Ghana’s vehicle number plate system, which has been in use since January 2009, is set to undergo a major change. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced that from January 1, 2026, vehicle number plates will no longer display the year of registration.
The New Format
According to the Chief Executive of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, the updated plates will carry:
- The name of the region displayed prominently at the top.
- A unique four-digit number for each vehicle.
- An area code, which replaces the year code, to indicate the DVLA office where the vehicle was registered.
For instance, a vehicle registered at the Adenta office in the Greater Accra Region would read:
“Greater Accra” (on top), followed by “GR 2224-AD”, where GR stands for Greater Accra and AD represents Adenta. Similarly, a plate from the Ashanti Region could appear as “Ashanti” (on top), followed by “AS 3520-KM”, with KM signifying Kumasi.
Mr. Kotey explained that this shift eliminates Ghana’s unique practice of displaying registration years on license plates — something not seen anywhere else in the world.
Benefits of the Change
The DVLA highlighted several advantages of the new system:
- Improved vehicle traceability: Law enforcement can more easily identify specific vehicles involved in crimes, as the year of registration will no longer create confusion.
- Reduced misuse of DV plates: Many private vehicle owners have been using “DV” (Defective Vehicle) plates illegally throughout the year, avoiding proper registration. The reform is expected to curb this practice.
- Encouraging timely registration: By removing year-based codes, vehicle owners will no longer delay registration in hopes of securing a “newer” plate to enhance resale value.
Mr. Kotey stressed:
“If you tell me a hit-and-run car is 2025 registered, that could mean thousands of vehicles. But with the new system, the exact plate number and code will help us quickly identify the owner.”
Legal Backing and Implementation
The reform requires parliamentary approval to amend Legislative Instrument 68, which governs road traffic regulations. The DVLA has already completed the necessary legal preparations, and Parliament is expected to endorse the amendments ahead of the 2026 rollout.
Vehicle owners were advised not to delay registration in anticipation of year-specific plates. Mr. Kotey clarified that whether a car is registered in 2001 or 2022, the new format will apply uniformly.
Addressing Concerns
Some concerns remain regarding potential duplicate number plates, particularly across different years. While Mr. Kotey did not provide detailed safeguards against duplication, he emphasized that the reforms aim to discourage practices that undermine vehicle registration and compliance.
Additionally, the DVLA is considering introducing a special DV plate option for private individuals who prefer not to register immediately. However, unlike dealer plates, this version would be significantly more expensive.
Historical Background
Before 2009, Ghana used a system that combined a two-letter regional code with a single alphabet to represent the registration year. For example:
- GR P for Greater Accra in 1998,
- GR Q in 1999,
- continuing alphabetically until GR Z in 2008.
When the alphabet system reached its limit, the current year-based numeric format was introduced in 2009.
Regional Codes in Ghana
The following regional codes remain in use under the DVLA system:
- Ashanti Region: AC, AE, AK, AP, AS, AW
- Bono Region: BA, BR, BW
- Bono East Region: BT
- Central Region: CR
- Eastern Region: EN, ER, ES
- Greater Accra Region: GB, GC, GE, GG, GH, GL, GM, GN, GT, GS, GW, GX, GY
- Northern Region: NR
- Upper East Region: UE
- Upper West Region: UW
- Volta Region: VA, VD, VR
- Western Region: WR, WT
STORY BY: KENNEDY AMPONSAH NTI
EASTERN FM 105.1 MHZ
NEWS ROOM
