The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a series of reforms designed to improve vehicle registration, enhance road safety, and strengthen the traceability of vehicles in Ghana.

Speaking on The Citizen Show on Accra 100,5 FM on Tuesday, Mr Stephen Attuh, Director of Corporate Affairs at the DVLA, explained that the Authority has introduced DP stickers for vehicles entering the country.

Each vehicle imported will now be issued a DP sticker, indicating its date of entry.

The sticker is valid for 14 days, after which vehicle owners are expected to complete registration.

“This system ensures that vehicles brought into the country are properly tracked and registered within a reasonable timeframe,” Mr. Attuh said.

He further clarified that DV plates will no longer be issued to ordinary vehicle owners.

Their use will now be strictly limited to garages and licensed car dealers to move vehicles under repair or for test drives. “Once a vehicle is sold, the new owner must register it before using it on the road.

DV plates are not meant for private road use,” he emphasised.

To bridge the gap, the DVLA has introduced temporary stickers for vehicle buyers purchasing from dealers.

These stickers are valid for six months, non-renewable, and allow legal road use while the full registration process is completed.

Looking ahead, the DVLA plans to roll out new license plates embedded with RFID chips, which will enable better vehicle tracking and communication.

The technology will allow authorities to trace vehicles involved in crimes or traffic violations, including automated notifications for offences like running red lights.

Although the new RFID plates are not yet fully deployed, Mr. Attuh assured the public that vehicle registrations have resumed under the existing system.

From the first working day of the year, the DVLA has begun issuing plates starting with Dash 26.

Regarding DV plates issued in 2025, Mr. Attuh noted that all expired on December 31, 2025, but law enforcement agencies will temporarily allow their use until 2026 plates are fully available.

He reminded vehicle owners that full registration eliminates all restrictions associated with DV plates.

To register vehicles, owners must present a customs declaration and a Ghana Card.

Brand-new vehicles imported directly from manufacturers require only a customs declaration.

Used vehicles must first undergo inspection at Private Vehicle Testing Stations (PVTS) to assess roadworthiness before registration can be completed.

“These reforms are aimed at preventing the use of uncustomed vehicles and ensuring greater accountability and safety on our roads,” Mr. Attuh concluded.