Guide7 min read12 views
Updated 5 November 2026 · Written by the Wahanaya.lk team
You need the original CR book, a valid revenue licence, insurance and VET certificate, signed MTA 6 and MTA 8 forms, and NIC copies for both parties. If there's a lease or mortgage, add a release letter from the finance company, and the buyer now needs a TIN.
You need the original CR book (Certificate of Registration), a valid revenue licence, an in-date VET emission certificate and insurance, a signed MTA 6 transfer form, an MTA 8 possession notice, and certified NIC copies of both yourself and the buyer. If the car is leased or mortgaged, add a release letter from the finance company. Missing even one of these can stop the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT, formerly RMV) from accepting the transfer.
Gathering everything before you list the car on /post-ad saves you from losing a serious buyer while you chase paperwork.
You hand over the original CR book, your copy of the signed MTA 6 form, the MTA 8 notice, the current revenue licence, and certified copies of your NIC. Many sellers also pass on the service book, the last insurance certificate, and the VET emission certificate so the buyer can arrange their own insurance and licence renewal without delay. If you still have the original sale invoice or import documents, include those too — buyers checking the car's history on /vehicles or comparing it with similar listings will ask for them.
MTA 6 is the official application to transfer ownership from your name to the buyer's. It comes in multiple copies (A, A1, B, B1, C, C1); the DMT keeps one set, you keep one as the seller, and the buyer keeps one to lodge at the DMT counter. Both you and the buyer must sign it, so do this together rather than posting it separately — a form signed only by one party is routinely rejected.
MTA 8 is the notice of transfer of possession — it tells the DMT the vehicle has physically changed hands even before the ownership paperwork is finalised. As the seller, you're responsible for sending Copy C of the MTA 8 to the DMT by registered post within 14 days of the sale. This protects you: if the buyer never completes the ownership transfer, you have proof you reported the sale and the vehicle is no longer legally your responsibility for fines or future revenue licence issues.
DMT counters typically check that the revenue licence is current, the VET emission certificate hasn't lapsed, and the vehicle carries at least third-party insurance before they'll process the transfer paperwork. If any of these has expired, renew it first — the DMT can turn the transfer away on the spot rather than process it conditionally. Battery electric vehicles are exempt from the emission test but still need a valid revenue licence and insurance.
As of November 2026, the buyer's Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) must be entered into the DMT's system for the ownership transfer to go through, a rule that took effect on 5 January 2026 (Ada Derana, Daily News). This applies to cars, vans, SUVs and most other classes, but not to motorcycles, three-wheelers, hand tractors, tractors or trailers. As the seller, you don't need a TIN yourself for this step, but it's worth telling your buyer in advance so they're not caught out at the DMT counter without one.
A few situations need more than the standard set:
If any of these apply to you, sort them out before you advertise — buyers who are paying through a lease (see /leasing for how monthly payments are worked out) will usually want a clean, uncomplicated CR book before their finance company approves the facility.
Lay out every document before you post your ad on /post-ad, so you can answer buyer questions on the spot instead of losing their interest. A practical pre-sale checklist:
Before you settle on a price, run the vehicle through /price-check so you're negotiating from a realistic figure rather than guessing.
If you don't send Copy C of the MTA 8 within 14 days, there's no proof on record that you've sold the vehicle, so any fines, insurance claims, or disputes could still come back to you as the registered owner. Likewise, if the buyer delays submitting the transfer documents, they may face a penalty fee from the DMT. Agree with your buyer upfront on who completes each step and by when, and get it in writing as part of your sale agreement.
Document requirements can vary slightly between DMT district offices, and rules like the TIN requirement have changed recently, so it's worth double-checking with your nearest DMT or Divisional Secretariat office before your appointment. You can also post your situation on the Wahanaya forum — other sellers who've been through the same transfer process recently can tell you what their local office actually asked for. And before you hand your car over to a stranger for a test drive or final paperwork meeting, check /safety-tips for how to do it safely.
When a buyer pays through a lease or bank loan, their finance company sends an approved valuer to inspect your car and registers itself as absolute owner on the CR book before you get paid, so expect extra paperwork and a short delay versus a cash sale.
Wahanaya.lk team8 min read
The safest payment is a bank transfer or bank draft you verify yourself by checking your own banking app or calling your bank — never a screenshot the buyer sends you. Don't hand over the CR book, keys or signed MTA 6 form until the money has actually settled in your account.
Wahanaya.lk team7 min read
Yes — the DMT's ownership-transfer system checks that your vehicle's VET (emission test) certificate and revenue licence are both in date before it lets the transfer go through, so renew an expired VET before you sell, unless your vehicle is exempt.
Wahanaya.lk team7 min read
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