The mandatory documents
To sell a car registered in Belgium you need the registration certificate (both parts since 2013), the certificate of conformity (COC) and a Car-Pass less than two months old. The Car-Pass is mandatory for any sale, to a private buyer or to a dealer: it is issued at the roadworthiness centre and lists the vehicle’s mileage history.
Add both keys, the service book and invoices if you have them: they are not mandatory, but they weigh on the price.
The pre-sale roadworthiness test
If you sell to a private buyer, the car must pass a “sale” roadworthiness test, valid two months, at which the Car-Pass is issued. If you sell to a dealer, this test is not mandatory: the buyer takes care of it after the purchase. It is one of the reasons why selling to a dealer is simpler and faster.
Number plate and insurance
In Belgium the plate belongs to the holder, not to the car. After the sale you keep your plate for your next vehicle, or you return it to the DIV (free de-registration via bpost) to stop road tax and insurance. Inform your insurer the same day: third-party liability stays in your name until the plate is de-registered or reassigned.
Selling to a dealer: what he does for you
A professional buyer takes care of the roadworthiness test, reconditioning, resale and formalities. You sign a sales contract and a purchase invoice, you receive payment, and the car leaves with him. No listing, no viewings, no test drive with a stranger, no argument about a hidden defect three weeks later: the legal warranty between private parties does not apply in the same way when the buyer is a professional.