How to register a new car

By Stuart Johnson

The good news is that, in South Africa, you don’t have to physically register a new car. All new cars are sold through dealerships to private buyers and private businesses, and in this case the dealer takes care of all the paperwork.

When a new car is ordered by a dealership through its distributor or local manufacturer, the car’s VIN details are registered by the dealer on  the computerised  national traffic information system, which is more commonly known as the ‘eNaTIS’.

But don’t I need a roadworthy certificate?

It is true that all cars and other vehicles  operating on our roads have to be certified as roadworthy. In the case of new cars, when a manufacturer or importing agency introduces a new model, all new car models have to pass through a homologation process before they can be issued for sale as new vehicles to the general public.

Once this homologation certification has been issued, after approval by the South African Bureau of Standards, then any brand new examples of a homologated model  are accepted as roadworthy vehicles. A roadworthy test only applies to used cars and other used vehicles, and certain new heavy-duty vehicles.

When the new car is sold

When the new car is sold, the owner is required to fill out a registration form, providing the following personal details, with accompanying documentation to prove that all is correct. These are:

* Proof of I.D.

*proof of address

* A Vehicle Manufacturer certificate (which is issued by the new car dealer).

The Registration Form

The registration form is known as an RVL, standing for Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicle form. The dealer, in possession of your relevant details, will fill most of  this out for you, and it has to be signed in the appropriate section of the form.

What are the differences if the vehicle is paid for in cash, or by a finance scheme?

*If you pay for the vehicle in cash (or via a certified cheque or bank transfer), then you become the owner of the vehicle, as well as the title holder.

* If you buy the vehicle with a finance scheme, then the finance company is the title holder, and you are listed on the registration certificate only as the owner

What is the difference between the owner and the title holder?

When the vehicle is financed, you are listed as the owner, but the finance company is the title holder, until such time as the vehicle is fully paid for.

Until this time arrives, the finance house will retain possession of the registration form, as this is the  title holder.

This system prevents someone from selling a vehicle before all financing charges have been settled with the finance house. A typical financing scheme ranges from 36 to 72 months, but this may vary.

As the owner, you will receive motor vehicle licence renewal notices to your stated postal address on the registration form. This is why it is important to notify your licensing authority of any change in your personal status, should this occur, during the period of ownership of the vehicle.

Once you have paid off the vehicle

Once you have paid off the vehicle, and have proof of this via the finance house’s statement, you can then arrange to take possession of the vehicle registration certificate, which effectively makes you the title holder, as well as the owner. Then you may either keep the vehicle, or sell it on.