Complete Guide to Vehicle Ownership Transfer: Procedure and Required Documents

Procedure

1. 1. Check the deadline — 15 days from the date of sale

   Apply for transfer registration at the competent vehicle registration office or the vehicle registration counter of the district office within 15 days from the date of sale (transfer). If the deadline is missed without a justifiable reason, a penalty is imposed (100,000 won for a delay of up to 10 days, plus 10,000 won per day from the 11th day, and 500,000 won for a delay of 50 days or more). During that period, automobile tax, tolls and liability for accidents fall on the seller, whose name remains on the registration.

2. 2. Settle any mortgage, lease or installment loan first

   Transfer registration itself is possible even if a mortgage (or maximum-amount mortgage) remains on the motor vehicle register. However, a mortgage does not disappear when the owner changes, so the buyer takes it on. If a lease or installment loan remains, it is safer to obtain the finance company's consent and cancel the mortgage before the transaction. Even after the installments are fully repaid, the mortgage is not cancelled automatically; the cancellation documents must be obtained separately.

3. 3. Prepare the documents and apply for transfer registration

   Gather the seller's and the buyer's documents, fill in the application form and submit it. Acquisition tax is paid and the required bonds are purchased at the same time, and ownership changes when the new registration certificate is issued. Most applications are processed on the day of submission.

4. 4. Start insurance on the day of transfer

   Arrange for automobile insurance in the new owner's name to start on the day of transfer. A gap of even one day means driving without insurance. When an individual takes over a long-term rental car (license plates marked with the Korean syllables 'ha', 'heo' or 'ho'), the plates must be replaced with ordinary plates.

Required documents

• Seller: vehicle registration certificate, ID, certificate of transfer, certificate of seal impression issued for vehicle sale, proof of automobile tax payment (only when the registration office cannot confirm it electronically)
• Buyer: ID, certificate of liability insurance coverage, certificate of transfer, application for transfer registration
• Mortgaged or leased vehicle: finance company's consent and mortgage cancellation documents (to be handled first)
• Transfer by inheritance: family relation certificate and documents showing the heirs' relationship (additional documents checked case by case)

Fees

Public charges for the transfer registration itself, such as acquisition tax, bonds and revenue stamps, vary with the value of the vehicle. Agency fees in the market are generally in the range of tens of thousands of won to several hundred thousand won per case, and rise when extra steps are added, such as mortgage cancellation, inheritance or conversion to corporate ownership. We will tell you the exact amount after a consultation, based on the condition of the vehicle and the scope of the documents.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Motor Vehicle Management Act, Article 12
• Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 26
• Motor Vehicle Management Act, Article 9
• Motor Vehicle Management Act, Article 80
• Motor Vehicle Management Act, Article 86
• Enforcement Decree of the Motor Vehicle Management Act, attached Table 3
• Local Tax Act, Article 132
• Enforcement Rule of the Motor Vehicle Registration Act, Article 33

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-05

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• Once 15 days have passed from the date of sale, liability for the penalty and taxes increases. Check the deadline first.
• For a vehicle with a remaining mortgage or seizure, the burden passes to the buyer even if the transfer is registered, and a leased vehicle requires the finance company's consent. Settle the cancellation and consent first.

Frequently asked questions