DVLA Assures Public New Registration System Retains Current Procedures

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has assured the public that its 2026 vehicle registration system will enhance national security and traceability without complicating existing procedures. The technology driven licence plates represent the primary change while registration steps remain unchanged.

Addressing stakeholders at an engagement in Ho, Kwasi Bona Otuo Srebour, Deputy Director for Vehicle Inspection and Registration at the DVLA Head Office, said vehicle owners will continue to bring their vehicles for inspection and present valid identification for ownership verification. The process remains the same, he explained. What changes is the end product, the licence plate.

The new plates will incorporate Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, replacing current aluminium plates that carry no verifiable digital information. Srebour said the upgrade aims to eliminate unapproved registrations, improve vehicle traceability, enable electronic documentation of vehicle activities and curb crimes linked to fake plates. The enhanced plates can only be issued through the DVLA’s digital system after proper registration, making them non transferable and impossible to reproduce unlawfully.

Once the system has not registered a vehicle, the plate cannot be issued, Srebour said. This prevents individuals from manufacturing or transferring plates for criminal purposes. He addressed concerns from commercial motor and tricycle operators, confirming that amendments to relevant transport laws have been completed and submitted to Parliament. The authority is waiting for Parliament to pass the amendments so that commercial motorcyclists, tricycle and quadricycle riders can be issued appropriate permits and plates to operate legally, he added.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Samuel Stephen Okunor, Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander, described the new registration system as a major boost for law enforcement, particularly in responding to hit and run cases and vehicle related crimes. He noted that manual processes often delay investigations, but the computerised system will enable the Police to quickly identify vehicles and track their owners.

In Europe and the US, the system is straightforward. You enter the registration number and everything appears. If a vehicle is stolen, it can be traced easily. Okunor called the initiative very good for Ghana and urged the DVLA to provide the Police with necessary devices to access the system efficiently.

The rollout follows a phased timeline, with new registrations beginning to receive the plates from January 1, 2026, followed by mandatory reregistration of all existing vehicles between April 1, 2026 and December 1, 2027. DVLA Chief Executive Julius Neequaye Kotey has described the reform as critical national infrastructure with dual benefits for security and revenue protection.

Ghana currently loses significant resources through vehicle smuggling across approximately 25 illegal border routes. The RFID system will prevent registration of smuggled vehicles by flagging them against the central database, making it impossible to process undeclared imports without detection. Law enforcement agencies will gain unprecedented tracking capabilities through the system. A stolen vehicle can be immediately flagged within the national registry, with RFID readers positioned at checkpoints to provide instant notifications to police.

The new digitalised plates will use distinct colour schemes to classify vehicles at a glance. Private vehicles will receive white backgrounds, commercial vehicles yellow backgrounds, diplomatic vehicles special mission coded plates, private motorcycles blue backgrounds, commercial motorcycles yellow backgrounds, government vehicles standard blue backgrounds and electric vehicles distinct green markings.

The plate incorporates a background map that represents the region of registration. A circular section on the plate is designated for the biannual renewal status, which must be updated every six months as required by law. This process allows the DVLA to distinguish active vehicles from those that have been decommissioned easily.

The DVLA emphasised that vehicle owners will not require full reregistration but only need to pay fees for new plates. The transition period extending to December 2027 allows adequate time for the entire national fleet to complete the changeover without disrupting commercial operations or imposing unreasonable burdens on motorists.

Some drivers and motor riders who spoke to media outlets welcomed the planned reforms but appealed for consistent enforcement to eliminate fraudulent practices. The stakeholder engagement brought together representatives of driver unions, motorcycle associations, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) and other security agencies. Public awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagement sessions are planned to prepare vehicle owners for the transition across all regions.

Recent circulation of fraudulent plate designs online prompted the authority to caution the public against misinformation and confirm that official announcements will come through verified channels. DVLA officials clarified that the plate design remains subject to refinement before the January 2026 launch, with modifications still possible to ensure alignment with national and international standards.

The broader digitalisation agenda reflects Ghana’s commitment to modernising transport infrastructure and improving revenue collection. The DVLA seeks cooperation from automobile associations, commercial transport operators and the general public to ensure smooth implementation of the national system overhaul.