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Motor vehicle licence overview
Renewing your motor vehicle licence in Jamaica: what to know
Most people still renew their vehicle registration by going to the tax office and waiting in line. It doesn’t have to be that way. Once your insurance and fitness are in place, the renewal can be done online, the same day.
At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Owners renewing the registration on a private car, motorcycle or commercial vehicle
- How long
- Same day online, once insurance and fitness are current. There’s no sticker anymore: your proof is an electronic certificate (eMVRC).
- What it costs
- Private car: from J$9,240 a year
- Motorcycle: from J$3,690 a year
- Fitness fee extra, if expired
Which situation are you in?
What you need to do depends on what’s already current.
Insurance and fitness both current
The simplest case. The renewal can be done fully online, the same day.
Fitness has expired
The fitness fee is paid first, then the vehicle is inspected at an ITA depot. Registration comes after it passes.
Insurance has expired
Renew your insurance first. TAJ won’t renew a vehicle without it.
Commercial, truck or trailer
Different fees from a private car, including a higher fitness fee.
Lost title (logbook)
The title has to be replaced before you can renew, and a replacement takes about three months. Start early.
Two ways to renew
At the tax office
Travel, wait in line and pay at the cashier. This is how most people still do it.
Online
No line. Same day, with your certificate sent by email. Needs current insurance and fitness.
You can renew for 6, 12 or 24 months. The fee scales with the period.
What TAJ looks at
The renewal only goes through when all of these line up.
- Your insuranceCurrent, and showing in TAJ’s system. New cover can take up to a day to appear.
- Your fitnessA current pass from an ITA depot.
- Your traffic ticket recordUnpaid tickets on your TRN or plate block the renewal.
- Your title detailsEngine size on the title sets your fee.
- Matching vehicle typeThe title and the insurance must agree on private or commercial.
Where the day goes
For most people, renewing at the tax office looks like this:
- Getting thereTraffic, parking, and time off work.
- The tax office lineWaiting, just to pay for something that can be done online.
- Two trips if fitness has expiredOne to the tax office to pay the fitness fee, then on to the depot.
- A hold at the counterAn unpaid ticket only shows up when you finally reach the cashier.
You don’t have to do it this way. With current insurance and fitness, the whole renewal can be done online and your certificate comes by email. No line at all.
Renew digitally. No line at all.
If your insurance and fitness are current, we renew your registration online the same day and email you your certificate. Fitness expired? We pay the fee so you drive straight to the depot. Not sure about tickets? A ticket lookup is J$1,500.
See the motor vehicle service → All servicesFees last checked . TAJ and the ITA can change them without notice.