Vehicle Registration

Vehicle Registration

From 1 June 2018, RTA has overall responsibility for vehicle registration and all fees and charges for vehicle registration belong to, and must be remitted to, the RTA. Section 16A of the Motor Traffic Act 1950 will no longer apply. Vehicle registration is provided under-

• prior to 1 June 2018, Part III of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967,
• from 1 June 2018, the Road Traffic Rules – Registration of Motor Vehicles 2017.

The information on this page is a summary of the provisions as they relate to a person applying for registration of a motor vehicle. See the Rule for all provisions relating to motor vehicle registration. Download Rule

The RTA is not yet involved with service delivery of vehicle registration. This service delivery is being carried out by Motor Vehicles Insurance Limited (MVIL) and some Provincial Governments. Applicants for vehicle registration should contact these service delivery agents.The MVIL website is HERE

Application for registration of a motor vehicle

A person may apply for registration or renewal of registration of a motor vehicle using this form [Downloadable Form 7].

A public motor vehicle, private hire car or taxi must be registered as such, as well as having a licence to operate.

An application for first registration of a motor vehicle must-

1. provide the full name of the owner; and
2. provide the full address of the owner’s place of residence, or place of business, within Papua New Guinea; and
3. provide the full postal address within Papua New Guinea of the owner (if different from the address given under paragraph (b)); and
4. provide the date of birth of the owner (if the owner is a natural person); and
5. be accompanied by-
   1. such information, documents, and evidence related to the motor vehicle or the owner (including evidence of identity such as a driver’s licence or passport) as may be required by the RTA; and
   2. a certificate of roadworthiness for the motor vehicle issued within 30 days immediately before the date of the application; and
   3. evidence of current third party insurance for the motor vehicle; and
   4. the fee prescribed in-
      • prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 [Item 7 to 15] of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967,
      • from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 [Item 7 to 16] of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017,

Upon registering a motor vehicle, the registration authority will issue to the owner-

1. a certificate of registration; and
2. a registration label; and
3. a number plate (for motorcycles) or a set of number plates.

The fee for a certificate of registration as a public motor vehicle, private hire car or taxicab is prescribed in-

• prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967–
  1. taxicab [Item 38];
  2. private hire car [Item 39];
  3. public motor vehicle [Item 43].
• from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 [Item 8] of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017.

The fee for each number plate is prescribed in-

• prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967–
  1. black and white number plate [Item 18];
  2. personalised number plate [Item 20];
  3. public motor vehicle plate [Item 22];
  4. private hire car plate [Item 24];
  5. taxicab plate [Item 26].
• from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 [Item 17A] of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017.

A certificate of registration is valid for 6 months (12 months from 1 June 2018), unless sooner cancelled or suspended.

A certificate of registration is not transferable except with the consent of the RTA. An application for renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle must be accompanied by-

1. a certificate of roadworthiness for the motor vehicle issued within 30 days immediately before the date of the application; and
2. evidence of current third party insurance for the motor vehicle; and
3. the prescribed fee as for first registration above.

The renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle takes effect on the day immediately following the day on which the registration, or a previous renewal of the registration, expires.

The registration authority may direct that a motor vehicle that is the subject of an application for registration or renewal of registration be produced for inspection at the office of the authority. However, the registration authority may waive this requirement if-

1. the registration authority is satisfied that the production of the vehicle is unreasonable or impracticable; and
2. evidence that the vehicle is fit for registration is produced to the authority.

Personalised number plates Refer the page on Special Number Plates.

Driving an unregistered vehicle

A person may apply to the RTA for-

1. a permit to drive an unregistered motor vehicle on a public street; or
2. renewal of a permit to drive an unregistered motor vehicle on a public street,

using this form [Downloadable Form 11]

An application for a permit, or renewal of a permit, to drive an unregistered motor vehicle on a public street must be accompanied by-

1. evidence of current third party insurance for the vehicle; and
2. the fee prescribed in-
   • prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 [Item 44] of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967,
   • from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 [Item 22] of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017.

Change of address

If a person who has been issued a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle changes address during the currency of the certificate, the person must within 14 days-

1. advise the Authority in writing of the change of address; and
2. produce the certificate of registration to an office of the Authority so that the address on the certificate can be changed.

Alteration in description of registered vehicle,

If a registered motor vehicle is altered such that the accuracy of any part of the description of the vehicle on the certificate of registration is affected, the owner must, within 7 days-

1. advise the Authority of the details and particulars of the alteration; and
2. produce the certificate of registration to the Authority so that the description of the vehicle on the certificate can be changed.

Where a motor cycle is registered for use without a side-car, the owner may request an alteration in the certificate of registration to allow it to be used with a side-car. The request must be accompanied by the fee prescribed in-

1. prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 [Item 33] of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967,
2. from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 [Item 23] of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017.

Sale or disposal of a motor vehicle

If the owner sells or otherwise disposes of a motor vehicle, the owner must, within 14 days of the sale or disposal-

1. advise the Authority of the sale or disposal and the name and address of the new owner of the vehicle using the back of the certificate of registration; and
2. produce the certificate of registration of the vehicle to the Authority.

If a person sells or otherwise disposes of a motor vehicle for or on behalf of the owner, the person must, within 7 days of the sale or disposal-

1. advise the Authority of the sale or disposal and the name and address of the new owner for the vehicle using the back of the certificate of registration; and
2. produce the certificate of registration of the vehicle to the Authority; and
3. provide the Authority with a written authority from the owner of the vehicle (or a person entitled to dispose of the vehicle) to transfer the registration of the vehicle.

Until the above is complied with, the person whose name appears on the certificate of registration as the owner remains liable for any breach of the provisions of the Act, the Regulations or the Rules that apply to the owner.

A person to whom a motor vehicle is sold or disposed must within 14 days after the purchase or disposal-

1. apply to the Authority to have the vehicle transferred to him or her using this form [Downloadable Form 8]; and
2. pay the fee prescribed in-
   1. prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 [Item 30 or 31] of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967,
   2. from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 [Item 24] of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017.

If the owner becomes aware that the condition of a vehicle is such that it is not capable of being driven safely on a public street, the owner must, as soon as practicable but within 14 days, surrender to the Authority-

1. the certificate of registration for the vehicle; and
2. the number plates issued in respect of the vehicle.

Lost, defaced or destroyed certificate of registration or registration label

If a certificate of registration or a registration label for a motor vehicle is lost, defaced or destroyed, the owner must, within 7 days, provide to the registration authority a statutory declaration using this form [Downloadable Form 22] setting out the circumstances of the loss, defacement or destruction.

A person may apply to the registration authority for a replacement certificate of registration or registration label using this form [Downloadable Form 21]

An application for a replacement certificate of registration or registration label must be accompanied by the fee prescribed in-

• prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967–
  1. substitute registration certificate [Item 16];
  2. substitute certificate for public transport vehicle [Item 17].
• from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 [Item 17] of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017.

The registration authority will only issue a replacement certificate of registration or registration label if it is satisfied that the original certificate or label was not misused.

Defaced, lost or destroyed number plate If a number plate becomes defaced so as any number or letter on the plate is not easily legible, the owner must, as soon as practicable, but within 7 days-

1. surrender the defaced plate to the authority that issued the plate; and
2. apply to the authority for a replacement number plate, or set of number plates using this form [Downloadable Form 21]; and
3. pay the fee prescribed in-
   • prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967–
     1. replacement black and white number plate [Item 19];
     2. replacement personalised number plate [Item 21];
     3. replacement public motor vehicle number plate [Item 23];
     4. replacement private hire car number plate [Item 25];
     5. replacement taxicab number plate [Item 27],
   • from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017–
     1. replacement number plate [Item 20];
     2. replacement personalised number plate [Item 21].

If a number plate for a motor vehicle is lost or destroyed, the owner must, within 7 days-

1. provide to the authority that issued the plates a statutory declaration setting out the circumstances of the loss or destruction using this form [Downloadable Form 22].
2. if the motor vehicle has not also been lost or destroyed, apply to the authority for a replacement number plate, or set of number plates using this form [Downloadable Form 21]; and.
3. pay the fee prescribed in-
   • prior to 1 June 2018, Schedule 10 of the Motor Traffic Regulation 1967–
     1. replacement black and white number plate [Item 19];
     2. replacement personalised number plate [Item 21];
     3. replacement public motor vehicle number plate [Item 23];
     4. replacement private hire car number plate [Item 25];
     5. replacement taxicab number plate [Item 27],
   • from 1 June 2018, Schedule 1 of the Road Traffic (Fees and Charges) Regulation 2017–
     1. replacement number plate [Item 20];
     2. replacement personalised number plate [Item 21].

The registration authority will issue a replacement number plate, or set of number plates to the owner, only if the authority is satisfied that no improper use has been made of the lost or destroyed number plate.