Interactive Required Documents Checklist
Select your role below to see only the documents relevant to you:
The new owner assembles most of the paperwork and submits it at the transfer counter.
Completed by the seller and handed to you, together with Copy B1 (which you keep).
Download MTA-6 / MTA-8 Form Set (PDF)Part of the same form set as MTA-6; you also keep Copy C1.
Download MTA-6 / MTA-8 Form Set (PDF)Only needed if the seller hasn't already sent or hand-delivered it to the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic themselves.
Download MTA-6 / MTA-8 Form Set (PDF)The transferee's NIC, original plus a copy.
One copy certified by a Grama Niladhari, Justice of the Peace, or staff-grade government officer of the area (their JP registration number must be in the stamp).
Valid for the date of transfer, plus a photocopy.
The vehicle's Certificate of Registration (original, First Copy for One-Day Service).
Together with a copy of the seller's NIC. Both must be certified by a Grama Niladhari, Justice of the Peace, a lawyer, a Commissioner for Oaths, or a staff-grade government officer.
Only if the vehicle was mortgaged or leased. See the Leased / Mortgaged Vehicle tab.
Copies and receipts of payment, if luxury tax applies to this vehicle.
Only if you are the transferee and your name has changed since marriage.
DMT has required a TIN for new registrations and ownership transfers since 5 Jan 2026, except for motorcycles, three-wheelers, tractors, hand-tractors and tractor-trailers. See the TIN callout below.
The current registered owner completes and files the MTA-6 form set, then hands the rest to the buyer.
There are 4 copies: A, A1, B and B1. Every copy is completed by you, the current registered owner.
Download MTA-6 / MTA-8 Form Set (PDF)Hold on to this after the transfer is filed, in case a question comes up later.
By registered post or hand delivery. Do this within 14 days of the change of possession -- this deadline comes from the Motor Traffic Act itself, not from DMT's own procedure page.
These are the buyer's copies to submit at the transfer counter.
Certified by a Grama Niladhari, Justice of the Peace, a lawyer, a Commissioner for Oaths, or a staff-grade government officer.
A limited liability company must sign and use an embossed seal (or state on letterhead that it doesn't use one). A partnership needs the other partners' written consent. A single-owned company needs the owner's written consent plus a copy of the company registration.
If a finance company holds a mortgage, lease, or absolute ownership over the vehicle, this has to be cleared before the transfer can go through.
On the institution's letterhead, addressed to the Commissioner of Motor Traffic, confirming the mortgage, lease, or absolute ownership is settled and requesting its cancellation. It must state the vehicle's registration number.
Both needed to cancel the mortgage/lease/absolute-ownership entry.
Needed alongside the finance company's letter.
Needed specifically to register absolute ownership (as opposed to a simple mortgage or lease).
Download MTA-3 Form (PDF)Get the mortgage/lease/absolute-ownership cancellation processed first, then proceed with the standard transfer using the Buyer and Seller checklists.
Vehicle Transfer Fees: Ordinary vs One-Day Service
Fees are set under the same Gazette that revised the driving-licence levy. Add LKR 150 stationery/postage to every fee below.
Add LKR 150 stationery/postage to every row above, for both services. If there's a change of province, a separate number-plate fee applies, by the same vehicle-class schedule DMT uses for first registration.
| Vehicle Class | Ordinary Service | One-Day Service (Head Office only) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Car, Dual Purpose Vehicle, Special Purpose Vehicle, Motor Home, Motor Coach, Prime Mover, Motor Lorry | LKR 5,000 | LKR 7,500 |
| Heavy Trailer | LKR 4,000 | LKR 6,200 |
| Quadricycle | LKR 3,000 | LKR 6,000 |
| Land Vehicle (Tractor) | LKR 2,400 | LKR 4,000 |
| Motor Ambulance, Motor Hearse, Light Trailer | LKR 2,000 | LKR 3,600 |
| 2-Wheel Tractor, Motorcycle, Motor Tricycle, Motor Tricycle Van, Vehicle Used by Persons with Disabilities | LKR 1,000 | LKR 2,300 |
Source: DMT Charges for Registration of Ownership Transfer (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2306/02, 14 Nov 2022, registry row vehicle_transfer_gazette_reference). Last checked 27 Sep 2026.
Mortgage, Lease and Absolute Ownership Fees (Ordinary Service)
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Registering a mortgage | LKR 200 |
| Cancelling a mortgage | LKR 300 |
| Cancelling absolute ownership | LKR 1,000 |
| Cancelling absolute ownership or a mortgage, One-Day Service | LKR 2,500 |
DMT's own fee table doesn't publish a separate "registering absolute ownership" fee for any vehicle class -- that column is blank on the official page. We're publishing that gap rather than guessing a figure.
Source: DMT Charges for Registration of Ownership Transfer, id=40 (registry rows vehicle_transfer_mortgage_registration_fee, vehicle_transfer_mortgage_cancellation_fee, vehicle_transfer_absolute_ownership_cancellation_fee, vehicle_transfer_oneday_cancellation_fee). Last checked 27 Sep 2026.
Step-by-Step Transfer Process
Follow these stages, in order, to complete the transfer:
Get the MTA 6 (MTA-6) / MTA 8 Form Set
Obtain the form set from DMT Head Office, a district office, your Divisional Secretariat, or DMT's own website. It contains 4 copies of MTA-6 (A, A1, B, B1) and 2 copies of MTA-8 (C, C1). Fill in every copy in English block letters, as the form requires.
Seller Completes and Distributes the Forms
The current registered owner completes every copy of MTA-6, keeps A and A1, and hands B and B1 (plus the MTA-8 copies) to the buyer.
Seller Files Copy A with the Commissioner General
Send it by registered post, or hand-deliver it.
Clear Any Mortgage or Lease First
If a finance company has a mortgage, lease, or absolute ownership registered on the vehicle, get their cancellation letter before going further. See the Leased / Mortgaged Vehicle checklist above.
Buyer Gathers Supporting Documents
Assemble your NIC, photos, revenue license, Certificate of Registration, and the seller's no-objection letter and NIC copy, using the Buyer checklist above.
Submit at a Transfer Branch
Hand in Copy B of MTA-6, Copy C of MTA-8, and the supporting documents at DMT Head Office (Narahenpita, Colombo 05), a district office, or your Divisional Secretariat, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on weekdays. You'll receive a CMT-52 receipt.
Pay the Transfer Fee
Pay the fee for your vehicle class from the fee table, plus LKR 150 stationery/postage, plus the LKR 4,000 sales tax if this is the vehicle's first transfer within 7 years of first registration.
Consider One-Day Service, If Eligible
If you need it done the same day and your situation meets DMT's conditions, use the One-Day Service at Head Office only, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. See the One-Day Service section below before you go.
One-Day Service: What Actually Qualifies
One-Day Service is faster but conditional, and only available at DMT Head Office in Narahenpita, Colombo 05, between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon on weekdays. The transferee (or, if the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner is satisfied, an agent) must be present in person.
- Normally limited to one One-Day transfer per vehicle every 6 months, though the officer in charge can allow an exception if satisfied there's no objection to the transfer.
- The Certificate of Registration should be the original (First Copy); a duplicate can sometimes be accepted if the officer in charge is satisfied.
- Blood-relative transfers, and transfers where both parties share the same address, can be allowed through One-Day Service at the officer's discretion, after taking statements.
- Property of a Vihara or Devalaya needs a non-objection letter from the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs.
- State or Statutory Board vehicles are not transferred under One-Day Service.
- Not covered by One-Day Service: transfers of deceased owners, or changes of particulars.
- Registering or de-registering absolute ownership, and change-of-particulars requests the officer is satisfied with, can also go through One-Day Service.
Source: DMT Registration of Ownership Transfer, id=24 (registry row vehicle_transfer_oneday_conditions). Last checked 27 Sep 2026.
Other DMT Vehicle Procedures
DMT's Registration of Ownership Transfer page also bundles in several related, less common procedures. We're linking to DMT's own pages for these rather than reproducing the full document lists here -- if you need one of these often, let us know and we'll expand it.
- Duplicate Certificate of Registration or number plate: needs a CMT-65 application and a certified copy of your police complaint for the loss.
- Change of particulars (name, address, colour, engine number): needs a CMT-72 application, plus a Motor Vehicle Examiner's certificate (CMT-130) for a physical change like colour or engine.
- Cancellation of registration: if a vehicle is permanently removed from Sri Lanka, destroyed, or dismantled, you must inform the Commissioner General within 14 days, via MTA-67 (cancellation) or MTA-140 (removal from the country).
- Declaring a vehicle disabled: for vehicles used by persons with disabilities, via CMT-75, CMT-130 and CMT-72 applications plus a medical certificate.
- Fuel conversion: only allowed between 3 and 25 years after first registration, with prior Commissioner approval and a weight certificate from the Werahera office.
- Vehicle-class conversion: same 3-to-25-year window and Werahera-office step as fuel conversion.
Source: DMT Registration of Ownership Transfer, id=24. Last checked 27 Sep 2026.
Where to Submit & Office Hours
Ordinary Service is available at DMT Head Office, district offices, and Divisional Secretariats. One-Day Service is Head Office only.
DMT Head Office (Narahenpita)
In person; appointments can be booked at dmtappointments.dmt.gov.lkDepartment of Motor Traffic Head Office, Narahenpita, Colombo 05
DMT District Offices
In person; appointments can be booked at dmtappointments.dmt.gov.lk (choose the office)District offices of the Department of Motor Traffic
Divisional Secretariats
Walk-in / In-Person (No Prior Appointment)Your local Divisional Secretariat
Official Links & Downloads
Direct links to the Department of Motor Traffic's official portal, procedure pages and forms:
Sources & last checked
Checked against Department of Motor Traffic. Every source for this topic, with dates, is on our verified sources.
LankaSolve is an independent information service and is not affiliated with the Government of Sri Lanka or the Department of Motor Traffic. Official procedures, fees, and appointment rules are subject to change by statutory notice or regulation. Always verify directly with the Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to transfer vehicle ownership in Sri Lanka?
For a car, dual purpose vehicle, motor coach, lorry or similar: LKR 5,000 for Ordinary Service or LKR 7,500 for One-Day Service, plus LKR 150 stationery/postage. Smaller vehicles cost less: motorcycles, three-wheelers and 2-wheel tractors are LKR 1,000 Ordinary / LKR 2,300 One-Day. See the fee table for every vehicle class. If this is the vehicle's first transfer and it's less than 7 years old, add a flat LKR 4,000 sales tax.
What documents do I need to transfer a vehicle?
As the buyer, you need Copy B of MTA-6 and Copy C of MTA-8 (completed by the seller), your NIC, 2 certified photographs, a valid revenue licence, the vehicle's Certificate of Registration, and a certified no-objection letter and NIC copy from the seller. The seller separately keeps Copy A/A1 of MTA-6 and posts Copy A to the Commissioner General. See the Buyer and Seller checklists above for the complete lists.
Is there a deadline to transfer ownership after buying a vehicle?
Yes, though it's easy to miss because DMT's own transfer page doesn't mention it. The Motor Traffic Act requires the seller to notify the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic within 14 days of handing over the vehicle. The Act also sets fines for late notification (from LKR 100 per day after day 14). In practice, most transfers are filed close to the sale date without anyone invoking this penalty, but the legal deadline exists.
What is the One-Day (same-day) vehicle transfer service?
A faster transfer available only at DMT Head Office in Narahenpita, Colombo 05, between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon on weekdays. It costs more (see the fee table) and comes with conditions: you generally can't use it twice within 6 months, it doesn't cover transfers of deceased owners or changes of particulars, and some exceptions (blood-relative transfers, same-address transfers) are at the discretion of the Deputy or Assistant Commissioner in charge.
Do I pay extra tax when transferring a vehicle less than 7 years old?
Yes, but only once. DMT charges a flat LKR 4,000 sales tax on a vehicle's first transfer, if that transfer happens before the vehicle completes 7 years since its first registration. It does not apply again on later transfers within that window.
Can I transfer a vehicle that has a bank loan or lease on it?
Not directly. If a finance company holds a mortgage, lease, or absolute ownership over the vehicle, that has to be cancelled first: get a letter from the finance company, on their letterhead, confirming the obligation is settled and requesting cancellation, then submit it with the Certificate of Registration and Vehicle Identity Card. Only after that's processed can the ownership transfer itself go through. See the Leased / Mortgaged Vehicle checklist above. Financing the purchase instead? Central Bank limits cap how much of a vehicle can be borrowed; see vehicle loan limits.
Do I need a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to transfer a vehicle?
For most vehicle classes, yes. DMT has required a TIN for new vehicle registrations and ownership transfers since 5 January 2026 (first introduced 1 April 2025). Motorcycles, three-wheelers, tractors, hand-tractors and tractor-trailers are exempt. This is reported via DMT-sourced news coverage rather than a DMT circular we could locate directly, so treat the exemption list as current but double-check at the counter.
How do I fill in the MTA 6 and MTA 8 forms?
Fill in every copy in English block letters: the DMT form says so on each page. The seller completes all copies of MTA 6 and the MTA 8 notice, both of you sign, and the seller hands Copy B (MTA 6) and Copy C (MTA 8) to you as the buyer. The seller must tell the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic about the change within 14 days, by registered post, by handing the notice in, or by sending it as a WhatsApp message to 076-8833300. Download the form set from dmt.gov.lk (link in Official Links below).
Can I transfer vehicle ownership online?
Not fully. The transfer itself is done in person at DMT Head Office, a DMT district office or a Divisional Secretariat. Two parts can be done online: the seller can send the change-of-possession notice by WhatsApp to 076-8833300, as the form allows, and you can book a DMT appointment for the transfer at dmtappointments.dmt.gov.lk.
Can I book a vehicle transfer appointment online?
Yes. The Department of Motor Traffic's appointment site, dmtappointments.dmt.gov.lk, lists Vehicle Ownership Transfer among its services. You enter your NIC number, name and phone number, then choose the DMT office, the service, and a date and time.
Can I do the transfer at a Divisional Secretariat instead of DMT?
Yes, for Ordinary Service. DMT's own procedure page lists Divisional Secretariats, alongside DMT Head Office and district offices, as places you can hand in a transfer application between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm on weekdays. One-Day Service is only available at DMT Head Office in Narahenpita.
What if I'm buying a brand-new or never-registered vehicle?
That's First Registration, a different DMT process from an ownership transfer (which only applies to a vehicle already registered in Sri Lanka). Importers and dealers usually handle first registration on the buyer's behalf. See DMT's own First Registration page for the process and documents; we haven't published a full fee breakdown for it yet.
What if the Certificate of Registration is lost or damaged?
DMT can issue a duplicate. You'll need a CMT-65 application, a certified copy of the police complaint if it's lost (plus the payment receipt for that complaint), and your NIC photocopy. If a mortgage, lease, or absolute ownership is registered on the vehicle, you also need a no-objection letter from that institution before DMT will issue the duplicate.