The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has clarified that the current cost of its vehicle onboarding process for biodata verification is GH₵25, as part of preparations to roll out a new digital licence plate system later this year.
In a statement, the Authority said the onboarding exercise, which fully commenced in 2024, is aimed at verifying and migrating all manually registered vehicles onto a digital platform. The process is considered a critical step toward implementing the digital licence plate system, which will be introduced after the passage of amendments to Legislative Instrument 2180.
The DVLA explained that the exercise requires the physical presence of the vehicle owner and the vehicle, alongside registration documents, a Customs Bill of Entry, and the owner’s Ghana Card for biometric verification.
Under the standard procedure, the full onboarding process costs GH₵288.55 and includes the issuance of a Certificate of Title and a Vehicle Registration Card (VRC). These documents formally establish ownership, track transfer records and help prevent theft, fraud and unlawful transfers.
However, in light of plans to introduce new licence plates that will replace existing vehicle numbers, the Authority said it has reviewed the process and introduced a reduced fee of GH₵25. This amount covers only biodata verification to allow vehicles to be successfully migrated onto the digital registration platform.
The DVLA stressed that payment of the GH₵25 fee does not include the issuance of a Certificate of Title or VRC. Vehicle owners will be able to obtain those documents later when acquiring the new licence plates once the system is rolled out.
The Authority noted that while third parties may apply on behalf of vehicle owners in certain circumstances, such applications would be subject to the discretion of the DVLA.
The DVLA further urged the public to transact directly with its offices nationwide and to insist on official receipts for all payments, cautioning vehicle owners not to rely solely on verbal claims by staff.
According to the Authority, the ongoing sensitisation campaign is intended to ensure public understanding of the process and to support a smooth transition to the new digital vehicle registration and licence plate system.