DVLA to Replace Vehicle Registration Year with Zonal Codes from 2026

By: Rebecca Okine

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced that it will stop displaying the year of vehicle registration on number plates starting in 2026. Under the new system, vehicles will instead be identified by the region and specific zone where they were registered, DVLA Chief Executive Julius Neequaye Kotey has confirmed.

Speaking in a media interview, Mr. Kotey explained that the change will feature the name of the region at the top of the plate, followed by a vehicle’s unique four-digit number and a zone-specific code representing the DVLA office that processed the registration.

“For example, a vehicle registered in the Adenta zone of Greater Accra will have ‘AD’ at the end of the unique number, replacing where the year, such as ‘25,’ would have been displayed,” he said. “Every region will have its name on top. Greater Accra, for instance, can be GR. After that, where the year of registration used to be will now be the area code.”

He further illustrated the system, explaining that an Ashanti Region vehicle would show “Ashanti” on top, followed by the format “AS 3520-KM,” where AS represents Ashanti and KM identifies the Kumasi office. “When you go to the US, the UK, or Germany, there is no single country that puts the year on the plate. Ghana is the only one doing this,” Mr. Kotey noted.

The new arrangement is expected to make it easier to trace vehicles, particularly in criminal investigations. “If you tell me someone has done a hit and run and the car is registered in 2025, there are a lot of 2025 cars. How will I know the car? If you give the exact number, it is easier for DVLA to identify the person,” he explained.

The reform also aims to curb registration avoidance, which has been an issue with some vehicle owners opting for “DV” plates for private use and driving in town without formal registration. Mr. Kotey advised citizens not to delay registration in anticipation of year-specific plates. “Whether your car is registered in 2022 or 2001, from 2026 all vehicles will follow the same format. You will not get a ‘26’ plate just because you register in January,” he said.

While Mr. Kotey did not provide details on how potential conflicts from duplicate number plates in the same region or zone would be addressed, he emphasized that the new system is designed to discourage vehicle owners from delaying registration due to resale considerations. Traditionally, vehicles with the latest year on their plates tend to have higher market value.

The move forms part of a series of new initiatives under Mr. Kotey’s leadership at the DVLA, aiming to modernize vehicle identification, improve traceability, and strengthen compliance across the country