Milestones achieved in online vehicle registration system
The first-of-its-kind online motor vehicle registration and notice of change of ownership (NCO) initiative between WeBuyCars and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), has amassed one year of data and has achieved several milestones on the way.
This groundbreaking initiative, launched on August 22, 2023, is transforming the way vehicle registration and ownership changes are handled across the country. From September 2023 to the end of December 2023, extensive testing occurred to ensure the stability of the system. In January 2024, through a strategic roll-out plan, WeBuyCars implemented the system. As this was the first of its kind in South Africa, the strategy had to include a well thought out change management plan which had to reach both the private and public sectors.
The new system allows approved entities, including motor vehicle dealerships, financial institutions and insurers, to access the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) directly. By facilitating bulk motor vehicle registrations and ownership transfers through an online platform, the system has significantly streamlined operations, reduced turnaround times, and enhanced service delivery.
Sean Sevell, Head of Admin and Risk at WeBuyCars, highlighted the success of the initiative: “Our collaboration with the RTMC has been instrumental in achieving remarkable milestones. From our initial testing phase in September 2023 to the strategic roll-out in January 2024, we have witnessed a substantial increase in the use of the online system.
Registrations surged from an initial 163 vehicles in January to 7,051 by August 2024. Additionally, the online release of titles (NCO) grew from 245 to 10,418 over the same period. This progress demonstrates our commitment to improving efficiency and reducing customer complaints related to vehicle registration delays.”
The core functionality of the system enables approved entities to register vehicles and release titles online, eliminating the need for physical visits to registering authorities or licensing service centres. This innovation has also introduced a new form – the RC2 registration document – which facilitates the final registration of the vehicle at a walk-in centre after the online title release.
The introduction of this system marks a significant advancement in road traffic management technology in South Africa. It follows a series of technological improvements on the NaTIS platform, including the online vehicle registration and release interface in the Hire Purchase environment, which further enhances service delivery and reduces opportunities for fraud.
Simon Zwane, spokesperson for RTMC said, “The partnership between WeBuyCars and RTMC represents a notable breakthrough in vehicle registration and change of ownership processes. The RTMC is appreciative of WeBuyCars for their willingness to be pioneers in this initiative, which has enabled us to develop a robust system. The insights gained from this collaboration has created confidence in the system, and has facilitated the adoption of the system by others in the automotive and financial industries”.
RTMC and WeBuyCars continue to work together to leverage technology and innovation to advance road traffic management. The successful implementation and expansion of the online vehicle registration and NCO system underscore the positive impact of public-private partnerships in driving efficiencies and enhancing customer experiences in South Africa’s vehicle registration processes.
“The new system has witnessed a significant reduction in customer complaints regarding delays with vehicle registrations. Such delays are inherent to traditional walk-in registering authorities and licensing service centres due to the sheer volumes of vehicle registrations and other services that they must process daily,” says Sevell.
WeBuyCars will continue to utilise this system to further enhance its ability to comply with road traffic legislation and provide clients with their registration documents in a timely manner.
Article by Arrive Alive