DVLA Sets Two-Year Deadline to Replace All Vehicle Number Plates in Ghana from 2027 to 2028
Authority says the digital number plate system will improve vehicle identification, reduce revenue leakages and enhance access to vehicle records.
- DVLA targets 2027–2028 for nationwide number plate replacement.
- Digital plates pilot begins in August 2026
- New system to improve vehicle tracking and verification
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a two-year timeline for the replacement of all vehicle number plates in Ghana as part of the rollout of a new digital vehicle registration system.
The exercise is expected to begin on January 1, 2027, and end on December 31, 2028, with the authority targeting the re-registration of all vehicles across the country.
Ahead of the nationwide rollout, the DVLA will begin a pilot phase of the new digital number plate system on August 1, 2026. The pilot will start with government vehicles before extending to all unregistered vehicles from September 1, 2026.
Speaking at a media briefing in Accra on Friday, July 10, 2026, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, said January 1, 2027, remains the official commencement date for the vehicle re-registration exercise.
He explained that July 31, 2026, has been set as the deadline for completing necessary system upgrades ahead of the pilot phase.
Mr Kotey said the new digital number plate system is aimed at improving vehicle identification, reducing revenue leakages, and strengthening collaboration between the DVLA and other state institutions.
According to him, the upgraded system will connect the DVLA’s vehicle database with agencies including the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) toll system, the National Insurance Commission (NIC), the Ghana Police Service, and the judiciary.
He noted that the system will also help law enforcement agencies quickly access vehicle information during investigations.
“It is disheartening when agencies such as EOCO or the Ghana Police Service request information on vehicles involved in crimes and we are unable to provide it immediately,” he said.
Mr Kotey added that delays in accessing vehicle details can affect legal processes, including bail applications, and stressed that the new system will address such challenges.
The DVLA CEO also urged stakeholders, including driver unions, to support the initiative to ensure a smooth implementation.
The new number plates are expected to feature Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, allowing for digital activation and instant verification by authorised agencies.
The DVLA had earlier announced plans to introduce the digital number plate regime but suspended the rollout pending approval of supporting amendments to the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I. 2180).
The authority has also directed vehicle owners registered before 2023 to migrate their vehicle details from the manual system onto the DVLA’s digital platform.
The Director of Driver Training, Testing and Licensing at the DVLA, Kafui Semenyo, explained that onboarding vehicles onto the digital platform will confirm proper registration, ownership, and compliance with tax obligations.
He warned that vehicles not onboarded would not qualify for registration documents, certificates, or future re-registration and could face sanctions under road traffic laws.
