The Punjab government has made vehicle registration compulsory before the delivery of all new vehicles, introducing a major change for buyers across the province.
Under the new policy, no newly purchased vehicle can be handed over from a showroom unless it has been officially registered with the Excise Department. The move aims to streamline the registration process and ensure legal compliance before vehicles reach their owners.
Under the directive, all automobile manufacturers, authorised dealerships and Excise motor branch officials are required to complete the registration process for every new vehicle before delivery.
Officials said that buyers holding a Punjab-issued Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) will receive their vehicles fully registered, along with the official number plate and all required legal documents. This will eliminate the need for owners to visit Excise offices after purchasing their vehicles.
To facilitate the process, authorised dealerships will be allowed to register vehicles through the Dealer Vehicle Registration System (DVRS). Vehicle manufacturers have been instructed to submit a list of their authorised dealerships to the Excise Department, after which DVRS licenses will be issued.
According to Excise officials, 102 dealerships across Punjab are currently registered under the DVRS and are already offering vehicle registration services. The department plans to expand the network further to implement the system across the province.
At present, dealerships charge a service fee of Rs 2,000 for each vehicle registration. However, the government is considering a proposal to slightly increase the fee to further improve the digital registration system.
The Punjab government said the new policy will make the vehicle registration process more transparent, ensure the timely collection of token tax, registration fees, and other government revenues, while allowing buyers to complete all legal formalities at the dealership.
Authorities have also warned that strict action will be taken against automobile companies and dealerships that fail to comply with the new registration policy.
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