Do you have to register and license a bike as soon as you buy it?

 

By Réhann Coetzee

All vehicles that are used on public roads have to be licensed and it would be in your own interest to register the bike in your name as soon as possible. The law requires that you register the change of ownership within 21 days of the change.

If a bank financed the purchase of the bike, they will require that you insure the bike too and they will also require that it be registered (in the name of the bank) and licensed.

If you bought the bike for cash and don’t intend using it on public roads – such as a track bike or a pure off-road bike – you don’t have to register it. But some insurers might require that of you.