Islamabad’s Excise and Taxation Department is bringing a big change to the way vehicles are registered in the city. From now on, registration numbers will be given to vehicle owners instead of vehicles — similar to the system used in the United States.
This means each person will get a unique number plate that stays with them, not with their car. Whether someone buys a new car or already owns one, the new rule will apply to all vehicles. When a car is sold, the registration number linked to the old owner will be cancelled, and the new owner will get a fresh number.
The department has also shared that if someone sells their car but wants to keep their registration number, they can do so for up to one year. During this time, if they buy another car, they can attach their old number to the new vehicle. However, if they don’t use the number within that year, it will be taken back and given to someone else.
Officials believe this system will make tracking vehicle ownership easier and improve record-keeping. It could also help reduce misuse of vehicle registrations during resale or transfer.
This new policy is part of a larger effort to modernize Islamabad’s vehicle registration process and bring it in line with international standards.
