What is the procedure for getting a commercial vehicle registered?

By Colin Windell

Registering a commercial vehicle follows the same basic process as the registration of a car and all vehicles need to be registered so the information can be included on the national traffic information system (eNaTis).

In the case of a new truck being bought directly from a dealer, the process is quite painless as the dealer will handle the paperwork and the roadworthy certification prior to you taking delivery. A used vehicle bought through a dealer or any of the larger second hand operations will (usually) also be handled by the dealer.

A private sale, however, does involve a bit more work and you must register and license your motor vehicle within 21 days after a change of ownership. If you do not register it, you will have to pay arrears and penalties.

To register a pre-owned (used) vehicle, the seller must first complete and submit a Notification of Change of Ownership (NCO) form, which gives notification of change of ownership. As the new owner you then need to go to your relevant motor vehicle registration authority and submit the following:

• Your identity document (ID)
• Proof of postal and residential address eg utility account. If the utility bill is not in your name, the owner of the bill must make an affidavit declaring that you live at the address and the utility bill must be attached to the affidavit. 
• If you stay at an informal settlement, you must bring a letter with an official date stamp from the ward councillor confirming your postal and residential address
• An affidavit confirming where the parts came from and what was done to the car (form SOA) 
• Request for police clearance (form RPC) 
• Request for police identification (form RPI) 
• De-registration certificate (if the vehicle was deregistered) 
• A weighbridge (mass measuring) certificate 
• Proof of title of ownership 
• Roadworthy certificate 
• Letter of authority (if applicable).

Then, complete the Application for Registration and Licensing of motor vehicle (RLV) form. For commercial vehicles this will include weighbridge verification, especially if the sale includes any kind of trailer or inter-link combination.

In the event the vehicle being purchased has been modified in any way – eg a rebuilt engine – then the following applies:

You will also need a Manufacturer’s certificate or previous registration certificate or affidavit if the registration certificate cannot be provided.

It is important to note the law strictly prohibits the importation of used/ second hand vehicles. An importer may only import a new vehicle for registration on the South African eNaTIS vehicle register system.

Any commercial importing business importing a vehicle for resale to anywhere in SADC must firstly register with customs and excise (SARS) as an importer and obtain a recognized MIB number. A private person importing a single one off vehicle for own use need not be a registered importer.

Forms are obtainable at the motor vehicle registering authority or you can download them from the eNaTIS website.