If you buy a used car in Ghana, the sale is not finished when you hand over the money. The vehicle has to be moved into your name at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the rules reported by Ghanaian media put the deadline at 14 days from the purchase. Both buyer and seller normally attend in person, DVLA inspects the car, and you pay an invoice before the new registration is issued. Until the register shows your name, the previous owner can still be linked to the vehicle.
Why the transfer matters
Handing over cash and a set of keys proves very little. The register held by DVLA is what establishes who owns a vehicle. Ghana's Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) said in October 2026 that a sale is not complete until the seller's name has been removed from the register. For a seller, that protects against fines or accidents involving a car they no longer control. For you as the buyer, it means you can insure the car in your own name, renew its papers and sell it later without a dispute.
New drivers are often the buyers here. You have just passed your test, a relative or a neighbor offers an old saloon, and the paperwork gets left for later. Later is where the trouble starts. Our page on car insurance for new drivers in Ghana explains why the cover and the registered owner should line up.
The 14-day deadline
Citi Newsroom's explainer cites Regulation 30 of the Road Traffic Regulations, which requires the existing owner and the new owner to notify the Licensing Authority of a change of ownership within 14 days. Other guides describe the same period as the buyer's duty. Either way, the practical advice is the same: do not wait. Book the time off, agree a date with the seller on the day you buy, and treat the 14 days as a hard limit.
What DVLA asks for
DVLA's own services page lists the core requirements. Guides from news and commercial sites add a few items, so treat the second column as a checklist to confirm rather than a guarantee.
| Item | Source |
|---|---|
| Signed letter from the present owner applying for the transfer | DVLA services page |
| The vehicle itself, for physical inspection | DVLA services page |
| Vehicle documents, including the registration papers | DVLA services page |
| Both seller and buyer present in person | DVLA services page |
| Passport-size photographs of both seller and buyer | DVLA services page |
| Valid ID for both parties, such as the Ghana Card | Guides, to be confirmed with DVLA |
| Transfer forms completed at the office | Guides, to be confirmed with DVLA |
| A roadworthiness certificate | Guides disagree, so ask DVLA |
DVLA publishes its description of the service at dvla.gov.gh/services.
The process step by step
- Check the papers before you pay. Look at the registration documents, compare the chassis number on them with the one on the car, and make sure the seller's name matches their ID.
- Agree the transfer visit. Because both parties must be present, settle the date with the seller before money changes hands. A seller who will not come to DVLA is a warning sign.
- Apply at DVLA. The seller's signed letter and the documents are checked and ownership is authenticated.
- Inspection. DVLA examines the vehicle and, according to its services page, may test drive it to confirm it is suitable. Citi Newsroom adds that the chassis number is physically checked before the change goes through.
- Pay the invoice. If the transfer is approved, DVLA issues a fee invoice. Pay only the amount shown on it.
- Collect the updated registration. Keep the new papers in the car, and update your insurer.
The roadworthy question
Sources disagree on whether you need a fresh roadworthiness certificate for the transfer itself. One guide says to get one whatever the status of the old certificate, another suggests it can be handled differently. Because the point is unsettled, ask DVLA before you travel. Whatever happens at the counter, a private car still needs a valid certificate to be driven, as we explain in our guide to the annual roadworthy inspection. If the car's sticker has expired, fixing that first can save you a second trip.
What it costs
Published fee figures for the transfer do not agree. One October 2026 guide quotes two figures that appear to include the roadworthy fee, a separate 2026 price list quotes a higher amount, and old schedules are out of date after the cedi was redenominated. We have not found a figure we can verify against an official schedule, so we are not printing one. The reliable approach is to ask DVLA for the invoice amount, and to budget separately for a roadworthy test, insurance, and any repairs the inspection reveals. For other charges tied to your own licence, see our summary of DVLA licence fees.
Common problems
- The seller disappears. DVLA cannot change ownership without the seller's consent. Guides say a court declaration of ownership or vesting order may be needed if the seller cannot be found, which is a reason to complete the transfer at the time of sale.
- Names or numbers do not match. A chassis number that differs from the papers can stop the process at the inspection.
- Missing registration papers. Without them the seller may have to sort out a replacement first.
- Unpaid fines. If the car has outstanding penalties, ask DVLA or MTTD how they affect the transfer.
After the transfer
Switch your insurance to your name, keep the registration, insurance and roadworthiness papers together, and carry them whenever you drive. Officers can ask for them at a stop, which our page on Ghana road rules and traffic fines covers in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to change ownership after buying a car in Ghana?
Ghanaian media citing the Road Traffic Regulations report a 14-day deadline from the purchase. Some sources put the duty on the new owner, others on both parties. Plan to finish well within that time.
Does the seller have to come with me to DVLA?
DVLA's services page lists the physical presence of both the present owner and the new owner, along with passport photographs of each. Agree this with the seller before you pay.
Will DVLA inspect the car?
Yes. DVLA describes a physical inspection and a test drive to check suitability, and Citi Newsroom reports that the chassis number is checked before the change is completed.
How much does a change of ownership cost?
Published figures conflict and we could not verify one against an official schedule. Ask DVLA for the invoice amount and pay only what the invoice states.
What if I cannot find the previous owner?
DVLA cannot change ownership without the seller's consent. Guides say a court order may be the route, so get legal advice and ask DVLA what it will accept.