DVLA to roll out new vehicle number plates and a new tracking system

The Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a series of major reforms aimed at tightening Ghana’s vehicle registration system. The changes include the introduction of redesigned number plates, stricter timelines for vehicle registration, and new tracking technology.

DVLA Chief Executive, Julius Neequaye Kotey, speaking in an interview sighted by thenewsgod.com, explained that the reforms are part of efforts to improve accountability and streamline the movement of vehicles from the port into the transport system.

A key feature of the reforms is the newly introduced Dealer’s Permit (DP) sticker. According to Mr. Kotey, the sticker contains a code that reveals key details about a vehicle, including the driver, when it entered the country, its intended destination, and when the permit expires.

“It was wrong to have vehicles in the system without knowing who owned them. With this new sticker, right from the port, we can identify the owner and track the car,” he noted.

The DVLA boss further cautioned that all vehicles must be registered within two weeks of purchase. While dealers are expected to use DV stickers for cars in garages, private individuals must complete registration promptly. Misuse of DV plates, he stressed, will not be tolerated.

He added that the Authority is considering the introduction of a special number plate, at a high cost, for those who fail to register their cars within the stipulated period.

Beginning January 1, 2026, the current practice of including the year of manufacture on number plates will be scrapped. Plates will instead display a regional code at the top and an area code at the end. For instance, a plate could read GR 222 AD, with “AD” representing Adenta.

The DVLA says the reforms will enhance transparency, ensure compliance, and bring greater order to vehicle registration across the country.