How to sell your unregistered car in Darwin

Yes, it is completely legal to sell an unregistered car in Darwin. You do not need to register or re-register your vehicle before selling it. What matters is that the correct documents are provided to the Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) to show proof of ownership and to record the transfer.

To complete the sale legally, you’ll need:

• A Notice of Disposal, which informs the MVR that the car has been sold.
• Proof of ownership, such as a receipt of purchase or other supporting documents.

By submitting these, you protect yourself from future fines or liabilities and ensure the transaction is recognised by the NT Government.

Checklist for selling an unregistered car in Darwin

Before handing over your vehicle, make sure you’ve ticked off the essential steps below. This simple checklist helps ensure the sale of your unregistered car in Darwin is quick, legal, and hassle-free.

1. Submit a Notice of Disposal to the NT Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) within 14 days of sale.
2. Gather proof of ownership, such as a purchase receipt, signed Notice of Disposal, or a legal ownership document.
3. Prepare your vehicle by cleaning it and removing personal belongings.
4. Choose your buyer; whether that’s a dealer, private buyer, or 1800 Salvage for instant cash and free towing.
5. Negotiate a fair price based on the car’s condition, age, and market demand.
6. Issue a receipt of sale, keeping a copy for your own records.
7. Cancel registration and surrender number plates if still registered at the time of sale.

Step-by-step process to sell your unregistered vehicle

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Selling an unregistered car in Darwin involves a few key steps. Most of them are straightforward, but completing them correctly ensures the sale is legal and protects you from future liability.

Step 1: Lodge a Notice of Disposal with the NT MVR

The Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) is a Northern Territory road authority. They don’t require you to register your car, but they do require you to submit a Notice of Disposal to them.

Your completed notice must include:

• Seller and buyer details: full name, address, date of birth, date and price of sale, signatures.
• Vehicle details: make, model, registration number, VIN, and engine number.

What is a Notice of Disposal?

A Notice of Disposal is a document that clearly states that you, the vehicle’s current owner, are selling it to a new owner. The MVR simply needs them for its records.

Notices are easy to write up yourself, so you won’t have to worry about paying a lawyer.

Your completed notice needs to contain the following information for you (the seller), and the buyer of the vehicle:

• Full name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Date of sale
• Price of sale
• Signatures

The notice also needs the following details for the vehicle:

• Make and model
• Registration number
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Engine number

What counts as a Notice of Disposal?

You can write your own Notice of Disposal using the information provided above.

Alternatively, you can use the Northern Territory Government’s downloadable R06 Notice Of Disposal template.

This guide is about selling unregistered cars, but if you decide to register your vehicle, your most recent registration certificate may suffice.

How much does submitting a Notice of Disposal cost?

Submitting a Notice of Disposal to the NT Motor Vehicle Registry is free. There are no fees or charges, whether you submit it online, by email, by post, or in person at an MVR office.

This step is important because it officially records the transfer of ownership. By lodging the notice promptly, you protect yourself from any fines or liabilities if the new owner commits traffic offences or leaves the vehicle unregistered.

In other words, it won’t cost you anything to submit, but failing to do so could cost you later.

How to submit a notice of disposal

There are three ways to submit your notice:

1. Email
   mvr@nt.gov.au.
2. Mail
   Motor Vehicle Registry GPO Box 530
   Darwin NT 0801
3. In-person
   Find your nearest MVR office

When do you need to submit your notice of disposal for a car sale?

As the seller, you are obliged to submit your notice within 14 days of selling your car.

If you were planning to unregister your vehicle before the sale but didn’t get to it, then, as the registered owner, you’ll be sent any fines your buyer racks up in their new car during that two-week period. Of course, you can dispute those fines and have them sent where they belong, but why go through the hassle?

Step 2: Provide proof of ownership

You need proof of ownership to prove you have the right to sell the vehicle in the first place. In place of a registration certificate, you can submit one or more of the following documents:

• The sales receipt from when you originally purchased the vehicle
• A Notice of Disposal signed by the car’s former owner
• A legal document from a court of law stating that you are the owner of the vehicle

Step 3: Primp and preen the vehicle

You want your car to be in the best possible condition to get the best possible price. Consider taking it for a professional wash to get its exteriors and interiors spotless. But consider how much you actually want to invest. You can easily clean your car’s interior with a handheld vacuum and buff its exterior with a rag and a non-abrasive dishwashing liquid.

Step 4: Find the buyer

You’ve got a few options to choose from.

‍Second-hand car dealerships will give you a decent price, but likely not the best one since they’re not strapped for cars to buy. They may also offer you credit towards another car rather than the cash payment you’re after.

Private buyers may offer more competitive prices. All states have a healthy second-hand market. However, you do need to keep your wits about you when bargaining to ensure you’re getting a fair price.

Car salvagers, like yours truly at 1800 Salvage, will always try to make the deal as sweet as possible for you. You’ll have a better chance of getting a cash payment and a quick removal. We strongly recommend getting a quote from a couple of salvage dealers to get the best price.

Step 5: Negotiate a price

This is always the trickiest step. A great way to benchmark your unregistered car’s sales price is to get a third-party valuation.

Ultimately, the best way to get a fair price is to get quotes from multiple potential buyers and then see if they’re willing to compete.

There’s a limit to how competitive potential buyers will be, considering they’re buying a used vehicle. But consider the make, model, age and safety features of your car so that you can seek out the right buyers.

For example, parents often buy their teens second-hand starter cars to get them from A to B. As long as the car’s in good nick and its safety features are intact, they’ll be happy to pay your asking price for it.

If you’re selling an older vehicle, collectors and restoration specialists may be more interested in it than the average driver.

Step 6: Always, always, always get a receipt

Make sure you and the buyer both keep a receipt of the sale of the vehicle. Your receipt needs the same details as your Notice of Disposal, so you can use that as a receipt.

We can make selling your unregistered vehicle a little easier

Selling an unregistered car doesn’t need to be complicated. At 1800 Salvage, we make the process smooth, legal, and stress-free. Our team specialises in buying unregistered vehicles across Darwin and the Northern Territory, offering convenience at every step.

1800 Salvage buys cars from anywhere in the Northern Territory. We will also:

• Buy cars in any condition (unregistered, unroadworthy, rusted down to the chassis…)
• Offer competitive prices
• Valuate your car online, just send us a few photos
• Send a free tow truck to pick up your car wherever it is
• Pay you the instant we pick up the vehicle
• Complete all the above paperwork for you

Sell your unregistered car in Darwin today

Getting cash for cars in Darwin doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right documents in place, you can complete the process legally and hassle-free. At 1800 Salvage, we make it even easier by handling the paperwork for you, offering instant cash quotes, and providing free towing anywhere in Darwin and across the Northern Territory.

Whether your vehicle is unregistered, unroadworthy, or damaged, our team ensures a smooth sale with same-day payment direct to your bank account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do car sellers in Darwin need to provide a roadworthy or safety certificate?

No. In the Northern Territory, car sellers are not obliged to provide a roadworthy certificate for either an unregistered or registered vehicle.

Can I sell an unregistered car for parts in Darwin?

Yes. Unregistered cars can be sold for parts or scrap. Services like 1800 Salvage make this process easier by offering instant quotes, free car removal, and competitive cash offers, even if the vehicle is unroadworthy or damaged.

What happens to my car’s warranty?

You shouldn’t have to worry about that. Vehicle warranties are typically attached to the vehicle, not the owner, so any outstanding coverage will automatically transfer over to the new owner.

How do I get a reimbursement for vehicle registration?

If you have a registered car and want to unregister it before selling it (because you don’t drive anymore or it’s unroadworthy), remember to apply to cancel the registration to the MVR. Once they’ve approved your application, the MVR will reimburse you.

How do I surrender my car’s NT number plates?

When you submit your application to cancel your registration, take your plates with you to your nearest Motor Vehicle Registry office.