Legal Requirements

In accordance with the law, the registered owner ("the existing owner") shall submit the duplicate of the "Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Vehicle (Except Taxi)" (i.e. page 3 of the form TD25), completed and duly signed by the existing owner and the new owner, to the Vehicle Records Office of this Department within 72 hours after the transfer of the ownership of the vehicle. The new owner shall submit the original of the "Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Vehicle (Except Taxi)" (i.e. page 1 of the form TD25), completed and duly signed by the existing owner and the new owner, to a Licensing Office of this Department, together with the required documents and fee within 72 hours after the transfer of the ownership of the vehicle, in order to complete the transfer of vehicle ownership procedures.

Certificate of Clearance [TD87(S)]

• The Certificate of Clearance states that at the time when the certificate is issued, whether or not the designated vehicle has been involved in the offences mentioned on the Certificate, or court orders, unpaid fines and costs. The Certificate remains valid for not more than 72 hours from the time of issue.
• The Certificate of Clearance is not a mandatorily required document for the transfer of vehicle ownership. Before an agreement for the acquisition of a vehicle is made, the prospective vehicle buyer may apply, by submitting a TD87(S) form, for a Certificate of Clearance at any licensing office.
• At the time of the transfer of vehicle ownership, if the new owner of the vehicle possesses a valid Certificate of Clearance certifying that the vehicle is not alleged to be involved in committing the offences listed thereon, the licence of the vehicle with ownership transferred will not be temporarily suspended and the vehicle is not subject to be "detained' by the TD, even if the vehicle is alleged to have been previously involved in committing the said offences after the transfer of ownership.
• The application for Certificate of Clearance is free of charge. Applicants may apply online. 

Vehicle Sales and Purchase

The transfer of vehicle ownership involves the transfer of assets ownership and re-registration of vehicles. Both the existing and new owners of a vehicle should pay attention to the following to safeguard their interests:

• The existing owner should ensure that the new owner submit the original "Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Vehicle (Except Taxi)" to the Transport Department in order to complete the transfer of vehicle ownership procedures within 72 hours after the vehicle is transferred to the new owner. Otherwise, the transfer of ownership is incomplete.
• Before the transfer of vehicle ownership procedures are completed, as the vehicle is still registered under the name of the existing owner, the existing owner needs to continue to take up all legal liabilities incurred by that vehicle. The Transport Department (TD) recommends the existing owner and the new owner to visit its Licensing Office together to complete the procedures for transfer of vehicle ownership.