In a private-public initiative, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has partnered with WeBuyCars to launch a new solution that allows for the easier registration of motor vehicles and change of ownership online.
The initiative is designed to create an efficient method for vehicle dealers and financial institutions to transact directly online with National Administration Traffic Information System (Natis) to reduce the physical handling of documents and visits to registration authorities.
The launch follows months of development and testing with pre-owned dealership WeBuyCars to pave the way for a smooth introduction. Services improved by the new systems include the vehicle clearance interface used by the SAPS, and an online application of the hire purchase interface (HPI), to assist the motor vehicle finance and insurance industry to verify vehicle particulars and driving licences of applicants before granting finance or insurance for a vehicle.
About 3.2-million vehicle registration and change of ownership transactions are conducted on Natis annually, and it is estimated that 50% of these are conducted by dealers and financial institutions.
About 708,330 vehicle licences have been renewed since 2022, when the online licensing of vehicles was introduced, according to the RTMC, the government agency responsible for regulation, facilitation and law enforcement in respect of road traffic matters.
Previously WeBuyCars used the services of a middleman to register and change ownership of vehicles. This process required the filling in of large amounts of forms and taking them to queue at licensing authorities to register and/or change ownership of vehicles. This exercise was not only costly but was open to corruption.
Transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga was in attendance at the launch event at the WeBuyCars Dome in Johannesburg, and commended the company for partnering with the RTMC in the development of the system. “You have shown patriotism and I call on other large dealerships and financial institutions to follow your good example and help us to improve service delivery in our country,” she said.
Faan van der Walt, CEO of WBC, added: “WBC is delighted to be partnering with RTMC in this initiative and we look forward to providing our customers with a more streamlined and effective method of transacting. WeBuyCars is built on a technology platform and given the RTMC is working on more enhancements, we are always ready to provide assistance where we can.”
Kia SA MD Gary Scott, who was also in attendance, said Motus, the distributor of the brand’s cars, also shifted great amounts of pre-owned cars. Kia was looking at the possibility of adopting such a system.
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