Section 6: Change of ownership

6. Change of ownership (1) (a) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), on the change of ownership of a motor vehicle or trailer— (i) the registered owner and the new owner shall forthwith jointly give notice by registered letter to the Commissioner of the change of ownership, of the date of the change and of the name and address of the new owner; (ii) the registered owner shall forthwith give a similar notice to the person from whom he holds a policy of insurance or security in respect of third party risks as required under Part V; (iii) the registered owner shall forthwith deliver to the new owner the registration book and the licence relating to the motor vehicle or trailer; and (iv) the new owner shall, within 14 days of the change of ownership, deliver the registration book and other relative documents to the Commissioner who shall, subject to subsection (5), register him as the owner of the motor vehicle or trailer. (b) Where a person is, under section 7, entered in the register kept by the Commissioner, and in the registration book, as the actual owner of a motor vehicle or trailer, the Commissioner shall consult him before registering a person as the new owner of the motor vehicle or trailer. (2) (a) An application for registration of a new owner may be made before the actual transfer of the motor vehicle or trailer. (b) The registration of a new owner shall not be effective until the registration book has been surrendered to, and reissued by, the Commissioner. [Issue 5] R27 – 16 Revised Laws of Mauritius (3) On the death of the registered owner of a motor vehicle or trailer, the person into whose custody the motor vehicle or trailer has come shall, within 14 days of its coming into his custody, give notice of the fact to the Commissioner. (4) On the change of ownership of a motor vehicle or trailer by reason of the motor vehicle or trailer being lawfully seized under a hire purchase agreement— (a) (i) the registered owner or his representative shall, within 7 days of the seizure, deliver the motor vehicle or trailer licence and the registration book to the usher who has effected the seizure of the motor vehicle or trailer; and (ii) the usher shall, within 7 days of the seizure, inform the Commissioner in writing of the change of ownership; (b) the person on whose behalf the seizure has been effected shall, within 7 days of receiving the motor vehicle or trailer licence and the registration book, apply to the Commissioner to be registered as the new owner and shall be registered unless the Commissioner thinks fit to order otherwise; and (c) (i) where the Commissioner is satisfied that a person whose name has been entered in the register and registration book, under section 7, as the actual owner of the motor vehicle or trailer is unable, within 7 days of the seizure, to procure the motor vehicle or trailer licence and the registration book from the registered owner or his representative, he shall supply to that person, on request, duplicates of the licence and book; and (ii) that person shall thereafter be deemed to be the registered owner and the Commissioner shall accept his signature as such until the next change of ownership is effected. (5) On the registration of a new owner, the Commissioner shall charge the prescribed fee and make the necessary alterations to the registration book and deliver the altered book to the new registered owner or issue a new registration book to him.