Change of Ownership When Selling a Car: Step by Step

The change of ownership (ägarbyte) is the formal step that moves ownership of the car from you to the buyer at Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency. If it is not done, or is done wrong, you remain the registered owner, with responsibility for tax, insurance claims and any fines. That is why it is worth getting it right from the start. Here is how it works.

How to report the change of ownership

There are two ways: digitally or on paper. The digital route is faster, safer and is registered immediately.

Digitally (recommended)

Both you and the buyer log in with an electronic ID (for example BankID) in Transportstyrelsen's e-service or app. The seller reports the sale and the buyer confirms it. The change of ownership is registered more or less immediately and you receive a confirmation. This is the safest method because the identities are verified and no paper can go missing.

With part 2 of the registration certificate

Alternatively, you both fill in and sign part 2 of the registration certificate (registreringsbevis), the yellow notification section, and send it to Transportstyrelsen. The downside is that it takes longer, can get lost in the post, and the change of ownership only takes effect once the notification has arrived. Always keep a copy.

What you need to keep track of

• The buyer's full personal details or organisation number.
• The correct date of transfer: the change of ownership should reflect when the car actually changed hands.
• A written purchase contract in two copies with the car's details, price, date and both parties' signatures.
• That you hand over both keys, the service book and part 1 of the registration certificate.

Insurance and tax after the change of ownership

Once the change of ownership has been registered, responsibility for the motor insurance and vehicle tax passes to the new owner from the date of the change. Any tax you have prepaid for the period after the sale is normally refunded to you automatically. Do not cancel your own insurance until the change of ownership is registered, otherwise the car may be left uninsured, which will cost you fees.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Trusting a verbal promise that the buyer will "sort out the paperwork": report it yourself on the same day.
• Handing over the car before the payment is in your account.
• Forgetting the purchase contract, which is your proof of when and to whom you sold.
• Cancelling the insurance too early.

If you sell to a car dealer, the whole change of ownership is normally handled by the dealer, who is used to the process and registers it correctly straight away. That is one of the reasons selling to a dealer feels smoother, especially if you want to be sure everything is done right.

Frequently asked questions