• New Car Registration in Ghana Guide
• Car Roadworthy and Insurance in Ghana
• Inspection at authorized Center
• The pre-start “onboarding” process
• FAQ

Do you have plans to register your vehicle before you hit the road? It’s mandatory though! It is essential to have your vehicle registered in your name in Ghana, whether it is a new or used vehicle.

Registering your vehicle in Ghana is mandatory and has been governed by the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) and the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180) and the Road Traffic Amendment Act, 2025 (Act 1153) which was recently passed, which includes provisions related to vehicle registration and licensing.

Registering your vehicle saves you from legal fines and penalties and ensures you your vehicle is protected. The process of car registration in Ghana is uncomplicated and can be completed in a few steps.

NEW CAR REGISTRATION IN GHANA

To register a vehicle in Ghana, you have to visit any DVLA approved center across Ghana, or you can visit their website to complete their online process.

STEP-BY-STEP CAR REGISTRATION IN GHANA GUIDE

1. A service request needs to be sent to DVLA for proof and verification of your vehicle information and records.
2. An appointment notice will be sent to you.
3. A registration process then begins, where a service fee is required to be paid. 
4. DVLA then proceeds by reviewing your documents and physically inspecting your vehicle.
5. A vehicle registration number is issued which is encoded electronically and validated.
6. After this step, in less than 48 hours your vehicle number plate is ready.
7. You are then contact back by DVLA to present the vehicle for fixing and activating right on the spot.
8. Finally, your vehicle registration plate is through, and Vehicle Registration Book will be handed to you.

CAR ROADWORTHY AND INSURANCE IN GHANA

Roadworthy is referred as a vehicle which is safe, meets legal requirements, functional conditions, to be driven on public roads.

In Ghana, a roadworthy certificate is an electronic document and physical sticker that proves a vehicle has met all the minimum mechanical and safety standards or measures required to use public roads.

This certificate is issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) after a technical inspection is been carried out at any authorized centers or Private Vehicle Test Station (PVTS).

The E-certificate or sticker issued is required to be fixed to the right inner side of the vehicle’s front windscreen to ease communication between traffic authorities.

Failure to acquire a roadworthy certificate or renewal of the certificate for your vehicle may result in legal fines, penalty or vehicle impound from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD). This E-Certificate is required to be renewed every 12-months.

Moreover, it’s mandatory for car owners used on public roads to acquire an insurance for their vehicle under the insurance ACT 195 to cover their liability to others.

VEHICLE INSPECTION AT AUTHOURIZED CENTERS.

Vehicle inspection for registration and renewal can be completed at a DVLA Center or a designated Private Vehicle Testing Station (PVTS).

Car owners are required to present your vehicle to undergo an inspection for verifications such as roadworthiness.

Besides, it certifies that your vehicle meets the minimum safety standards required for operation on public roads in Ghana.

Documents required by car owners to present when undergoing inspection process are, vehicle registration documents, valid driver’s license, and the previous roadworthiness certificate (if renewing).

In most cases, commercial vehicles may require additional documentation.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

1. Visit a designated Private Vehicle Testing Station (PVTS) with your vehicle and Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) for verification and examination.
2. Submit the Vehicle Registration Certification or card. A road use fee is required to be paid via the counter. After that, the inspection process will begin.
3. Your vehicle then undergoes a thorough inspection. After a satisfactory inspection, a roadworthy certificate is issued.
4. Customs entry along with the vehicle needs to be presented for testing, where your vehicle inspection report will be obtained.
5. You are then required to present the vehicle and customs documents to the DVLA registration center for authentication and release.
6. A biometric detail is then captured, where you will obtain the certificate of title, vehicle registration smart card, and roadworthy sticker.

THE PRE-START “ONBOARDING” PROCESS

Vehicle information onboarding process is referred as the step-by-step process structured separately by DVLA to help car owners speed up their registration and re-registration before it reaches the counter. It is a five-step outlined.

Getting ahead of time is essential for car owners to help skip congestions at service centers and testing stations, and less pressure. 

THE “ONBOARDING AHEAD OF TIME” PROCESS

1. Vehicle is to be presented for inspection.
2. Verification and authentication of your vehicle documents is done by DVLA.
3. An invoice is generated and a service fee is paid.
4. Verification of identity and documents upload will then take place. (ECOWAS Identity card mainly requested as set by DVLA).
5. Certificate of Title and Vehicle Registration Card is then obtained.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

There a few essential documents required by DVLA onboarding process to be presented.

1. Proof of ownership such as purchase documents.
2. Proof of Identification such as ECOWAS Identity Ghana.
3. Existing vehicle documents such as registration documents and clearance or customs documents for imported vehicles.

FAQS

WHERE CAN YOU REGISTER A CAR IN GHANA?

In Ghana, you can register a car at any DVLA centers nationwide.

CAN YOU RENEW CAR REGISTRATION ONLINE IN GHANA?

Yes, car registration renewal can be done online in Ghana. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has launched online services that allow Ghanaians to renew vehicle registrations without visiting a DVLA office.

WHAT IS THE VALIDITY OF CAR REGISTRATION IN GHANA?

The validity of vehicle registration such as its roadworthy and insurance is one year.

TAKEWAY

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) manages car registration and renewal process in Ghana.

Whether you are buying a new car in Ghana or a used one, car registration is a procedure which needs to be undertaken.

To avoid fines and penalties, you are to take note to renew your vehicle registration on time. Stay connected for more update on Ghana’s finest auto blog.