Signing the car purchase agreement does not end the transaction. For the buyer to become the official owner and operator of the vehicle, the change must be registered in the vehicle registry. The conditions for operating vehicles on public roads, including the transfer of ownership, are governed by Act No. 56/2001 Coll. Until the change is recorded, the original owner remains listed in the registry; therefore, it is in both parties' interest to complete the transfer as soon as possible.
Deadline: 10 working days
An application to register a change of owner must be submitted within 10 working days from the transfer of the vehicle. This period runs from the date stated in the purchase agreement, so it is advisable for both parties to record precisely and consistently the date of signature and any actual handover of the vehicle. If the handover date differs from the contract signing date, it is better to state both dates separately in the agreement to clarify from when the deadline is calculated.
Who submits the application
The application for re-registration is submitted jointly by the transferor (seller) and the acquirer (buyer). If both parties cannot attend at the same time due to scheduling constraints, only one may participate in the proceedings; in such cases, the other party must grant a power of attorney with an officially certified signature. The signature certification is provided by a notary, Czech POINT, or the registry office of the municipal authority. Without an officially certified signature, the authority will not recognise the power of attorney and will not accept the application; therefore, it is advisable to have this document prepared before the scheduled visit to the authority.
Record check
The vehicle transfer process typically includes an administrative inspection carried out by a technical inspection station. This verifies that the vehicle's actual technical data and identification features (VIN, bodywork, engine) match the entries in its certificate of registration. The administrative inspection report must then be submitted along with other supporting documents for the transfer application. It is advisable to bring the large-format certificate of registration and, if applicable, the vehicle registration certificate to the inspection, so the station has all necessary data for comparison.
Green card
Before submitting the application, the new owner must have compulsory third-party liability insurance arranged and have the Green Card available as proof of insurance. The insurer usually issues it immediately after concluding the compulsory insurance contract, so this step should not delay the entire process provided the new owner does not leave it until the last minute. Without a valid Green Card, the authority will not complete the transfer; therefore, it is advisable to arrange the insurance before visiting the authority, rather than on site.
Where to submit the application
The application to register a change of owner is submitted at the vehicle registry: usually at the transport department of the municipal office of a municipality with extended competence, in whose jurisdiction the new owner has their permanent residence or registered seat. As this is a personal procedure, it is practical to book an appointment in advance and bring all required documents complete, so that the process can be completed in a single visit.
If the seller and buyer reside in different municipalities, the application is usually submitted to the vehicle registry at the new owner's location. It is therefore practical to verify in advance which specific authority is competent for your situation to avoid an unnecessary trip elsewhere. If you are unable to comply within the ten-day deadline for a serious reason, contact the relevant authority as soon as possible and agree on how to proceed.
What to bring with you
- The signed purchase agreement containing details of the vehicle and both parties.
- Large technical vehicle certificate or registration certificate.
- Identity documents of both parties, or a power of attorney with a verified signature.
- The green card as proof of compulsory third-party liability insurance.
- Protocol for vehicle record check.
To ensure the process runs smoothly, the purchase agreement should have correctly completed details about the vehicle and both parties from the outset. We discuss what must not be missing in a separate article. Similarly, it pays to have the vehicle checked before signing, so you are not met with an unpleasant surprise after the transfer.