All you need to know about FRSC new plate number

Not all that long ago, the Federal Road Safety Commission (or FRSC) in Nigeria implemented new licence plates for motor vehicles. Find out here all you need to know about the FRSC new plate number, including the information on plate number verification, costs and deadlines.

FRSC new plate number: verification, deadline, cost

What you need to know about the FRSC plate number

There are a few things you might want to know about the new licence plate:

When was it introduced? The new licence plate was introduced all the way back in 2011. The previous format of the number plate was in effect from 1992 until 2011.
How has it changed? The previous plate had the format AB123-CDE, where the last three letters stood for the LGA the plate was issued in. The new plate has the format ABC-123DE, which means that the letters that represent the LGA have been moved to the front.

Why has it changed? FRSC explained that the introduction of new number plates was necessary to bring order to the licence plate system. In addition, the new plates are supposed to carry biometric data about the owner of the car.
How to apply for a new plate? You can either go to your State Board of Internal Revenue (or SBIR) and find the Motor Licencing Office, or fill the MVA01 form online at nvis.frsc.gov.ng.
Where to get the new plate? You can get your new plate at your local Motor Vehicle Administration (or MVA). If you want to know how much it will cost you, continue reading.
When is the deadline to get the new plate? Despite what many news outlets have stated previously, FRSC representatives claim that there is no deadline for changing your number plate. While it has been considered to set the date for July-August, 2014, the certain date has not been set.
Is there any fee related to the invalid number plate? No, not exactly. There is, however, a fee for vehicle number plate violation, and it is ₦3,000.

The cost of the new number plates

For a while, there has been a controversy concerning the cost of a new licence plate. Vehicle owners in Nigeria blamed FRSC for charging ridiculous prices for new licence plates that they themselves have implemented. Many were outraged and refused to change their plates.

However, FRSC representatives have since come forward to remove all the responsibility for prices from their organisation. In their words, Joint Tax Board is responsible for installing prices and not them.

The prices for licence plates vary depending on the MVA that issues them. For example, Lagos MVA offers new car plates for ₦12,500, renewed plates for ₦10,000, articulated plates for ₦20,000 and fancy plates for ₦80,000. Ordinary motorcycle plates go for ₦3,000, while fancy cost ₦30,000.

However, bear in mind that these are the 2013 prices. For more recent information, visit one of the centres. To see the list of approved centres, you can click here or visit National Vehicle Identification System (or NVIS) website (nvis.frsc.gov.ng).

How to verify plate number?

You have three available options for FRSC plate number verification:

Visit the NVIS website (nvis.frsc.gov.ng) and click on Verify Number Plate.
Send a text that says ‘verifyplateno [licence plate number]’ to 33324. For example, verifyplateno GGE123ZY.
Go to your SBIR and find the desk officer of FRSC.

The most convenient way to do it is, of course, via the website. You can do it anywhere you want and all you need is your licence plate number. However, you can chose whichever method you like best.

If you encounter any issues in the process of number plate check, such as wrong information on the car or the absence of information whatsoever, you should file a complaint at your local Motor Vehicle Administration.

That concludes our article on new FRSC number plates. Was it helpful? Have you changed your plate already? Are you going to? Let us know.