A vehicle’s license plate is a marker that displays the official combination of letters and numbers used for identification. These plates are typically attached to the back and sometimes the front of a car. In Ghana, they are placed on both sides.
A typical Ghanaian license plate includes a four-digit numeric code, a two-digit year code, and a two-letter region code. The first two letters indicate the region where the vehicle was registered. The four-digit numeric code differentiates it from other vehicles registered in the same area and year. The last two digits represent the year of registration.
Two other special plates are the Defective Vehicle (DV) and Drive from Port (DP). These are temporary plates designed for temporary vehicle usage. DP is valid for ten days, while the DV is valid for twelve months. Both plates come with a log book for vehicle movement and driver details, both of which must be carried at all times.
The DV trade licence plates are issued to vehicles that are unregistered but which, for various reasons, have to ply the roads.
How to verify the authenticity of your DV
Because the DV plate is a temporary plate that can be used on different vehicles at different times, security officials pay a lot of attention to it due to counterfeits. Here is how you can check if you have an authentic DV with these short, easy steps;
First, locate your QR code in your logbook on your Form D, and scan it. To get it verified, dial *920*57*DV number#
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) officially launched the 2025 DV plates in February of this year at all of its Ghanaian operational locations. These plates incorporate modern safety features to guard against counterfeiting and guarantee authenticity.
With their improved security features—such as holograms, watermarks, and QR codes—the new plates mark a significant advancement in vehicle registration and licensing. They are intended to safeguard car owners by preventing unauthorized copying.
Automobile dealers, distributors, freight forwarders, agents, and car owners can now obtain the 2025 DV plates at any DVLA operative location across the country.
