Registering a Vehicle in Tanzania: What TRA Charges
Registering a vehicle in Tanzania means three separate charges, not one: a registration tax, a licence fee that depends on engine capacity, and the HIV Response Levy. A change of ownership adds a fourth, and electric and hybrid vehicles are charged on power output instead of engine size.
Reviewed by the Calculator editorial team · Last updated 19 September 2026
The three charges on a first registration
The registration tax is a flat 250,000 TZS for a motor vehicle of any cylinder capacity. The licence fee on first registration steps with engine size, and the HIV Response Levy steps with it too — so two cars of the same model but different engines do not cost the same to put on the road.
| Engine capacity | Licence fee | HIV Response Levy |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1,000 cc | — | 50,000 |
| 501 – 1,500 cc | 200,000 | 100,000 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 cc | 250,000 | 150,000 |
| 2,501 cc and above | 300,000 | 200,000 |
| Motorcycle or tricycle (bajaji) | 50,000 | — |
Motorcycles, tricycles and machinery
A motorcycle or a tricycle — a bajaji, electric or not — pays a 50,000 TZS licence fee. Machinery such as excavators, bulldozers and fork lifts carries a 250,000 TZS HIV Response Levy. The registration tax of 250,000 TZS applies to a motor vehicle of any cylinder capacity.
Electric and hybrid vehicles are charged differently
Instead of engine capacity, electric and hybrid vehicles are licensed by power output: a micro hybrid under 5 kW pays 50,000 TZS, a mild or semi hybrid of 6–30 kW pays 200,000, a full hybrid of 31–40 kW pays 250,000 and a plug-in hybrid of 41–90 kW pays 300,000. Electric registration tax also varies by battery class, with the smallest class charged 95,000 TZS.
Changing ownership, and the driving licence
Transferring a vehicle to a new owner costs 50,000 TZS, or 27,000 for a motorcycle, on top of the registration and licence fees. A duplicate card is 50,000 for a vehicle, 30,000 for a tricycle and 20,000 for a motorcycle. A driving licence is 70,000 TZS and is renewable every five years, with a provisional licence at 10,000 and the driving test fee at 3,000.
What it adds up to
Registering a 1,500 cc car for the first time costs 550,000 TZS: 250,000 TZS registration tax, 200,000 TZS licence fee (501 – 1,500 cc) and 100,000 TZS HIV Response Levy. Adding a change of ownership adds 50,000 TZS. Insurance, roadworthiness inspection and any agent's fee sit outside these figures.
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Results are estimates provided for information only and do not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a car in Tanzania?
A 1,500 cc car costs 550,000 TZS: 250,000 registration tax, 200,000 licence fee and 100,000 HIV Response Levy — before insurance or inspection.
What is the HIV Response Levy?
A levy on vehicle registration and licensing, charged by engine capacity: 50,000 TZS up to 1,000 cc rising to 200,000 above 2,500 cc, and 250,000 for machinery.
How much is a change of ownership?
50,000 TZS for a motor vehicle and 27,000 for a motorcycle, in addition to any registration and licence fees due.
Are electric cars cheaper to register?
They are charged differently rather than uniformly cheaper: licensing is by power output and registration tax by battery class, so the smallest electric class pays 95,000 TZS of registration tax.