You need to change your address with Registry of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of a move. When you change your address, Registry of Motor Vehicles updates your address on file for all registry services, like your driver’s licence, vehicle permit and photo identification (ID) card.
Use the Change an Address service to update your address. You can also use this service to change the address for your Health Card.
When you change your address, Registry of Motor Vehicles updates your address on file for all registry services like your driver’s licence, vehicle permit and photo identification (ID) card. If you want the new address to display on your driver’s licence, vehicle permit or ID card, you need to visit Registry of Motor Vehicles to get a replacement licence or permit, or apply for a new ID card.
Address change within 30 days
You need to provide your new address to Registry of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of moving.
Renewing your driver’s licence
You can’t renew your driver’s licence online if you changed your address online or by mail with Registry of Motor Vehicles within the last 3 months. Contact Registry of Motor Vehicles to update your address. Don’t update your address online or by mail if you’re renewing in the next 3 months.
Health Card
When you update your address with Registry of Motor Vehicles, you can also change the address for your Health Card.
Who can use this form
You need to use this form to change your address with Registry of Motor Vehicles for all registry services, like your driver’s licence, vehicle permit and ID card.
What you need to do
- Complete the form online.
- Submit your completed form.
- The service emails you a confirmation. Keep a copy for your records.
- Registry of Motor Vehicles updates your records.
How long it takes
It should take 1 to 2 days to update your address. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your form hasn’t been filled in correctly.
Cost
There is no cost to change your address, but there is a cost for a replacement licence or permit, or a new ID card.
Before you start
Make sure you have:
- your address on file with Registry of Motor Vehicles
- driver’s licence number if you’re changing the address on your driver’s licence (you can find this on the front of your driver’s licence)
- joint master number if you own a vehicle with someone else (you can find this on the vehicle permit or Certificate of Registration)
Online
Start now
Other ways to submit the form
You can visit Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia if you’re unable to change your address online. You can also contact Registry of Motor Vehicles to change your address.
- Introduction
- Rules on changing vehicle ownership
- Replacing lost documents
- Rates for change of ownership
- Where to apply
Introduction
If you sell your vehicle or trade it in for a new model, you must by law register the change of ownership. You register with the Department of Transport.
A record is kept called the national vehicle and driver file (NVDF). It is important that the ownership and address details are up to date at all times and that changes are notified quickly. If for example, a vehicle is subject to a safety recall, manufacturers will contact all registered owners from this list.
This page tells you how to change a vehicles ownership details on a Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC).
Rules on changing vehicle ownership
If you sell a vehicle privately
If you sell your vehicle privately, you must complete and sign the change of ownership section on the back of the Vehicle Registration certificate (VRC). The buyer must sign the same form. The seller is responsible and must send the completed form to the Department of Transport for updating (see the ‘Where to apply’ section below). The Department of Transport will post the VRC to the new owner.
If you sell your vehicle to a motor dealer
If you sell your vehicle to a motor dealer, you must give the dealer the Vehicle Registration Certificate. Both the seller and the dealer must complete the Form RF105 (pdf). An approved dealer can use the online change of vehicle ownership service to notify the details online. Otherwise, the seller must send the RF105 to the Department of Transport.
Current owner deceased
If you buy a vehicle and the current owner (seller) is deceased, a letter from the executor of the deceased's will, or the solicitor dealing with the will, indicating your right to the vehicle should go with the Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC). Where the VRC is not available or cannot be produced, an administrative process allows the acceptance of a declaration of ownership change in the form of a statutory declaration sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths or a practicing solicitor. The statutory declaration form, which is available from the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division, should go with the letter from the executor of the will or the solicitor mentioned above.
Older vehicles
Pre-1993 vehicles
See change of ownership for vehicles registered before January 1993.
1993 – 2004 vehicles
Owners of vehicles registered before May 2004 may still have a ‘Vehicle Licensing Certificate’ if they haven’t changed ownership. In such cases, a Vehicle Registration Certificate will be issued to the new owner upon change of ownership. You can get more information from gov.ie.
Motor tax
You cannot tax your vehicle until the registration of the change of ownership has gone through. You can renew motor tax online or by completing a Form RF100A. See our page on motor tax.
Changing address details
If your address has changed, fill in the appropriate details on the Vehicle Registration Certificate and send it to the Department of Transport.
Replacing lost documents
It is possible to get replacement documents associated with changes to vehicle ownership. List of documents and the cost of their replacement is as follows:
Replacement documentsDocument | Replacement cost |
Registration book | €12 |
Vehicle licensing certificate/Registration Certificate | €12 |
Tax disc | €6 |
To get replacement documents, download and complete form RF134 (pdf). You must have this form witnessed by a member of the Garda Síochána at a Garda station. Forward your completed form with the appropriate fee to your Motor Tax Office. You can pay by cheque, postal order or by bank draft. You should make it payable to your local Motor Tax Office.
Rates for change of ownership
There is no charge for registering Change of Ownership details at Motor Taxation Offices or at the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division.
Where to apply
Page edited: 14 November 2022