Under the revised system, which is already in effect, a vehicle owner cannot transfer a car or motorcycle without the consent of their spouse if they are married under a community property regime, even where the vehicle is registered in the name of only one partner.
Although vehicle ownership transfers are expected to be completed within five days of a sale, the process can be blocked if the seller has unpaid taxes or other unresolved obligations with the tax authority.
To initiate a transfer, a seller logs into the RRA E-Tax system, selects the vehicle using its plate number and chassis details, and requests ownership transfer to a buyer. The system then generates a security code, which is sent to the seller’s phone.
This code is shared with the buyer or a notary, who can use it to verify whether the vehicle or its owner has any outstanding tax issues through the RRA platform.
Where no arrears or restrictions are detected, the transaction proceeds and an official agreement is generated. If issues are identified, the seller is required to clear them before continuing with the process.
The Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Services and Communication at Uwitonze Jean Paulin said the system is designed to ensure that no one acquires a vehicle that is legally or fiscally encumbered, or relies on unofficial sale documents.
He noted that in the past, some transactions involved informal arrangements, including cases where vehicles were resold before being formally transferred into the buyer’s name.
“The agreements now follow a standard format produced by the system and are signed accordingly. This helps eliminate disputes and ensures that tax obligations are settled before any transfer is completed,” he said.
The system-generated contracts will now be authenticated by a notary, replacing the previously handwritten agreements between individuals. They will also serve as the official documents used in the transfer of vehicle ownership.
The requirement for spousal consent has also been introduced
According to Uwitonze Jean Paulin, public awareness campaigns on property transfers revealed cases where one spouse would dispose of jointly owned assets without the knowledge or approval of the other, often leading to disputes and blocked transactions.
In such situations, the aggrieved spouse could object, preventing the transfer from being completed even after payment had been made.
He explained: “For couples married under a community property regime, both spouses will now be required to sign the agreement, confirming their consent to the sale of a family asset.”
“This measure ensures that decisions involving shared property are made jointly, with both signatures required on the contract.”
Authorities say the changes are aimed at reducing fraud and disputes in vehicle transactions.
Notaries have also been instructed to verify that contracts comply with system requirements and match official records in the RRA database before approving any transfer.
RRA has further advised buyers to confirm that a vehicle is free of restrictions or tax arrears before making any payment, in order to avoid financial losses.
Once a seller logs into E-Tax and is cleared of outstanding obligations—or placed under an approved repayment plan—the system generates a form capturing buyer details. For foreign buyers, passport information and a copy of the document are required.
After verification, the seller receives a pre-filled contract generated from system data. Both parties then add the date and place of signing before finalisation.
The agreement is then validated by a notary and used as the official basis for completing the ownership transfer and related procedures.
Notaries are also required to cross-check chassis numbers against system records to ensure consistency before approving any sale or donation of a vehicle.
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