Acts Online
GT Shield

National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996)

Regulations

National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000

Chapter III : Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles, and Registration of Manufacturers, Builders and Importers, and Manufacturers of Number Plates

Part III : General

56. Number to be affixed to motor vehicle

 

(1) Every motor vehicle shall have a chassis number of not more than 17 alpha-numerical characters which shall be cut, stamped, embossed on or permanently affixed to such motor vehicle and, if applicable, an engine number of not more than 20 alpha-numerical characters which shall be cut, stamped, embossed on or permanently affixed to the engine of such motor vehicle.

 

(1A) A motor vehicle registered for the first time in the Republic on or after 1 September 2012, shall be fitted with microdots which comply with the requirements of standard specification SANS 534-1 "Vehicle security - Whole of vehicle marking Part 1: Microdot systems.

[Regulation 56(1A) inserted by regulation 3(a) of Notice No. R. 209 of 2012]

 

(2) The chassis number of every motor car, minibus, bus or goods vehicle registered for the first time on or after 1 January 1996, shall comply with the following standard specifications:
(a) SABS/ISO 3779: "Road vehicles - Vehicle identification number (VIN) - Content and structure";
(b) SABS/ISO 4030: "Road vehicles - Vehicle identification number (VIN) - Location and attachment";
(c) SABS/ISO 3780: "Road vehicles - World Manufacturer identifier (WMI) code".

 

(3) The title holder of a motor vehicle—
(a) which does not bear a chassis number;
(b) which, if it is a self-propelled vehicle, does not bear an engine number;
(c) which does not bear both the numbers referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), if applicable;
(d) of which the number referred to in paragraph (a) appears on another motor vehicle

[Regulation 56(3)(d) substituted  by regulation 20(a) of Notice No. 2116 of 2001]

(e) of which the number referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) is altered, defaced or obliterated,

shall tender such motor vehicle to the South African Police Service.

 

(4) The South African Police Service shall issue a new chassis or engine number or a new chassis and engine number, whatever the case may be, in respect of the motor vehicle referred to in subregulation (3).

 

(5) The title holder of a motor vehicle referred to in subregulation (3) shall—
(a) cause the number issued by the South African Police Service as referred to in subregulation (4) to be cut, stamped, embossed on or permanently affixed to such motor vehicle; and
(b) obtain clearance from the South African Police Service in respect of the number referred to in paragraph (a).
(c) Apply microdots to such motor vehicle in accordance with the requirements of SANS 534-1 if not already fitted with microdots complying with requirements of SANS 534-1;

[Regulation 56(5)(c) inserted by regulation 3(b) of Notice No. R. 209 of 2012]

 

(6) The number referred to in subregulation (5) shall be the chassis or engine number, or chassis and engine number, whatever the case may be, of the motor vehicle concerned.

 

(7) The title holder referred to in subregulation (5) shall furnish the registering authority with the clearance referred to in that subregulation and with the registration certificate of the motor vehicle concerned.

 

(8) The registering authority concerned shall issue a new registration certificate to the title holder upon payment of the appropriate fees for a duplicate document, as determined by the MEC of the province concerned, which reflects the number referred to in subregulation (5).