Why you should buy cars based on condition and not registration year

In Ghana, it is common for new car owners to use DV plates for several months and delay official registration until the following year. All in a bid to secure a newer registration number.

For some, it is about social perception or status, while others simply prefer the association with a new year.

This trend has also influenced buyers, many of whom prioritise the registration year over the actual condition of the vehicle.

A solid engine and reliable performance are far more valuable than flashy features or a trendy number plate.

Experts warn that ignoring the condition of a vehicle could be costly in the long run.

The Director of Driver Training, Testing, and Licensing at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Kafui Semevo, in a recent media engagement urged prospective car buyers to focus on the mechanical condition of vehicles rather than the year on the number plate.

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He noted that people wait to get new number plates to reflect the new year, per data from DVLA which shows a dip in the registration of vehicles between September to December.

"If we have observed by between September to December our registration for that we experienced a fall in registration numbers. What it means is that people wait to get new numbers to reflect the new year," he said.

Semevo added that; "Now if you want to buy a vehicle it's better to look at a condition of the vehicle than the year of registration but we are focused so much on the year verification of registration."

He noted that this practice has placed unnecessary pressure on the DVLA, prompting the Authority to introduce measures to manage the seasonal surge in registrations.

Another growing concern is the use of unregistered vehicles for extended periods, sometimes up to a year before they are sold.

In some cases, sellers even tamper with the mileage to make the vehicle appear less used than it actually is.

Semevo cautioned that buyers should be vigilant, as mileage readings may not always reflect the true state of the car.

SA\EB



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