Motor vehicle registration certificates to be issued electronically starting July 21

The Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is reporting that motor vehicle registration certificates are going digital, effective Monday, July 21.

In light of this, physical copies of motor vehicle registration certificates (MVRCs) or stickers will no longer be issued.

Additionally, under the new regime, the validity periods for new electronic motor vehicle registration certificates will expand from the usual six months or one year to also include an option for two years, depending on the motorist’s preference.

As part of the new electronic process, motorists will now be required to have a valid email address to get a new or renewed motor vehicle registration, whether the transaction is done at a tax office or online.

To facilitate the new process being implemented, the current online process will end on Thursday, July 17, at 5:00 p.m.

This means customers will not be able to access the motor vehicle registration certificates online service from then until the new system is rolled out.

Additionally, no tax office will be open to the public on Saturday, July 19, to facilitate cut-over activities for the new system.

Once the new process takes effect, for in-person transactions at a tax office, motorists will be required to provide the cashier a valid email address as part of the motor vehicle registration/renewal process.

As obtains now, motorists will be given an official receipt of the transaction.

However, they will no longer be provided with a physical certificate and sticker, but instead, the instructions on how to access the new digital certificates will be sent to the email provided.

Using the information, customers will be guided how to access the Certificate Generation and Delivery Service (CGDS) Portal via the TAJ website at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm to generate, download, save or print their electronic certificates.

As currently exists, owners of private motor vehicles will still have the option to renew their registration online via the TAJ website.

However, they will have the added benefit of no longer having to visit a select tax office to collect their registration documents, as these will now be issued electronically.

Once in receipt of the transaction email, they will then be able to access the CGDS Portal to generate, download, save, or print their certificates.

Apart from the renewal of private motor vehicles or white plates, all other vehicles, whether for new registration or renewal, must be done at a tax office.

This also applies to operators of public passenger vehicles, diplomatic vehicles, and commercial vehicles, who all need to visit a tax office to purchase a new registration certificate or do a renewal.

The motor vehicle information will be accessible via the CGDS Portal to the relevant authorities, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), insurance companies, and financial institutions, to be able to validate its authenticity.

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