• A duly completed application form (form MVR1A or RLV).
• Your RSA identity document (if you are a local resident) or an identity document issued by a foreign country (if you are a person not permanently resident in the Republic) or a traffic register number certificate.
• A certificate of incorporation or name change as issued in terms of the Companies Act if the vehicle is to be registered to a company.
• A founding statement or a certificate of name change issued in terms of the Close Corporations Act if the vehicle is to be registered to a close corporation. Written proof of compliance with the provisions of customs and excise legislation.
• If such motor vehicle is registered outside the Republic, the documents relating to the registration and licensing of the motor vehicle concerned as issued in the country where such motor vehicle is registered.
• A South African Police Service clearance of the motor vehicle.
• A letter of authority (LOA) as issued by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
• Please note the following:
• The Custom and Excise Division of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) will provide the required proof of compliance with their regulations and procedures. You are advised to contact the SARS for further information.
• A South African Police Service clearance will only be issued after your registering authority has issued you with a referral. After the referral has been issued the registration certificate of the vehicle has to be presented to the SAPS in order for the process to be initiated.
• The registering authority will perform an assessment on you application and you will pay the fees as prescribed by your province

Register an imported vehicle

If you want to register an imported vehicle in South Africa, you must do so at your relevant registering authority.

The following documents are required:

• eNaTIS form (MVR1A or RLV);
• RSA identity document;
• If you do not have an RSA identity document:
  • Identity document issued by a foreign country or
  • Traffic register number certificate
• Documents relating to the registration and licensing of the motor vehicle outside the RSA.
• Letter of authority (LOA)(link is external) from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications

If you want to register the vehicle in a company name, you must have:

• A certificate of incorporation as issued in terms of the Companies Act or;
• A certificate of name change as issued in terms of the Companies Act.
• If you want to register the vehicle in the name of a closed corporation, you must have:
  • A founding statement issued in terms of the Close Corporations Act or;
  • A certificate of name change issued in terms of the Close Corporations Act.

Before the vehicle can be registered, you must get a South African Police Service (SAPS) clearance certificate. This is only issued after the registering authority has issued you with a referral and registration certificate.

The Customs and Excise Division of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) will provide the required proof of compliance with their regulations and procedures. You are advised to contact SARS for further information.

Find out more on the eNaTIS(link is external) website.