Guide6 min read9 views
Updated 28 October 2026 · Written by the Wahanaya.lk team
Keep your CR book, revenue licence, insurance certificate, VET emission certificate and driving licence valid and easy to find. Track renewal dates, keep certified copies if the vehicle is leased, and report a lost CR book to the police before applying to the DMT for a duplicate.
Keeping your vehicle documents in order in Sri Lanka means having a valid Certificate of Registration (CR), revenue licence, insurance certificate, and Vehicular Emission Test (VET) certificate, and knowing where the originals are at all times. Missing or expired documents can get you fined by the police, and can even affect an insurance claim after an accident. This guide covers what to keep, how to track renewal dates, and what to do if something goes missing.
The core set is the CR book, the current revenue licence, a valid insurance certificate, and your VET emission test certificate. Keep these together in one folder or a sturdy document wallet, separate from the glovebox copies you carry in the vehicle. If you bought the vehicle recently, also keep the sale agreement, the previous owner's transfer paperwork, and any import or customs documents if it was brought in directly. If you're financing the vehicle, keep a copy of your lease or loan agreement as well. These extra documents aren't things the police will ask for on the road, but you'll need them if you ever sell, transfer, or dispute ownership.
By law, you need your NIC (or passport for foreign drivers), a valid driving licence issued by the DMT, the vehicle's revenue licence, and a valid insurance certificate. You also need the CR book or an authorised certified copy. If you're stopped without these, you can be prosecuted, and if you're in an accident without a valid insurance certificate on hand, it can complicate your claim. Keep photocopies or clear photos on your phone as a backup, but the physical originals (or the leasing company's certified copy) are what officers will want to see.
The two documents that expire every year — the revenue licence and the VET certificate — are the easiest to forget. The emission test has to be done first, since the certificate must be obtained before you can pay for the revenue licence. Set a reminder a few weeks before each expiry date, and note it against the date printed on your current licence rather than the calendar month, since renewal windows can shift. You can also check your vehicle's current revenue licence status for free by sending an SMS to 1919 with the DMT's short code, or by checking on the DMT website or app, so you're never caught by surprise. If you're budgeting for ownership costs alongside fuel, insurance and servicing, our leasing payment calculator can help you plan for renewals as part of your monthly running costs.
Report it to the police first and get a copy of the complaint and the receipt — you'll need both for the DMT. Then apply for a duplicate at the DMT's Narahenpita head office (for any vehicle type) or at a district office in Gampaha, Hambantota, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura or Jaffna (motorcycles only). You'll need your NIC, the police documents, your current revenue licence, and a completed form CMT65. The vehicle is usually inspected and a form CMT75 issued before the duplicate is released. Heavy vehicles need an additional weight certificate (form CMT130). Build in time for this: duplicates aren't a same-day service and commonly take about a month, so don't leave it until just before you need to sell or transfer the vehicle.
If you took a lease or loan to buy the vehicle, the finance company is usually noted on the CR as the absolute owner until the facility is fully settled, and they keep the original CR book. You'll be given a certified copy authorised by the finance company to carry in the vehicle instead. Keep your lease agreement, payment schedule, and settlement letters in your own file — you'll need them if you want to sell the vehicle before the lease ends, refinance, or confirm the outstanding balance. If you're still deciding on financing for a vehicle, compare options and estimate repayments using our leasing calculator before you commit.
Beyond the SMS short code, the DMT's e-services let you look up a registered vehicle's basic status, and the eRevenue Licence portal lets you check the status of an online renewal request. These checks are useful before buying a used vehicle too — if you're browsing listings on /vehicles, cross-check the registration details the seller gives you against what the DMT records show, and confirm the asking price looks reasonable with our price check tool before you commit.
Before any transaction, confirm the CR book matches the chassis and engine numbers on the vehicle, check the revenue licence and insurance are current, and ask whether there's an outstanding lease or loan against it. If you're selling, having your documents organised and up to date makes the process faster and builds buyer confidence — it's one of the first things serious buyers ask about. When you're ready, you can list your vehicle on /post-ad. For general safety when meeting buyers or sellers, see our safety tips. And if you're unsure about a specific document, fee, or process, ask in the Wahanaya forum — other owners and sellers are often happy to share what worked for them.
Treat your vehicle's documents as part of routine ownership, not a once-off task. Keep the CR, revenue licence, insurance certificate and VET certificate current and together, keep copies in the vehicle and backups elsewhere, and act quickly if the CR book goes missing. Staying organised now saves you a stressful scramble later, whether that's a police checkpoint, an insurance claim, or a buyer ready to pay for your vehicle today.
Yes, you can sell a car in Sri Lanka from overseas by giving a registered Power of Attorney to someone in Sri Lanka, signed before a Sri Lankan embassy or consular officer, then used by your attorney to sign the RMV transfer forms on your behalf.
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