In this guide
The transfer in two stages
Moving a vehicle from one owner to another takes two offices. The first is the Collections Department of the Panama City Mayor’s Office, in the Hatillo Building, open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. according to its procedure page. The second is the Single Vehicle Registry of the Land Transit and Transport Authority (ATTT), which according to its listing serves at the vehicle registry agencies nationwide.
The order matters because the ATTT asks, among its documents, for a copy of the transfer document from the Municipality. The municipal step therefore comes first and registration in the buyer’s name follows.
| Stage | Where | Main documents according to the official source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Municipality | Collections Department, Panama City Mayor’s Office | Single Vehicle Property Registry, current-year inspection certificate, IDs or passports, digital transfer card |
| 2. Registry | ATTT vehicle registry agencies | Original Single Vehicle Registry signed and notarized, valid inspection, Judicial Investigation Directorate certification, copy of the Municipality transfer |
| Individual | Both offices | Notarized note if one party does not attend |
| Agent handling it | Both offices | Notarized authorization letter from the owner and ID copies |
| Company | Mayor’s Office | Signed card and letterhead letter from the legal representative |
| Copies | Both offices | All checked against originals; printouts of scans are not accepted |
Stage 1: Panama City Mayor’s Office
The Mayor’s Office lists requirements common to all cases: the Single Vehicle Property Registry (original and one copy), the current-year Vehicle Inspection Certificate (original and two copies), two copies of the valid ID or passport of seller and buyer, and the digital transfer card generated from Alcaldía Digital. Everything is submitted as original and copy.
The same page states that the digital transfer card has been mandatory since 1 January 2021 under Agreement No. 141 of 2020, and that cardboard cards or cards from other municipalities are not accepted. To generate it, the person handling the process must register as a taxpayer on Alcaldía Digital.
The page does not publish the fee or the processing time. No figure in this article is therefore an official fee: amounts are confirmed at the counter or by phone with the Mayor’s Office, which according to its page is 524-8900.
- Check that the Single Vehicle Registry is in the seller’s name. The ATTT requires the same in the next stage.
- Confirm that the inspection certificate is for the current year. It is a common requirement at the Mayor’s Office.
- Generate the digital transfer card on Alcaldía Digital.
- Gather originals and copies of the IDs or passports of both parties.
- Go to the universal counter if both parties attend, or prepare the notarized note if one is absent.
Stage 2: ATTT
The ATTT listing on Panamá Digital asks for a copy of the ID of seller and buyer (passport for foreigners), a copy of the Municipality’s transfer document, the original Single Vehicle Registry in the seller’s name, the valid vehicle inspection, the Judicial Investigation Directorate certification and a copy of the transfer card.
The original registry must be signed on the back by buyer and seller and notarized. If either party does not attend the Registry, the transfer card must be notarized. The listing says all copies are checked against originals and cites Resolution AL-06 of 12 January 2016 (Official Gazette 27958-A) as the legal basis. It also publishes no fee, time or hours.
ASSA Market, the marketplace for used cars between private parties, covers the transfer in its FAQ, with guidance on doing it independently or through a recommended service.
Individual, agent or company
Individual with both parties present. According to the Mayor’s Office, the transfer card does not need notarization when seller and buyer both appear and the process is handled at the universal counter.
One party absent. At the municipality, the buyer submits a notarized authorization note. At the ATTT, the card must be notarized if either party does not attend the Registry.
Agent. When a third party handles the process, the Mayor’s Office asks for an authorization letter from the seller on plain letter paper, notarized, with a copy of the ID or passport of the seller and the agent. The page offers a downloadable model. The ATTT asks for an authorization note from the owner or legal representative, plus a copy of the agent’s ID.
Company. The Mayor’s Office requires the digital transfer card and an authorization letter on company letterhead, signed by the legal representative.
Mistakes that delay the process
- Bringing a cardboard transfer card or one from another municipality, which the Mayor’s Office does not accept.
- Presenting an inspection certificate from a previous year.
- Bringing printouts of scanned documents or printed photographs, which are not accepted.
- Leaving out copies: the Mayor’s Office asks for original and copy of everything.
- Forgetting the Judicial Investigation Directorate certification, an ATTT requirement.
- Arriving with a Single Vehicle Registry that is not in the seller’s name.
Before going, it is worth checking requirements on the official pages, since both can change.
Transfer in a private sale
In private sales, the transfer is the last step. According to the ASSA Market FAQ, the process can be done independently or through the service the platform recommends, with an estimated time of about one business day if all requirements are met. The site states that if a party cannot attend, a notarized power of attorney can be granted to a third party, and that the documents depend on whether the process is for an individual or a company.
The site also offers a downloadable buying and selling guide and a car insurance quote tool at calculadora.assanet.com. Car listings are at assamarket.com/panama/autos. On resale value, Radar Panamá published a guide on how much a car depreciates in Panama.
This content is informational and does not replace advice from a lawyer or licensed agent.
Frequently asked questions
Where is a vehicle transfer done in Panama?
At two offices: the Collections Department of the Panama City Mayor’s Office and the ATTT Single Vehicle Registry. The Mayor’s Office serves in the Hatillo Building and the ATTT at its vehicle registry agencies.
What documents does the Mayor’s Office ask for?
It asks for the Single Vehicle Property Registry, the current-year inspection certificate, ID or passport of both parties and the digital transfer card, all as original and copy.
What does the ATTT ask for?
It asks for ID copies, a copy of the Municipality transfer, the notarized original Single Vehicle Registry, a valid inspection and the Judicial Investigation Directorate certification.
How much does a transfer cost and how long does it take?
The official pages consulted publish neither fee nor time, so both are best confirmed at the counter. ASSA Market states in its FAQ that its recommended service takes about one business day if requirements are met.
Can the transfer be done without attending?
Yes, with authorization. According to the Mayor’s Office, a third party can handle it with a notarized authorization letter from the seller and ID copies. Each office sets its own form of note or letter.
Related articles
- How much does a car depreciate in Panama? Year-by-year table and the factors that weigh on resale
- Guide to buying a Chinese car in Panama: warranty, parts, workshops and resale
Sources
- Panama City Mayor’s Office, Vehicle Transfer: common requirements, digital card, cases by person type and location.
- Panamá Digital, ATTT listing for individual to individual transfer: Single Vehicle Registry requirements and legal basis.
- ASSA Market, FAQ: transfer independently or through a recommended service.
- ASSA Market, buying and selling guide.
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