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The Minister of State with special responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics, James Lawless, has launched the new Online Change of Vehicle Ownership service. This new e-government platform allows private (non-trade) vehicle owners to transfer vehicle registration to another private owner entirely online, offering a more convenient and efficient way to handle these transactions.
The Online Change of Vehicle Ownership service can be accessed at www.vehicleservices.gov.ie/cvo/ or through www.motortax.ie (and www.motarchain.ie as Gaeilge).
The service allows buyers to check vital details about a vehicle against the official vehicle register before completing a purchase. Information available includes the vehicle’s make/model, colour, motor tax status, test status, the number of previous owners, and whether it was imported. This feature provides buyers with accurate and real-time data, ensuring transparency and helping them make informed decisions.
The launch of this service is part of the Government’s Better Public Services strategy and is a significant step in the Public Service Transformation Framework, aiming to expand access to various government services online.
Before this online service, vehicle owners had to post their Vehicle Registration Certificate to the Department of Transport’s offices in Shannon or visit a motor tax office to transfer ownership. This new digital process is expected to save time and effort, complementing other Department of Transport initiatives, such as the move to eliminate paper discs from windscreens and the widely used Motor Tax Online website.
Approximately one million vehicle ownership changes occur each year in Ireland, with about half being private sales. Legally, both sellers and buyers are required to notify the Department of Transport of any ownership changes, which are recorded on the Department’s National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF).
James Lawless, Minister of State, spoke about the new service, stating:
“It is now possible to transfer vehicle ownership online, in real-time, when the vehicle is physically changing hands. The new service benefits both the seller and the buyer at the point of sale. The seller can be satisfied that the vehicle is no longer recorded in their name and that they have no further legal obligations with regard to it, while the buyer has confirmation that they are now the recorded owner of the vehicle on the National Driver and Vehicle File.”
“As these private change of ownership notifications were previously processed through manual data entry on the NVDF, there are obvious advantages to offering the service online. The new service will put the notification of the ownership change entirely in the hands of the seller and buyer of the vehicle, and save them time and money. The sharing of real-time data on the status of the transaction will result in a better customer experience for both parties.”
How the New Online Change of Vehicle Ownership Service Works
1. The seller starts by entering their vehicle registration and vehicle registration certificate number.
2. Once verified, a one-time transfer PIN is sent to the seller’s email address recorded on the NVDF.
3. The seller shares this transfer PIN with the buyer.
4. The buyer enters the transfer PIN and logs in using their verified MyGovID to complete the transaction.
5. The buyer confirms their acceptance of the vehicle and their legal obligations.
6. Ownership is transferred, and a new Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) is sent to the new owner’s address.
7. The recorded date of sale will be the date the online transaction is processed.
The transfer PIN has a time limit of 30 minutes to encourage real-time updating, though this may be adjusted based on customer feedback. The service is also bilingual and accessible in Irish.
This launch represents a significant step towards creating a digital Life Events portal for all transport-related citizen services in the future.
For more information, visit www.vehicleservices.gov.ie/cvo or www.motortax.ie.