How to transfer ownership of a car or motorcycle

What you need

• Notarized sale contract (date, place, price, both parties' names, phones and signatures)
• ID copies of buyer and seller, and the buyer's TIN
• The latest yellow card (registration certificate)
• One-year insurance
• The seller must have no unpaid taxes with RRA

Steps

1. Sign the sale contract before a notary.
2. Log in at etax.rra.gov.rw and request the motor vehicle ownership transfer.
3. Upload the documents and pay the transfer fee during the request, or it's cancelled.
4. Wait for RRA approval.
5. Bring the old number plate and registration card to collect the new ones.

Tips

• Buying? The seller must have no unpaid RRA taxes, or the transfer can't go through.
• Inheritance, donation, court order and auctions each need different documents. See RRA's list.

Official sources

• RRA: motor vehicle ownership transfer

Last checked: 2 November 2026 against the RRA page. If something here is out of date, tell us so we can fix it.