Buying
Documents Required to Buy a Used Car in Pakistan
A used car purchase in Pakistan is a documentation exercise with a test drive attached. Get the paperwork right and the rest is mechanical. Get it wrong and you own a car you cannot legally transfer, insure properly, or sell on. This is the full list, including the cases people forget.
Figures last verified against official sources on
What the seller must provide
- Original registration book or smart card — not a photocopy, and not 'with a relative'
- Signed Transfer of Ownership (T.O.) form on the prescribed format
- Photocopy of the seller's CNIC, matching the registered owner's name
- Token tax payment receipts showing the vehicle is clear of arrears
- Any previous transfer documents, if they are not the original registered owner
- Service history and receipts, where they have them
What you must bring
- Your original CNIC and photocopies
- CNIC photocopies for the witnesses required on the transfer form
- Funds in a traceable form, with a written receipt for any payment made
- A written sale agreement naming both parties, the vehicle details, the agreed price and the date
Extra documents for imported vehicles
An imported car carries its own paper trail, and its absence should affect what you pay.
- Bill of entry — proof the vehicle was legally imported and duty was paid
- Auction sheet — the Japanese auction grading, which records accident history and genuine mileage at export
- Import documents and clearance papers
- Translated documentation where the originals are not in English
If the car is under a bank lease
A leased vehicle is owned by the financing bank until the lease is settled. You cannot transfer it on the seller's word alone.
- No-objection certificate (NOC) from the financing bank
- Lease settlement or closure letter confirming the finance is cleared
- Confirmation that the bank's lien has been removed from the registration record
Do not pay the balance of the purchase price until the lease is formally settled and the NOC is in your hand. A promise to clear the lease after payment is the point at which these transactions go wrong.
Keep these after the sale
- Updated registration in your name
- Transfer fee challan and receipt
- The signed sale agreement
- Copy of the seller's CNIC
- All service and repair records going forward
Keep them together. The next buyer will ask for exactly this set, and being able to produce it is worth real money when you come to sell.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to buy a used car in Pakistan?
From the seller: the original registration book, a signed transfer of ownership form, a copy of their CNIC matching the registered owner, and token tax receipts. From your side: your original CNIC and copies, CNIC copies for witnesses, and a written sale agreement. Imported and leased cars require additional documents.
Can I buy a car that is still on a bank lease?
Only with a no-objection certificate from the financing bank and confirmation the lease is settled. Until then the bank, not the seller, effectively owns the car. Never pay the full amount against a promise to clear the lease afterwards.
What is an auction sheet and do I need one?
It is the grading document from the Japanese auction where an imported car was originally sold, recording its condition, accident history and mileage at export. It is the most reliable history document available on an imported vehicle, and its absence should be reflected in the price.
Is a written sale agreement necessary?
It is not a substitute for the official transfer, but it is worth having. A short agreement naming both parties, the vehicle, the price and the date protects both sides if there is any later dispute about what was agreed.
Sources
Government fees and tax rates change with provincial budgets. Confirm current figures with the relevant department before making a payment.