The Punjab Excise and Taxation Department just rolled out a major shift in vehicle registration policy. Every new vehicle purchased in the province must now be registered in Punjab before the dealer hands it over to the buyer.
DG Excise Umar Sher Chatha issued this strict directive during a recent meeting. He sat down with car manufacturers and motor branch directors to outline the changes. Consequently, he asked officials to begin immediate implementation. The core instruction is non-negotiable. Motor branch officers and manufacturers must ensure no vehicle leaves the showroom until the registration is fully complete.
To facilitate this massive shift, the department is leveraging the Dealer Vehicle Registration System (DVRS). First, car manufacturers will provide lists of their authorized dealers directly to the relevant motor branches. Once received, the department will promptly issue DVRS licenses to these dealers.
Furthermore, this specific rule targets buyers using a Punjab CNIC. The concerned dealer handles the entire registration pipeline internally. Ultimately, the dealer will hand over the vehicle only after finishing the process. Chatha confirmed that the issuance of new DVRS licenses will start the moment they receive the official dealer lists.
Fortunately, the groundwork for this system already exists. According to the DG Excise, 102 dealers across Punjab, including Lahore, already hold active DVRS licenses. Therefore, they are actively offering these registration services on the ground.
Presently, these dealers charge a service fee of Rs 2,000 per vehicle registration. However, buyers should expect changes soon. A slight increase in this registration fee is actively under consideration. Officials state this move aims to make the overall system more transparent and effective. Meanwhile, the department has directed all relevant institutions to ensure absolute and immediate compliance with these new instructions.
