The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a major overhaul of Ghana’s vehicle registration system, with registration numbers set to remain permanently attached to the registered owner rather than the vehicle itself.
The change is contained in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153) and the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), marking one of the most significant reforms to the country’s vehicle identification regime in decades .
How the New System Works
Under the new framework, when a vehicle is sold, its registration number will not transfer to the buyer. The previous owner retains the number, which can later be assigned to another vehicle of the same category. The new owner must register the vehicle afresh with the DVLA and obtain a new registration number .
Speaking at a national sensitisation programme on the new road traffic laws, Lilian Sevor, Manager for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the DVLA, explained that a retained registration number would be withdrawn and made available for reassignment if the owner failed to use it within five years .
The DVLA has also announced plans to recall existing vehicle number plates nationwide as part of the implementation of a new system for issuing biennial renewal stickers. The recalled plates will be replaced with new ones during the process .
A Shift from Vehicle-Tied to Owner-Tied Plates
The reform represents a fundamental shift from Ghana’s previous system, under which number plates were permanently assigned to vehicles and remained with them through changes in ownership. That system, according to the DVLA, created significant accountability gaps.
DVLA Director of Corporate Affairs Stephen Attuh explained in January 2026 that number plates are connected to multiple national systems, including traffic enforcement and security databases, making it critical that plates always reflect the current legal owner .
“If you sell the car and remove the plate alongside with the vehicle, the one who commits an infraction records it in your name,” Attuh stated. “That’s the kind of system we want to build now, so that when you sell it, you take it off” .
Under the previous arrangement, former owners could find themselves wrongly linked to traffic offences or criminal activities committed after a vehicle had changed hands — a problem the new law is designed to eliminate .
Registration Year Removed from Plates
In a related reform announced in August 2026, DVLA Chief Executive Officer Julius Neequaye Kotey disclosed that the registration year will no longer be displayed on Ghana’s new vehicle number plates .
“There is no year of registration anymore, so who are you going to flex?” Kotey said during an interview on Asempa FM. The change means vehicle owners will no longer delay registration just to secure a particular year on their plates .
Kotey advised motorists to ensure they remove their number plates before handing over a vehicle, warning that failure to do so could result in being held responsible for offences committed by subsequent owners. “When you sell your car, ensure you remove your number plate to avoid being linked to offences or incidents involving it,” he cautioned .
Objectives: Traceability, Accountability, and Modernisation
The DVLA says the new registration system is intended to help the Authority maintain a more accurate and up-to-date database of vehicles operating in the country. It will also enable the DVLA to establish the number of vehicles registered and in use in Ghana at any given time, while strengthening monitoring and regulation of vehicle registration .
According to Sevor, the reforms form part of broader efforts to improve vehicle identification, registration, and regulatory compliance under the new road traffic laws .
The DVLA has framed the changes as a modernisation of Ghana’s vehicle registration system, aligning it with international best practices. The Authority has stated that the reform will make it easier for law enforcement and security agencies to trace vehicle-related activities directly to individuals, strengthening accountability within the transport ecosystem .
Implementation Timeline
The DVLA had originally announced that the owner-linked number plate system would take effect from January 2026 . The new Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153) and Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) now provide the legal framework for the reforms, with the national sensitisation programme underway to educate the public on the changes .
The recall of existing number plates and issuance of new ones with biennial renewal stickers will be rolled out as part of the implementation process .
Concerns and Criticisms
While the DVLA has positioned the reform as a security and accountability measure, the policy has drawn criticism from some quarters.
A legal practitioner writing for Modern Ghana argued that the new system operates “like a hidden tax,” creating a perpetual cycle of costs as the DVLA collects fees every time ownership changes hands. The writer noted that buyers and sellers will be required to cover expenses for new plates, administrative processes, and verification — an added financial strain in a country where vehicle owners already bear costs for roadworthiness, insurance, annual renewals, and other DVLA-related fees .
The commentary also questioned whether the reform would deliver measurable security improvements, pointing out that the existing system already enabled plates to be traced to registered owners through the DVLA’s database — a tool routinely used by law enforcement .
The Ghanaian Times, in an editorial, acknowledged the policy’s merits in enhancing traceability and curbing vehicle-related crimes but warned that “the cost of frequent plate replacement may prove burdensome, especially for individuals who change cars often.” The newspaper urged the DVLA to ensure fees are not prohibitive and to back the rollout with robust digital systems, adequate staffing, and phased public education .
What Vehicle Owners Need to Know
For current vehicle owners, the key takeaways are:
· When selling a vehicle: Remove your number plate before handing over the vehicle. The DVLA will deactivate the registration number from its system .
· When buying a vehicle: You must register the vehicle with the DVLA and obtain a new registration number in your name .
· Retaining your number: If you sell your vehicle, you have up to five years to use your retained registration number on another vehicle of the same category. After five years, the number will be withdrawn .
· Existing plates: The DVLA will recall existing number plates nationwide as part of the transition to the new system .
Background: Why This Reform Matters
Ghana’s vehicle registration system has long faced challenges with outdated records, cloned or fake plates, and difficulties in tracing vehicles involved in crimes. The proliferation of unregistered and untraceable vehicles has been a persistent concern for law enforcement.
The shift to owner-linked plates is part of a broader global trend. The United Kingdom and Nigeria have implemented similar systems, though with varying degrees of success and public acceptance. The Ghanaian Times noted that these international examples demonstrate that such reforms “must be backed by online portals, affordable fees, and phased public education” to succeed .
The DVLA’s reform agenda also includes the elimination of year codes on number plates, which had previously incentivised delays in vehicle registration as owners sought to secure plates with newer year designations .
As the national sensitisation programme continues, the DVLA is expected to release further details on the implementation timeline, fee structure, and procedures for the recall and replacement of existing number plates.
