LAHORE – Punjab government made it mandatory for all newly purchased vehicles to be registered before they are delivered to buyers. Under new policy, authorized dealerships will complete the registration process through the Dealer Vehicle Registration System (DVRS), allowing customers to receive fully registered vehicles while strengthening transparency, tax collection, and regulatory oversight.
The provincial government made it mandatory for every newly purchased vehicle to be registered before it can be delivered to its owner, marking a significant shift in how new cars will be sold across the province.
DG Excise Umar Sher Chattha makes directive, saying immediate effect and requires automobile manufacturers, authorized dealerships, and Motor Branch officials to ensure that no new vehicle leaves a showroom without being officially registered.
Under new policy, buyers using Punjab-issued Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) will receive their vehicles with complete registration formalities already completed, eliminating the need for separate visits to Excise offices after purchase.
To support the transition, car manufacturers have been instructed to submit comprehensive lists of their authorized dealerships to the Excise Department. Based on these lists, dealerships will be granted Dealer Vehicle Registration System (DVRS) licenses, allowing them to process registrations directly before handing over vehicles to customers.
The issuance of DVRS licenses will start immediately after dealer information is received. At present, 102 dealerships across Punjab, including several in Lahore, are already licensed under the DVRS and are providing registration services.
Dealers currently charge customers a registration service fee of Rs2,000 per vehicle. However, officials have confirmed that a modest increase in the fee is under consideration to further improve the efficiency, transparency, and digital infrastructure of the registration system.
The decision was finalized during a meeting chaired by the DG Excise, attended by representatives of automobile manufacturers and Motor Branch directors, where all stakeholders were directed to implement the policy without delay.
For consumers, the biggest change is convenience. Instead of driving away with temporary documents and later navigating the registration process, buyers will now receive fully registered vehicles with official number plates already issued. The move is expected to eliminate lengthy paperwork, reduce repeated visits to government offices, and minimize delays that have long frustrated vehicle owners.
The policy also ensures that every new vehicle is legally compliant from the moment it is delivered, giving buyers immediate proof of ownership.
Beyond customer convenience, the government sees the initiative as a major step toward tightening oversight of Punjab’s vehicle registration system.
The policy is also expected to strengthen revenue collection by ensuring that registration fees, token taxes, and other applicable charges are collected at the point of sale rather than later.
Under DVRS framework, dealers will be responsible for completing the registration process before delivering vehicles to customers. While this adds administrative responsibilities, dealerships will continue to earn a registration service fee and could benefit from increased customer confidence through a faster, one-stop buying experience.
The Excise Department plans to rapidly expand the DVRS network beyond the current 102 licensed dealerships to ensure province-wide implementation. Authorities are also expected to introduce stricter compliance measures, with manufacturers and dealerships likely to face scrutiny if they fail to register vehicles before delivery.
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