Transferring Vehicle Ownership in Nepal (Namsari Process Guide 2026)

What Is Namsari?

Namsari (नामसारी) means name transfer: the official process of updating registered vehicle ownership with the Department of Transport Management under the Motor Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 2049 (see the published Act via the Nepal Law Commission and current procedures at dotm.gov.np). Day-to-day processing happens at the provincial Transport Management Office covering the vehicle's registered district.

• Buying or selling a used motorcycle, scooter, or car
• Gifting a vehicle to a family member
• Inheriting a vehicle after the registered owner has passed away
• Moving a vehicle into or out of a registered company's name
• Settling ownership after a vehicle loan has been fully paid off

Namsari is not bluebook renewal. Renewal keeps an existing owner's registration current. Namsari changes the registered owner, and you cannot renew a bluebook in your name until the transfer is complete.

Documents Required for Namsari

Seller Brings

• Original bluebook, not a photo or photocopy
• Citizenship certificate, original plus at least one photocopy
• Two recent passport-size photos
• Proof that vehicle tax is fully paid and current
• Signed vehicle ownership transfer application in the prescribed form

Buyer Brings

• Citizenship certificate, original plus at least one photocopy
• Two recent passport-size photos
• The signed transfer application, countersigned by the buyer
• Company incorporation certificate and board authorization letter for company purchases
• Payment for the transfer fee and any outstanding tax

Exact requirements can vary slightly by office. Call the specific Yatayat Karyalaya before visiting.

Yatayat Namsari Steps: The Full Process

1. Confirm the vehicle status and price. Check the bluebook, tax status, and registered owner before paying.
2. Clear outstanding vehicle tax before the office processes the file.
3. Prepare both document sets including citizenship documents, photos, and originals.
4. Fill the namsari application form at the office or through an online provincial form where available.
5. Visit the correct TMO together — the office where the vehicle is registered.
6. Submit documents and take a token. The officer checks the bluebook against chassis and engine numbers.
7. Pay transfer fees and applicable transfer tax under the province's current schedule.
8. Complete vehicle inspection if required by the office.
9. Wait for the ownership record to be updated in the DoTM system.
10. Collect the re-stamped bluebook showing the buyer as registered owner.

Namsari Fees and Tax Clearing

There is no single fee nationwide. Nepal's seven provinces set their own vehicle charges through annual Provincial Economic Acts, and rates are revised most fiscal years.

Outstanding vehicle tax must be cleared before the transfer is processed. Confirm the exact total with the registered Yatayat office or through the Nagarik App; one province or fiscal year's figure will not necessarily apply elsewhere.

Bike Namsari vs. Car Namsari: What's Different

Motorcycles and Scooters

• Usually simpler, with lower transfer and tax brackets for smaller engine capacity
• Chassis and engine checks are especially important because bikes are often resold several times
• Confirm any EMI loan is closed before transfer

Cars, Jeeps, and SUVs

• Higher tax and transfer brackets generally apply to larger engine capacity
• Bank financing is common, so a release letter is often required
• Check fitness history, commercial use, taxi conversion, and accident repairs

Is Namsari Available Online?

Partially, and the system is evolving. DoTM's EDLVRS and the Nagarik App or Fonepay-linked bank apps can support related preparation and vehicle-tax payments in many provinces. A complete nationwide online process from application through final bluebook stamping is not yet confirmed, so treat digital tools as preparation rather than a substitute for the in-person Yatayat visit. Bagmati has been active in piloting digital verification.

Special Situations

• Registered owner deceased: inheritance transfer generally requires a death certificate, relationship proof, and succession documents.
• Family gift: the same underlying namsari process applies, though close-relative transfers may receive different tax treatment.
• Company-owned vehicle: use incorporation and board authorization documents instead of personal citizenship documents.
• Vehicle under bank loan: complete the loan and obtain the bank release before attempting namsari.
• One party unavailable: use a notarized power of attorney naming an authorized representative; an informal verbal arrangement is not enough.

What Can Block a Transfer

• Unpaid vehicle tax
• Expired bluebook
• Lost bluebook without a police report and duplicate application
• Mismatched chassis or engine numbers
• Missing or unauthorized signature

Buyer and Seller Checklists

Buyer's Pre-Purchase Checklist

• Physically match chassis and engine numbers to the bluebook
• Confirm tax is fully paid and current
• Ask about any bank loan
• Confirm the seller is the sole registered owner

Seller's Pre-Sale Checklist

• Clear pending tax before listing the vehicle
• Prepare the original bluebook and citizenship certificate
• Attend the transport office with the buyer
• Keep the transfer receipt as proof that legal responsibility moved

Common Namsari Scams to Watch For

• Unofficial “fast-track” cash offers
• Sellers asking you to skip the transport office
• Altered or photocopied bluebooks presented as originals
• Agents guaranteeing same-day transfer for an extra fee

Confirming the Transfer Went Through

Before leaving the office, check that the bluebook has been physically re-stamped and lists you as the registered owner. Keep the transfer receipt and every tax or fee confirmation for insurance, resale, and future disputes.