The NCO Form, Explained
NCO stands for “Notification of Change of Ownership,” and it’s commonly known as the “yellow form.” It’s the form a seller lodges to tell the licensing authority they’ve sold their vehicle — separate from, but usually lodged alongside, the buyer’s own RLV registration.
Why it actually matters, not just paperwork
Until your NCO is lodged, the vehicle is still registered to you in the government’s own records. That means a traffic fine, toll bill, or e-toll charge run up by whoever you sold it to can still land on your name, and you stay the recorded owner for legal purposes. Regulation 53 gives you 21 days from the date of sale to lodge it — the sooner it’s done, the sooner that risk is off your name.
Common reasons it gets rejected or bounced back
No certified copy of your ID, or the buyer's
Both are needed. If your own copy isn’t certified yet, bring the original too so it can be certified at the counter.
No proof of sale
A signed agreement or receipt with both names, the price, and the vehicle’s details is required to support the notification.
Assuming your NCO alone finishes the job
It only covers your side. The buyer has a separate legal duty to register the vehicle in their own name using the RLV form — if they never do, the strongest protection you have is proof that you lodged your own NCO on time.
Buyer registering with you now? Do RLV + NCO together
One combined form set for both sides of the sale, filled in correctly.
From R99
Buyer registering separately, or in another city?
Lodge your NCO on its own, without waiting on the buyer.
From R49
Common questions
How long do I have to notify a change of ownership after selling my car?
21 days from the date of sale, under Regulation 53 of the National Road Traffic Regulations.
What happens if I don't lodge an NCO?
The vehicle stays registered in your name, so fines and toll charges incurred by the new owner can still reach you, and you legally remain the recorded owner.
Is the NCO the same as the RLV form?
No. The NCO is the seller's notification of the sale. The RLV is the buyer's application to register the vehicle in their own name. See our RLV guide.