The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has unveiled a host of regulatory changes set to take effect on 1 January, aimed at alleviating significant difficulties citizens face with vehicle registration cancellation and garage permits.
A major reform will finally allow for the cancellation of a vehicle's registration even if there are outstanding annual fees or penalties. This addresses a longstanding issue where owners of severely damaged or end-of-life vehicles were unable to formally de-register them and remained perpetually liable, as the existing system blocked cancellation until all outstanding were settled. Under the new regulation, the state will clear the registration, but the financial obligations will not be waived—the vehicle's owner will remain responsible for paying all accrued annual fees and penalties.
Concurrently, the Ministry is overhauling the process for obtaining garage permits, a mandatory step for registering vehicles with more than two wheels. To simplify ownership transfers, vehicles registered before the 2009 garage mandate—as well as those registered after without a valid permit—will be allowed to change ownership within their registered zone. This can be done with a simple written statement from the current owner guaranteeing the vehicle will be parked in a garage, eliminating the need for additional municipal documentation.
Additionally, the specific garaging permits issued by the Male' City Council and Housing Development Corporation (HDC) will no longer be required for initial registration. Instead, applicants need only provide proof that their parking space is officially registered as a garage and a no-objection letter from the garage's owner.