Your Guide to Car Disposal & the NOD in Perth (2025)

G'day! So, you've sold your car in Perth. Nice one. Before you start planning what to do with the cash, there's a crucial bit of admin you absolutely cannot skip. It’s the final step that officially gets the car out of your name and protects you from any trouble down the track.

We’re talking about the "Notice of Disposal." You've probably heard your mates in other states talk about it. Here in WA, it’s a little different, but it’s just as important.

This is your 2025 guide to getting it done right in Perth.

1. What Is a "Notice of Disposal" or NOD?

Let's clear this up straight away. If you're looking for a form called a "Notice of Disposal" in WA, you won't find one.

Here in Western Australia, the "Notice of Disposal" isn't a separate document. It is simply the seller's half of the Notification of Change of Ownership (Form MR9).

When you sell a car, both you (the seller) and the buyer fill out this form. The buyer gets the "Purchaser's Copy" (the red bit), and you are responsible for the "Seller's Copy" (the blue bit).

Lodging your Seller's Copy is what we mean when we talk about submitting a "Notice of Disposal" in Perth.

2. Why Submitting a NOD (Your MR9 Form) Matters

This is the most important part. Do not, under any circumstances, just trust the buyer to "handle the paperwork." Lodging your part of the form is non-negotiable, and here’s why:

• It's Your Legal Proof: This is your only official, time-stamped proof that you are no longer the owner of the vehicle.
• Avoid Fines: As long as that car is in your name, you are legally responsible for it. If the new owner speeds, runs a red light, or uses a toll road, the fines and demerit points will be sent straight to you.
• It's the Law: As the seller, you are legally required to notify the Department of Transport (DoT) within 7 days of the sale. The buyer gets 14 days to do their part, but your deadline is sooner.

• Stop Liability: If the car is involved in an accident or a crime, your lodged MR9 form is the first thing that proves you weren't behind the wheel.

Submitting your notice is a 5-minute job that can save you thousands of dollars and a massive legal headache.

3. Documents & Details You Will Need in Perth

To make the process quick and painless, make sure you get all this information from the buyer at the time of the sale.

Here’s your checklist:

• Vehicle Details: The car's licence plate (rego) number.

• Sale Details: The exact date and time of the sale (e.g., 2:30 PM on 23 October 2025). This is crucial for proving when your liability ended.
• Price: The final selling price.
• Buyer's Details (The most important part!):
  • The buyer's full name.
  • The buyer's residential address in WA.
  • The buyer's WA Driver's Licence number.

Pro-Tip: Take a photo of the buyer's driver's licence with your phone. It’s the easiest way to make sure you have their name and licence number 100% correct.

4. Who Can Submit the Notice Online?

The fastest, easiest, and most recommended way to lodge your notice is online.

You can usually lodge your disposal notice online through your DoTDirect account if:

• You are the seller and have a DoTDirect account.
• The vehicle is licensed to you as an individual (not a company).
• The buyer is also an individual and has a valid WA Driver's Licence.

The online system needs the buyer's WA licence number to find them in the system and start the transfer. If you can do it online, you'll get an instant receipt. Save this receipt!

5. When You CANNOT Lodge a NOD Online

Don't panic if the online system won't work. You’ll have to use the paper MR9 form and lodge it in person or by mail if:

• The buyer does not have a WA Driver's Licence (e.g., they are from interstate, overseas, or don't have a licence).
• The vehicle is being sold to (or by) a company.

• The vehicle is jointly licensed.
• The transfer is part of a court order or a deceased estate.

• You are selling to an interstate buyer (in this case, you should surrender the plates first anyway).

If this is you, just fill out the blue "Seller's Copy" of the MR9 form, sign it, and lodge it at any Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre or post it to the address on the form.

6. Who Can You Sell Your Car To?

You've got a few options for offloading your car in Perth:

1. Private Buyers: Selling it yourself on places like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, or Carsales. This can get you the best price, but comes with the most hassle (tyre-kickers, no-shows, and haggling).

1. Licensed Motor Dealers: Trading it in or selling it to a car yard. It's fast and easy, but you'll get a lower (wholesale) price.
2. Car Wreckers/Scrapyards: Good for cars that are at the very end of their life or have been badly damaged.
3. Cash for Cars Services: A popular, hassle-free option that sits between a private sale and a wrecker.

7. Why Choose A Cash for Cars Service?

Let's be honest, selling a car privately can be a proper headache. If your car is old, damaged, or unregistered, it can feel almost impossible. This is where a cash for car service in Perth is a game-changer.

They are designed for pure convenience. For example, a service like WA Car Removal offers a cash for car service in Perth that buys cars in any condition.

• No Roadworthy Needed: They buy cars "as-is." It doesn't matter if it's old, rusty, damaged, or doesn't even start.
• Instant Quote: You can call them, get a quote over the phone, and be done.
• Free Towing: This is a big one. WA Car Removal and similar services provide free towing from anywhere in Perth. You don't pay a cent to have the car taken away.

• Paperwork Sorted: They do this every day. They'll have the MR9 form ready and will help you fill out your seller's section on the spot, so you know it's done right.
• Safe Payment: You get paid, they take the car, and you can lodge your notice immediately. Too easy.

Useful Perth & WA Links

• Lodge Online: DoTDirect Portal Login
• Official Info: WA Department of Transport: Sell a vehicle
• The Paper Form: Download the Notification of Change of Ownership (Form MR9)

Perth Car Disposal: Your FAQs Answered

Q: What’s the difference between the 7-day and 14-day rule?

A: It’s simple: You (the seller) have 7 days to lodge your notice of disposal (your blue MR9 copy). The buyer has 14 days to lodge their application for transfer (their red MR9 copy) and pay the stamp duty. Don't wait for the buyer!

Q: The buyer said they'd lodge the form for me. Is that enough?

A: NO. Never, ever do this. The buyer has no incentive to lodge your part. If they get a fine a week later, they might just "forget" to lodge the forms, and that fine will legally be yours. Always lodge your own copy.

Q: What if I’m selling the car to a wrecker or scrap yard?

A: The process is exactly the same. You still need to fill out the MR9 form and lodge your seller's notice. The wrecker is the "buyer." This takes the car out of your name so it can be legally dismantled.

Q: What about my custom personalised plates?

A: You must decide before you sell. If you want to keep your plates, you must go to a DVS centre before the sale and have them put on hold. They will issue a new, standard set of plates to the car, which you can then sell. If you sell the car with the plates, you are selling the right to display them.

Q: The car is unregistered. Do I still need to lodge a notice?

A: Yes. The vehicle is still recorded in the DoT system against your name. Lodging the MR9 form notifies them that you are no longer the owner, even if the rego has lapsed.

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