Buyer registration paperwork
A practical guide to the Application for Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicle form, the titleholder and owner sections, supporting documents and the 21-day registration deadline.
The RLV is the application used to register and license a motor vehicle. The form separates the titleholder, owner and vehicle particulars into Parts A, B and C. For a cash purchase, the buyer may be both titleholder and owner. For a financed purchase, the finance institution is generally the titleholder and the buyer is the owner.
Official guidance says a used vehicle must be registered and licensed within 21 days after the change of ownership. The buyer normally submits the RLV with identification, proof of address, the seller's registration certificate, proof of purchase, valid licence information and any required roadworthy certificate.
RLV stands for Application for Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicle. It is used when a vehicle must be registered and licensed, including after a buyer acquires a pre-owned vehicle.
The RLV is not the seller's disposal notification. The seller uses the NCO form to notify the registering authority of the sale or ownership change. The buyer, titleholder and owner then use the RLV process to apply for registration and licensing.
Registration records the vehicle and titleholder information on eNaTIS and results in a registration certificate. Licensing allows the vehicle to be operated under a current licence and results in the licence disc. The RLV form can cover both transactions.
The transaction table on the official form says registration by the titleholder uses Parts A, B and C, while licensing by the owner uses Parts B and C. The sections are organised as follows:
This section identifies the titleholder, such as a bank, finance institution or cash buyer. It includes identification type and number, personal or organisation details, addresses, contact details, proxy or representative details where relevant, and a signed declaration.
This section records the owner where the owner differs from the titleholder. It contains similar identity, address, contact, proxy and declaration fields. In a financed purchase, the buyer is generally recorded here as owner.
This section records the licence number, VIN, make, series, vehicle category, body type, engine, fuel, mass, transmission, colour, use, odometer reading, vehicle location, liability date, nature of ownership and reason for registration.
A cash buyer may be both titleholder and owner. The same person or organisation may therefore be relevant to Parts A and B. Follow the instructions on the current form and the registering authority's directions on whether owner information should be repeated or treated as the same as Part A.
Official guidance says the finance institution is the titleholder when the vehicle is financed. The buyer is generally the owner. The lender or dealer may prepare or control parts of the registration process, so confirm what must be signed or submitted by each party.
The form includes fields for organisation type, business registration number, proxy and representative. Bring the organisation and authority documents required by the local office, together with acceptable identification for the people acting on its behalf.
Official national and provincial guidance commonly lists the following documents. Requirements may differ by province, office, applicant type or transaction, so confirm what the processing authority currently needs.
| Document or item | Why it is needed | Check before you visit |
|---|---|---|
| Completed RLV form | Applies for registration and licensing. | Complete the applicable titleholder, owner and vehicle sections and sign the declarations. |
| Acceptable identification | Verifies the titleholder, owner, proxy or representative. | Ask whether originals or certified copies are required. |
| Proof of residential and postal address | Supports the address recorded for the applicant. | If the account is not in your name, official guidance may require an affidavit from the account holder with the bill attached. |
| Vehicle registration certificate in the seller's name | Shows the existing registration and titleholder details. | Obtain the original and check that the VIN and parties match the vehicle and transaction. |
| Proof of purchase or acquisition | Records the sale and date the buyer became liable to register. | Use a signed agreement or invoice with consistent vehicle, party, price and date details. |
| Valid motor vehicle licence | Official guidance says the vehicle licence fees should be up to date. | Check for arrears before completing the deal. |
| Roadworthy certificate where required | Supports registration and licensing of the pre-owned vehicle. | Official used-vehicle guidance refers to a certificate where the current certificate is older than 60 days; confirm the exact requirement with the office. |
| Finance or organisation documents where relevant | Shows titleholder authority, business particulars or authority to act. | Confirm lender, proxy, representative, business-registration and settlement requirements before submission. |
Mark the applicable RSA ID, foreign ID, traffic register number or business registration number and enter it exactly.
Use the legal name appearing on the supporting identification or registration documents.
Complete postal and street addresses, postal codes and the address where notices should be served.
Complete these fields when an organisation is involved and bring proof of authority and identification.
Copy the licence number, VIN, make, series and engine details from reliable source documents and the vehicle.
Mark the correct category, driven type, body description, fuel, transmission, colour and intended use.
Record the available odometer reading and the address where the vehicle is kept if different from the owner's address.
Use the correct acquisition date and mark the appropriate reason, such as ownership, first registration or re-registration.
Check the correct capacity, then sign and date the titleholder and owner declarations where applicable.
Leave the registration-authority processing, approval and certificate-serial fields for the officials.
The seller should complete and submit the NCO notification. Do not assume that your RLV application replaces the seller's responsibility. Read the NCO Form Guide before handover.
Check the current registration certificate and finance position. Determine whether the buyer will be both titleholder and owner or whether a finance institution will be titleholder.
Obtain the seller's registration certificate, signed proof of purchase, valid licence information and any roadworthy documentation. Check that the VIN, registration number, names and dates agree.
Enter the titleholder's particulars and complete the relevant declaration. For financed transactions, follow the finance provider or dealer's registration process rather than entering lender details without authority.
Enter the owner's particulars where required, including identification, contact information, addresses and any proxy or representative details. Sign the owner declaration in the appropriate capacity.
Copy the vehicle particulars carefully. Do not guess VIN, engine, model, mass or classification information. Use the registration certificate, vehicle identifiers and other official documents.
The form asks for the date liable for registration or licensing, such as the date purchased or acquired. Keep this date consistent with the sale agreement, NCO and payment record.
Confirm whether the current roadworthy certificate is acceptable and whether the licence fees are up to date. Resolve missing documents or arrears before relying on the transaction as ready for registration.
Take the RLV and supporting documents to the appropriate registering authority within the official 21-day period. Contact the office first for fees, payment methods, appointment rules and document-copy requirements.
Review the registration certificate and licence details before leaving. Check names, titleholder, owner, VIN and other particulars, then retain the documents and submission receipts securely.
National and provincial guidance states that a vehicle must be registered and licensed within 21 days after a change of ownership. Late registration can result in arrears and penalties. The period should be treated as a deadline for completing the application, not as a reason to delay gathering documents.
The buyer's RLV application depends on documents controlled by the seller or titleholder, particularly the registration certificate and, for financed vehicles, lender-controlled paperwork. Resolve the document path before releasing final payment or accepting handover.
Official used-vehicle registration guidance lists a roadworthy certificate where the current certificate is older than 60 days. Broader roadworthiness guidance also links testing to registration in the new owner's name. Because the documents requested can depend on the vehicle and transaction, confirm the exact requirement with the registering authority before submission.
Read the Roadworthy Certificate Guide before booking a test or completing the deal.
The RLV form accepts several identification types, including a traffic register number and foreign identification. A foreign buyer who is not already recorded on eNaTIS may need to obtain a traffic register number and provide passport, residence or travel documentation and proof of address. Confirm the sequence and documents with the registering authority before applying.
Where a company or other organisation is titleholder or owner, the form requires organisation details and may require proxy and representative information. The authority may request business registration records, proxy or representative appointment documents and identification. Do not send an employee or agent without confirming the authority documents they must carry.
Fees, acceptable forms, certification rules, proof-of-address standards, appointment systems and supporting documents can differ by province or registering authority. Ask the office what originals, copies and payment methods it currently accepts.
The RLV is submitted as the application for registration and licensing by the relevant titleholder and owner. In an ordinary cash purchase, the buyer may be both. In a financed purchase, the lender is generally titleholder and the buyer owner, so the lender or dealer may coordinate part of the process.
The buyer must ensure that the vehicle is registered and licensed correctly after acquisition. Even when a dealer or lender assists, check what has been submitted, who will receive the registration certificate and when the licence disc will be issued.
Part A records the titleholder. This can be the cash buyer or, where finance is used, the finance institution. It includes the titleholder's identity, address, contact, representative and declaration information.
Part B records the owner where different from the titleholder. In a financed purchase, the buyer is generally the owner while the lender holds title.
Part C records the motor vehicle particulars, including its identifiers, classification, use, odometer, location, liability date and reason for registration.
Official used-vehicle guidance lists the registration certificate in the seller's name as a supporting document. Resolve a missing certificate through the seller, titleholder and registering authority before treating the purchase as ready to register.
Yes. Official government guidance says forms are available from registering authorities or downloadable through official traffic-form sources. Municipal sites also publish the RLV PDF. Confirm that the processing office accepts the version you use.
Registration, licensing and any arrears or penalties depend on the vehicle and authority. Contact the local licensing office for the current charges and payment method.
Last reviewed: 21 July 2026. This guide provides general information only and is not legal advice. Form versions, fees, supporting documents and submission procedures can change or differ by registering authority. Confirm the current requirements with the authority, dealer and finance provider involved before acting.