How to Fill Out a Motorcycle Bill of Sale! Explaining the Process for Changing Ownership of Mopeds, 125cc, 250cc, and Larger Bikes, Required Documents, and More!

What is a Certificate of Transfer?

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A Certificate of Transfer is a document that proves "when and to whom ownership was transferred" when the owner of a motorcycle changes.

When a motorcycle is transferred or sold, ownership changes, but the old owner must first complete the deregistration process, and the new owner who takes over the motorcycle must re-register it before it can be ridden on the road again.

The Certificate of Transfer is one of the documents required when the new owner re-registers the motorcycle.

How to change ownership of a moped (motorcycle under 125cc)

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Here, we will explain how to change the ownership of a moped or a Class 2 moped.

A change of ownership (officially called a transfer registration) is a procedure performed when the owner of a motorcycle changes. If it is not done, the tax notice that arrives around May each year will be sent to the old owner, so be sure to do it when a motorcycle is transferred.

The procedure for changing ownership of mopeds and Class 2 mopeds is the same.

Where to complete the procedure?

The change of ownership procedure is carried out at the light vehicle tax counter at the municipal office (or ward office) that has jurisdiction over the new owner's address.

While a Certificate of Transfer is generally required for the change of ownership procedure, some offices do not require it, so it is a good idea to confirm before applying.

The Certificate of Transfer requires the signature and seal of the previous owner, so be sure to have it filled out and stamped when you receive the moped.

Flow of the ownership change procedure

The flow of the ownership change begins with the old owner completing the deregistration procedure at the municipal office (or ward office) that has jurisdiction over their address and receiving a deregistration certificate.

The old owner should hand over the motorcycle, along with the deregistration certificate, the signed and sealed Certificate of Transfer, and the compulsory automobile liability insurance policy (if there is still time remaining on it) to the new owner.

Next, the new owner collects the necessary documents at the relevant municipal office, completes the change of ownership procedure, and receives the new license plate and vehicle registration certificate, completing the change of ownership procedure.

The six documents required for the change of ownership are as follows:

Required documents

The documents required for changing ownership of mopeds and Class 2 mopeds are as follows:

• Certificate of Transfer
• Deregistration Certificate
• Light Vehicle Tax Declaration and License Plate Application Form
• Compulsory automobile liability insurance (only if valid)
• Seal (hanko)
• Identification (driver's license, passport, etc.)

A Certificate of Transfer may not be required for the change of ownership in some cases.

Change of ownership for motorcycles over 125cc and up to 250cc (motorcycle)

Source: https://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/mc/lineup/tricity155/feature.html

This section explains how to change ownership of motorcycles with an engine displacement of over 125cc and up to 250cc.

Unlike mopeds, motorcycles over 125cc do not require a deregistration procedure for a change of ownership.

Where to complete the procedure?

The change of ownership procedure is carried out at the Transport Branch Office or Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Office that has jurisdiction over the new owner's address.

Documents and other items to be prepared by the old owner

The following six items are the documents and other items that the old owner needs to prepare:

Documents and other items to be prepared by the new owner

The documents and other items to be prepared by the new owner are as follows:

These documents are required to complete the change of ownership procedure.

Documents required for change of ownership of motorcycles over 250cc and up to 400cc, and large motorcycles

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Next, we will explain the change of ownership for motorcycles over 250cc up to large motorcycles, which require vehicle inspection.

Where to complete the procedure?

The change of ownership for motorcycles over 250cc that require vehicle inspection is carried out at the Transport Branch Office or Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Office that has jurisdiction over the new owner's address.

Documents and other items to be prepared by the old owner

The documents and other items to be prepared by the old owner are as follows:

If the jurisdiction of the address shown on the license plate changes, the license plate must also be submitted during the procedure, and a new license plate will be issued. However, the vehicle inspection sticker will not be reissued, so be sure to peel it off and keep it.

If a new sticker is needed, an application for reissuance of the inspection certificate must be made.

Documents and other items to be prepared by the new owner

The documents and other items to be prepared by the new owner for changing ownership of a motorcycle that requires vehicle inspection are as follows:

The Vehicle Inspection Certificate Entry Application Form (OCR Sheet Form 1), Light Vehicle Tax Declaration Form, and Fee Payment Form are available at the Transport Branch Office or Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Office. The Vehicle Inspection Certificate Entry Application Form can also be downloaded from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's website.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Website: https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/jidosha_tk6_000021.html

If the new owner completes the procedure themselves, a power of attorney is not required.

Although the Vehicle Inspection Certificate Entry Application Form may seem complex with its many fields, there are sample forms available as a reference to help you fill it out.

The ownership change procedure takes about 4 hours, and may vary depending on how busy the office is, so allow plenty of time for the process.

Fee Payment Form

The fee payment form available at the Transport Branch Office counter requires filling in the necessary information and paying a fee.

The fields to be filled in include the new owner's name and the vehicle's registration number or chassis number, so fill them in while referring to the vehicle inspection certificate.

Once filled out, attach a revenue stamp worth 350 yen, which is the fee for the change of ownership, and submit it.

Where can I get it? How to download the Certificate of Transfer

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The Certificate of Transfer must be filled out in the prescribed form (Form No. 21).

The form is available at the Transport Branch Office or Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Office where the change of ownership procedure is carried out, and can also be downloaded from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's website.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism - Certificate of Transfer (Various Forms): https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/jidosha_fr1_000033.html

How to fill out the Certificate of Transfer, examples, and注意事项

When filling out the Certificate of Transfer, information such as the vehicle name and model number should be transcribed exactly as it appears on the "License Plate Issuance Certificate (similar to a vehicle inspection certificate for mopeds)," the "Light Vehicle Registration Certificate" for motorcycles over 125cc and up to 250cc, or the "Vehicle Inspection Certificate" for motorcycles over 250cc that require inspection.

To fill out the Certificate of Transfer, the old owner first fills it out and affixes their seal, then hands it over to the new owner.

First, the old owner needs to fill in the "Transferor and name or designation and address of transferor" field with their name and address, then press their seal (a personal seal is acceptable) to the right of it in the "Transferor's Seal" field, and then hand it over to the new owner. (A seal may not be necessary in some cases.)

The new owner fills in the "Date of Transfer" and "Transferee and name or designation and address of transferee" fields, and either party can fill in the fields for the motorcycle's name, model number, etc. Also, the new owner's seal is not required in the "Transferor's Seal" field.

Are seals unnecessary?

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As of January 2021, the requirement for seals on necessary motorcycle documents has been abolished.

Although a change of ownership procedure can now be completed even if the Certificate of Transfer does not have the old owner's seal, if the motorcycle's owner is a loan company or motorcycle shop, their seal is still required.

This is to prevent unauthorized changes of ownership when the ownership lies with a loan company. Therefore, for changes of ownership resulting from private sales between individuals, a seal is not required.

If you try to change ownership without the loan company's seal, the loan company may be contacted to confirm the facts.

Is a tax-stop application necessary? What is the procedure?

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"Tax-stop" refers to the application to ensure that light vehicle tax is not levied from the following year when a motorcycle is no longer in your possession due to transfer or deregistration, or when it is stored without being ridden.

When selling or transferring a motorcycle, those 250cc or less require a deregistration procedure (temporary registration cancellation), which automatically stops the tax levy.

A tax-stop procedure is necessary if the motorcycle is stolen and cannot be found, or if it is stored without being ridden.

Method of tax-stop application

The tax-stop procedure can be done at the tax affairs division or tax assessment division counter of your municipal office (this varies depending on the office), or by mail. One of the following documents is required for the procedure:

• Light Vehicle Tax Declaration Form
• Copy of the Vehicle Inspection Certificate Return Certificate or Light Vehicle Registration Certificate Return Certificate
• Copy of the Vehicle Inspection Certificate (Shaken Certificate)
• Copy of the Light Vehicle Registration Certificate before and after the change

By submitting any one of these, you can complete the tax-stop procedure.

Additionally, there are administrative scriveners who can handle tax-stop applications for a fee, so it's a good idea to consult or request their services if needed.

Summary

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The application destination and required documents for changing motorcycle ownership vary depending on the engine displacement.

We have explained the necessary documents, procedures, and precautions for changing ownership, so please refer to this article if you need to change ownership due to transfer or sale.

Also, if you receive a tax notice after transferring your motorcycle, it is possible that the ownership change has not been completed.

In the worst-case scenario, such as being unable to contact the transferee, a tax-stop can be applied, so please also read the explanation regarding tax-stops.