02/09/2026
This article explains a paperwork step that Western Australian car sellers often overlook: lodging a Notification of Disposal with the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure after selling, wrecking, or otherwise giving up a vehicle. It's aimed at anyone in Perth who has recently sold or disposed of a car, whether privately, through a wrecker, or to a written-off vehicle buyer, and who wants to avoid ongoing legal exposure for a vehicle they no longer own. The piece is written from the perspective of a Perth car-buying business, but the core content is a practical explainer of a government process rather than a sales pitch.
The article walks through why the process matters - a vehicle's licence stays tied to the seller's name until the department is notified, so unpaid fines or infringements incurred by a new owner can still land on the original seller. It then details the mechanics: completing Form MR9 with the buyer at the point of sale, submitting the seller's copy online, in person, or by post, giving the buyer their copy along with the licence papers, and doing all of this within seven days of the sale to avoid a $100 penalty. It also notes a few situational details, such as keeping proof of lodgment, retaining number plates when a car is sold for wrecking rather than resale, and that the process is the same regardless of whether the vehicle is roadworthy or already listed as written off.
The key takeaway is that the seven-day deadline is the detail most likely to catch people out, since it's a firm cutoff backed by a fine rather than a general guideline. Keeping a copy of the lodged form is presented as useful protection if a dispute ever arises later. Overall, the article frames this step as a quick but legally significant part of finalising any car sale in WA, distinct from the sale transaction itself.
To learn more:
https://www.cashforcars-perth.com.au/how-to-lodge-a-notification-of-disposal-with-the-wa-department-of-transport-step-by-step/