Vehicle Clearance Consultation & Document Preparation Guidance
Guidance to help vehicle owners prepare the documents required for a SAPS vehicle clearance before they apply
- NaTIS certificate
- Proof of ownership
- Microdot certificate
- RPC form
Speak To A Consultant
A consultant will be in touch with you during office hours.
Advice and document guidance only. You present your own vehicle and lodge your own application.
- Know exactly which documents apply to your vehicle
- Understand the order of steps before you start
- Guidance for ownership transfers and engine changes
OVW Management Group is a private consultancy providing administrative assistance and vehicle documentation guidance. We are not affiliated with the South African Police Service, NaTIS, or any government department, and we do not issue clearance certificates. Clearance is granted solely by the relevant authorities.
Just have a quick question? Send us a WhatsApp. A consultant will come back to you during office hours.
WhatsApp usWhen you need a vehicle clearance
A SAPS vehicle clearance confirms that your vehicle's VIN, chassis and engine numbers have been inspected and match the NaTIS record. These are the situations where one is usually required.
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Selling your vehicle privately
Buyers often ask for a clearance before money changes hands. Knowing what you need up front keeps the sale moving.
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Buying a second hand vehicle
Confirms the vehicle is not flagged as stolen and that its numbers match the record before you commit.
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Transferring ownership
Your registering authority issues a referral first, then SAPS completes the inspection. The order matters.
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Rebuilt or imported vehicles
Re-licensing a rebuilt or assembled vehicle, or registering one with a new VIN, requires clearance first.
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Recovered stolen vehicles
A vehicle previously reported stolen and since recovered needs clearing before it can be used or registered again.
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Changing or replacing an engine
A replaced engine must be verified and the NaTIS record updated. Vehicles built before September 2012 also need a microdot certificate.
Not sure which applies to you?
Tell us about your vehicle and a consultant will talk you through what you need.
Documents required for a vehicle clearance
Missing one item is the most common reason applicants are turned away. Here is what to have ready before you go.
- Certified copy of your green barcoded ID or passport
- Proof of residence, dated within three months
- Original NaTIS registration certificate, not a copy
- Proof of ownership
- Microdot certificate, for vehicles built before 1 September 2012 Most missed
- The RPC form, obtained from your registering authority
- Original engine invoice, where the engine has been replaced
Requirements vary depending on your registering authority and your reason for applying.
And the vehicle itself. A clearance officer inspects the VIN, chassis and engine numbers in person, so the vehicle has to be at the clearance unit. Nobody can attend on your behalf.
Want this checked against your vehicle?
Send us your details and a consultant will go through the list with you before you go.
How a vehicle clearance works
Most people assume they go straight to SAPS. That is the single most common wasted trip. Here is the actual order.
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Start at your registering authority
Not at SAPS. Your local registering authority assesses your application and issues a referral. Without that referral, SAPS cannot begin.
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Gather your documents
ID, proof of residence, the original NaTIS certificate, proof of ownership and your microdot certificate where it applies. One missing item sends you home.
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Present the vehicle at a SAPS clearance unit
A clearance officer physically inspects the VIN, chassis and engine numbers against the record. You need to be there with the vehicle. In Cape Town the units are in Bellville South and Stikland.
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SAPS verifies against national databases
The numbers are checked to confirm the vehicle is not flagged as stolen or linked to a case. If everything matches, the clearance is granted and the NaTIS record is updated.
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Return to your registering authority
Take the clearance back to complete your registration, ownership transfer or licensing, depending on why you applied.
Where we come in
Before step one. We go through your situation, tell you which documents apply to your vehicle and what order to do things in, so you are not working it out at the counter. You attend each step yourself and the clearance is granted by SAPS.
Know the order before you start
Tell us what you are applying for and we will walk you through the steps that apply to your vehicle.
What we advise on, and what stays with you
We are a private consultancy, not an agent. You keep control of your own application. Our job is to make sure you know exactly what you are doing before you start.
What we advise on
- Which documents apply to your vehicle and your reason for applying
- Checking your NaTIS certificate details against the vehicle before you go
- Whether a microdot certificate applies to your vehicle
- The order of steps, and which office you need to visit first
- Requirements specific to ownership transfers and engine changes
- Common reasons applications are turned away, and how to avoid them
What you do
- Obtain the RPC form and referral from your registering authority
- Gather your original documents and take them with you
- Present the vehicle in person at a SAPS Vehicle Clearance Unit
- Attend the inspection yourself. Nobody can go on your behalf
- Receive the clearance directly from SAPS
- Return to your registering authority to complete the process
Clear on what you need to do?
If not, tell us about your vehicle and we will go through it with you before you start.
Questions we get asked
Do you get the clearance for me?
No. We are a private consultancy and we advise only. We tell you which documents apply to your vehicle, what order to do things in and what to expect, so you are prepared before you go. You lodge your own application and SAPS grants the clearance.
How long does a vehicle clearance take?
That is decided by SAPS and your registering authority, not by us, and it varies with the unit you attend and the complexity of your case. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delay, and that is the part we can assist you with.
Do I have to bring the vehicle in person?
Yes. A clearance officer physically inspects the VIN, chassis and engine numbers against the record, so the vehicle has to be at the clearance unit. Nobody can attend in your place.
Do I go straight to SAPS?
No, and this is the most common wasted trip. Your registering authority assesses your application and issues a referral first. SAPS cannot begin without it.
I changed my engine. Do I need a clearance?
Yes. A replaced engine has to be verified and your NaTIS record updated before the vehicle can be registered or licensed with the new details. You will also need the original engine invoice showing the engine number and seller details.
Are you connected to SAPS or NaTIS?
No. OVW Management Group is a private consultancy. We are not affiliated with the South African Police Service, NaTIS, or any government department, and we do not issue clearance certificates. Clearance is granted solely by the relevant authorities.
Still have a question?
Send us your details and a consultant will come back to you during office hours.
Speak to a consultant before you start your application
Tell us about your vehicle and why you need a clearance. We will go through the documents that apply to you and the order you need to do things in.
Speak To A Consultant
A consultant will be in touch with you during office hours.
Advice and document guidance only. You present your own vehicle and lodge your own application.
OVW Management Group is a private consultancy providing administrative assistance and vehicle documentation guidance. We are not affiliated with the South African Police Service, NaTIS, or any government department, and we do not issue clearance certificates. Clearance is granted solely by the relevant authorities.
Our offices
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Cape Town BlackheathHead Office
9 Helene Avenue, Blackheath, Cape Town, 7581
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Cape Town Icon Building, CBD
24 Lower Long Street, Icon Building, Ground Floor, Cape Town, 8000
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Rivonia Johannesburg
Second Floor, Rivonia Village, Cnr Mutual & Rivonia Boulevard, Rivonia, 2128
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Pretoria Protea Towers, Central
716 Protea Towers, 246 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria Central, 0002