How to formalise the sale of a car
A car sale agreement between individuals («Договор купли-продажи транспортного средства», vehicle sale and purchase agreement) is made in simple written form — no notary is needed. Once it is signed, the buyer becomes the owner and has 10 days to register the car in their name with the State Traffic Inspectorate (Gosavtoinspektsiya, formerly GIBDD). The seller does not need to deregister anything.
What to include in the agreement
- passport details and addresses of the parties;
- make, model, VIN, year of manufacture, colour, registration plate;
- number of the paper vehicle passport (PTS) or electronic one (EPTS) and of the registration certificate;
- price and payment terms;
- known defects — this protects the seller from claims.
Checks before buying
Check the car by VIN on the State Traffic Inspectorate website — for restrictions, wanted status and accidents — and in the Federal Notary Chamber's register of pledges of movable property. Make sure the VIN on the body matches the documents.
Tax on the sale
If the seller owned the car for less than three years, the income is subject to personal income tax (NDFL). The tax can be reduced by the purchase costs (if documented) or by a deduction of 250,000 ₽. Even if no tax is due, a 3-NDFL return must be filed by 30 April of the following year. The tax calculator will help you work out the NDFL.
Filled-in example
This is how the finished document looks with sample data. All names and details are fictitious.