirming the facility is fully settled and their interest has been removed. If the lease isn't settled yet, see our guide on settling a vehicle lease early in Sri Lanka and don't advertise the vehicle as sale-ready until you have that cancellation letter in hand.

What if the directors who originally bought the vehicle have since left?

Companies change hands and boards change over the years, but the vehicle registration doesn't update itself. If the directors named when the vehicle was first registered are no longer with the company, the current directors can still sign and authorise the sale — but bring documentation proving who the current directors are. The standard proof is Form 20 (notice of change of director/secretary) filed with the Registrar of Companies, which DMT staff can check against the company's file. Without this, a DMT officer may refuse to accept signatures from directors who don't match the company's older records.

Step-by-step: selling and transferring a company-registered vehicle

Confirm the company's current directors and get the embossed seal (or prepare a letterhead letter if there's none).
Settle any lease or mortgage and obtain the cancellation/absolute ownership deletion letter if applicable.
Gather documents: CR book, current-year revenue licence, Certificate of Business Registration, director NIC copies, Form 20 if directors changed.
Agree the price and find a buyer — list the vehicle on /post-ad and browse comparable listings on /vehicles to price it realistically.
Get the buyer's TIN and NIC/BRN ready in advance so the DMT visit isn't delayed.
Fill in MTA 6 and MTA 8, sign with the embossed seal (or letterhead letter) and two director signatures, and prepare the no-objection letter.
Visit the DMT office with the buyer, submit all documents, and pay the applicable transfer fee and stamp duty — ask the counter staff or call 1919 to confirm the current amount, since fees can change.
Get the updated CR book showing the buyer as the new registered owner, and keep a copy of everything for the company's records.

What should a buyer check before buying from a company?

If you're buying from a company rather than an individual, do the usual checks — service history, test drive, accident and flood history — plus a few company-specific ones. Ask to see the embossed seal or letterhead letter before you pay anything, confirm the company's Business Registration details match the CR book, and ask directly whether the vehicle was ever leased or mortgaged. Read our safety tips for a fuller pre-purchase checklist, and if anything about the company paperwork looks unusual, ask other buyers and sellers in the Wahanaya forum before you commit.

Sources

Questions

Can one director sign the transfer papers alone?: Usually no. RMV/DMT practice is to require the company's embossed seal, or signatures from two directors with a letterhead letter if there's no seal. Check the exact requirement with your district DMT office before the appointment.
Does the buyer need a TIN to buy a vehicle from a company?: Yes. Since 5 January 2026, the Department of Motor Traffic requires the new owner's NIC or Business Registration Number plus their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) for every registration and ownership transfer, except motorcycles, three-wheelers, tractors, hand tractors and tractor trailers.
What if the original directors who bought the vehicle have left the company?: The current directors can still authorise the sale, but you should carry proof of the director change — typically the Form 20 filed with the Registrar of Companies — so RMV/DMT can confirm who is entitled to sign.
Is a sole proprietorship treated the same as a Pvt Ltd company?: No. If the vehicle is registered to a sole proprietorship (a "single owned company"), RMV/DMT generally asks only for the owner's written consent and a copy of the Business Registration certificate — no board seal or two-director signatures are needed.
Do we still need the revenue licence and CR book for a company sale?: Yes. A valid revenue licence for the year of transfer and the original CR book (Certificate of Registration) are required regardless of whether the seller is an individual or a company.

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