DVLA Announces Nationwide Rollout of New RFID Number Plates in 2027

Story By: Zainab Ali

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced plans to introduce new radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled number plates nationwide in 2027, following pilot implementation in selected areas.

The authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Julius Neequaye Kotey, disclosed the plan during the Government Accountability Series in Accra, explaining that the new plates are intended to modernise vehicle registration and improve access to vehicle information.

According to Graphic Online, the technology is expected to support real-time verification of vehicle details, strengthen law enforcement and enable integration with electronic road tolling systems.

The new system is also designed to distinguish private vehicles from commercial vehicles, including commercial motorcycles, through a vehicle identification process.

Under the planned arrangement, the DVLA has decentralised the issuance process to its regional offices. Vehicle data will be captured in an electronic database as part of the onboarding requirements for the new plates.

The authority says the technology could help authorised officials verify vehicle ownership and details more efficiently, particularly when investigating vehicle-related crimes.

The nationwide rollout is scheduled for 2027, while public sensitisation is already underway to prepare motorists for the transition.

For vehicle owners, the announcement signals a forthcoming change in Ghana’s vehicle identification system. However, the authority has not indicated in this report that every motorist must immediately replace an existing number plate.

Motorists should therefore follow official DVLA announcements for confirmed implementation dates, applicable procedures and any requirements that may affect their vehicles.