Car registration numbers not used from 3 years to expire under govt new vehicle law

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly introduced the new KP Motor Vehicle Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2025, under which car owners can retain custom-made registration numbers even after selling their cars.

Unused registration numbers not renewed in three years will be withdrawn, officials added, while the bill imposed severe punishment for forgery and annual biometric authentication to maintain the registration numbers active.

Under the New proposed law, owners of vehicles will be permitted to obtain customized registration marks of their preference. The registration number will belong to the owner even if the vehicle is sold, thereby providing continuity and individual ownership of the number. Registration numbers that are not used within three years will be revoked, however.

New Bill proposes severe punishments for forgery, such as heavy fines and the chance of seizure of the vehicle. For ensuring genuineness, registration numbers will be kept active only after biometric authentication every year.

Authorities have been empowered to inspect and verify vehicles on roads, thus boosting regulatory control. Also, in the case of the unfortunate death of the owner, the vehicle will be transferred to his heirs automatically.

This new law seeks to update KP’s vehicle registration while giving people more flexibility and control over their car numbers.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Excise Department also implemented a new system connecting vehicle registration numbers with owners’ IDs. Dealers are allowed to retain their numbers when selling cars, while the latter will get new ones.

Members are asked to transfer their vehicles by September 1 to escape extra fees and are recommended to call helpline 1035 if a sold vehicle has not yet been transferred. The system is designed to boost public trust and help police with traffic management and security.