Sell or transfer plates

You can transfer your state or district plates to an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child or sibling). A fee is applicable.

Complete the form below and attend a Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre, regional DoT office or agent with both sets of plates and primary ID (e.g. driver’s licence).

If you want to sell your vehicle that displays state/district plates, but want to keep the plates, you must remove the plates from the vehicle before the sale and get other plates issued by DoT for your vehicle.

The holder of a Certificate of Right to Display and Trade may offer that right for sale.

The owner of the Certificate of Right to Display and Trade must complete the Transfer of Rights to Display Optional Plates form below. The form must be submitted within 14 days of the sale, together with the "Certificate of Right to Display and Trade" and the plates to your nearest DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

The buyer of the "Certificate of Right to Display and Trade" must submit the completed original copy and pay the required plate transfer fee at any DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

Optional series plates are not automatically transferred to a new owner as part of the transfer of a vehicle licence. The new owner must also apply to transfer the right to display the plates into their name by completing and submitting the Transfer of Right to Display Optional Plates form. The new owner must pay the required fees at any DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

Estate or Family Court Orders

If you are the beneficiary of an Estate or Family Court Order, you will pay a reduced plate transfer fee (refer to the current schedule of plate fees). You must present a copy of the will or the court order at a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

Exchanging optional plates

If the seller wants to retain ownership of the optional series plates when the vehicle is sold, they must attend a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent with the optional plates.

The optional plates can be retained by DoT and changed for state or district plates. The vehicle can then be sold with the state or district plates attached.

Storage of plates

Plates are typically stored at the DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent office where you handed them in for retention.

If you handed them in at one of our regional agents, then the plates may have been relocated to one of the DoT regional offices due to storage limitations.

To check where your plates are currently stored, or to have them sent to another site, you can call us on 13 11 56, or visit a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

Note: Optional plate series can be retained indefinitely. The State/Ordinary, District and PTV number plate series can be physically retained for a maximum of 90 days and electronically for a further 275 days. Once the plates have been destroyed a plate remake fee is payable. The plates cannot be remade once the above periods have lapsed.

Outstanding transfer fees for optional series plates

If you have outstanding plate transfer fees, you will be contacted by mail and advised of the requirement to pay those fees.

Optional number plates can be displayed on a vehicle that is not in the name of the holder of the 'Certificate of Right to Display and Trade'.

To display your plates on a vehicle that is not licensed in your name, complete the 'Nomination of Vehicle Display Optional Plates' E63 form.

Take the E63 form to a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent to be processed.

You will need to organise the removal of the old plates and attachment of the new plates yourself or arrange for them to be fitted by a car dealership or garage.

Note: Screws are not supplied with plates issued by the Department of Transport.

Personalised Series plates are not issued with a 'Certificate of Right to Display and Trade' and therefore cannot be transferred. On approval, Personalised Series plates may only be issued to a vehicle licensed in the person's name to whom the plates have been issued, or to a member of their immediate family. If you sell your vehicle with the personalised plates attached, the plates are transferred to the new owner during the vehicle transfer process and you lose your right to display those plates on another vehicle in your name.

To arrange the transfer of your Personalised Series plates to an immediate family member you must complete the Application for plate remake/transfer (E45) form below.

If you no longer require your Personalised Series plates and do not wish to issue them to an immediate family member, the right to display these plates must be relinquished by written request.

If you want to sell your vehicle that currently displays Personalised Series plates, but want to keep the plates, you must remove the plates from the vehicle before the sale and get other plates for the vehicle. The plates will be held at a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent. These plates can be reissued upon application by any person in the normal manner i.e. completion of an application form (E45) and payment of the prescribed application fee.

If you want to swap your personalised plates to another car in your name you will need to attend your nearest DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent with primary and secondary identification, proof of ownership for both vehicles, and both sets of plates. There are fees payable for this transaction. You must not drive the vehicle without the plates attached. You will either need to use a different vehicle or remove the plates once you have arrived at your chosen DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.