The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has served notice that the activities of all technology-driven transport service providers in Ghana will be regulated in the first quarter of 2019.

According to the DVLA, vehicles that are used for ride-sharing purposes and operate under Uber, Taxify and other digital transport companies, will be issued with identification stickers from 2019.

According to the Chief Executive of the DVLA, Kwasi Agyeman, the measure has become important as the private vehicles through technology were serving commercial purposes.

“We allow commercial vehicles to have road worthy renewals twice a year, so now they have to do that because now they use those of private cars for commercial. They need to be insured. There will be a sticker that will make them identifiable for all Uber, Taxify and all digital transports. That will be towards the end of this quarter, it will be ready to use. By the beginning of the first quarter in 2019, we will turn it on full steam whereby both Uber and Taxify and all digital transports will be regulated, Mr. Kwasi Agyemang spoke in an interview on citi FM.

He added that operators of these services would have to renew their roadworthiness certificates twice a year.

DVLA to begin e-registration of vehicles in 2019

Vehicle owners who wish to register their vehicles in 2019 would have to do so via an electronic platform as a result of  new plans introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

The new electronic system will enable clients to complete their vehicle registration processes in an hour, starting from Monday December 3 2018. Vehicle Owners are to initiate the pre- registration process pending payment on January 2, 2019.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the authority, Mr Kwasi Agyeman Busia, the system, when implemented, would be the first of its kind in Africa

A statement issued by the DVLA and signed by its Public Relations Manager, Francis Asamoah Tuffour, said the move is to “ensure that the time spent at the DVLA office is reduced drastically to prevent overcrowding”.

Pre-registration process

To be issued a new vehicle registration document for 2019, vehicle owners are to

1. Present their vehicles to the Private Vehicle Test Station ( PVTS) for inspection
2. Present vehicles to DVLA for customs clearance, technical inspection and identity check
3. DVLA officer will select the appropriate vehicle category and generate an invoice
4. Make payment at the DVLA office from January 2, 2019
5. Undergo bio-metric capture at DVLA office
6. A new registration document (Certificate of title, Vehicle Smart Card), number plate and other documents would be issued.

Caution

According to DVLA, it is imperative for prospective customers to get their Tax Identification Number (TIN) as it is a prerequisite for the registration process.

Meanwhile, “the authority urged vehicle owners to desist from seeking the help of middle men popularly known as ‘goro boys’ to avoid being swindled.”