Your car's registration certificate, commonly referred to as 'Papers' are basically its ID card. It contains all the information surrounding the car including weight, descriptions, first registration, engine number and importantly, VIN number which functions as an ID number. It's best advised once you receive the registration documents after paying for a car in full, that you store them in a safe place should you need to provide proof of ownership for licensing or when time comes to sell the car. Let's say you've lost the documents and need a new copy, here's how you go about it.
Instances where you can get a copy
Generally, people tend to apply for a new copy if the ownership papers have gotten lost or destroyed for whatever reason. However, other instances include if the Chassis Number or VIN Number has changed on the vehicle. This is typically the case for imported vehicles. Another is if the engine number has changed if your car has had a recent engine swap.
The Process
It's worth noting that this is all done in person. Also, the same process applies for de-registration of a vehicle.
- Firstly, you need to be the title holder/owner of the vehicle you wish to apply for.
- Head to your nearest licensing department and take the following documents:
- Your ID Document.
- Proof of Address. If a document like a utilities bill is not in your name, like say if you're renting a house, the owner of the property needs to craft an affidavit declaring your residence at the address and needs to be submitted along with the utilities bill.
- If you stay in an informal settlement, you need to obtain a letter with an official date stamp from your ward councillor confirming your residence at the address. - At the licensing department, you'll need to complete an Application for Registration/De-Registration certificate for Motor Vehicles form (DRC) as well as the Declaration In Respect of Lost Documents form (DCT). The forms are present at the department but if you want to save some time, you can download them from NaTis and fill them in beforehand.
- Once you've sorted the forms and provided the relevant documentation, you'll need to pay the fees (The fees range depending on the vehicle and application) related for this then you'll be issued with an official duplicate document after 7 working days.
That's pretty much it. If you need to know more about vehicle registration, check this article here.
