Move to De-register 300 000 Unlicensed Vehicles
More than 300,000 vehicles in Zimbabwe risk being de-registered after their owners failed to renew licences for over two years, the government has announced.
According to a Government Gazette published on Wednesday, vehicles exempted from licensing for a similar period also face de-registration unless their owners regularise their status within 30 days.
The notice stated: “It is hereby notified, in terms of section 12(c) of the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act [Chapter 13:14], that the Registrar of Vehicles intends to cancel the registration of vehicles not licensed and exempted for a period exceeding two years.”
Once de-registered, a vehicle effectively loses its legal ownership title, rendering it valueless until the owner pays all outstanding arrears, penalties, and secures re-registration. The process involves:
- Clearing arrears and penalties at the Central Vehicle Registry (CRV) or the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA).
- Securing clearance from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) confirming legal importation.
Move to De-register 300 000 Unlicensed Vehicles
- Undergoing inspections by the Vehicle Theft Squad and the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID).
The government has released a list of vehicles affected, some of which have remained unlicensed since 2013.
A recent nationwide police operation targeted unregistered vehicles, many of which were linked to crimes such as armed robberies and road safety violations.
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National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, emphasised the importance of compliance:
“It is in the interests of motorists and road safety that all vehicles moving on the country’s roads be fitted with permanent registration plates. Cars without such plates cannot be licensed or insured.”
