Registering a Vehicle in Tanzania
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.
The short answer: Registering a 1,500 cc car in Tanzania costs 550,000 TZS: 250,000 TZS registration tax, 200,000 TZS licence fee and 100,000 TZS HIV Response Levy. A change of ownership adds 50,000 TZS for a motor vehicle.
Filed under Business & VAT
Maintained by David M at Delta Tech Solutions · Figures last checked 19 September 2026 · Next check due 19 March 2027
Content updated 24 October 2026
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 cc | 200,000 | 50,000 |
| 1,001 – 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 | 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.
Rehema bought a used saloon in Mwanza and transferred it into her own name the same week. The figures below are what TRA charges for the registration itself, before she added insurance or paid an agent to walk the paperwork through.
Documents and steps
Registration is handled through TRA. Bring the registration application, proof of ownership or import, identification and the payment receipts for the registration tax, licence fee and HIV Response Levy. TRA issues the registration card and number plates. The exact checklist changes from time to time, so confirm it with TRA before travelling to the office rather than relying on a list from an agent.
If the vehicle came from abroad rather than from a local dealer, the figures above sit on top of the import charges. The import-duty guide works through duty, excise, the levies and VAT on a nine-year-old car, and the Import Duty Calculator applies the same cascade to the CIF value.
Annual renewal and late penalties
The licence fee is an annual charge, while the registration tax and a change-of-ownership fee are paid when the vehicle is registered or transferred. Renew before the licence expires: using an expired licence can attract a penalty and creates a problem with insurance and roadside checks. Confirm the current renewal amount and penalty with TRA, because the fee follows the engine-capacity band.
Insurance and inspection are separate
Registration is not the same as permission to drive. Third-party insurance is a separate legal requirement, and a roadworthiness inspection may be required for the vehicle's age or use. An agent can handle the paperwork, but the insurance and inspection obligations remain with the owner. Budget for them alongside the TRA fees rather than treating the registration total as the whole cost.
Results are estimates provided for information only and do not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Related guides
Registering a Vehicle in Tanzania FAQs
What do motorcycles, tricycles and machinery pay?
A motorcycle or tricycle pays 50,000 TZS to license, and machinery pays a 250,000 TZS HIV Response Levy instead. Both also carry the 250,000 TZS registration tax.
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.
What do a duplicate card and a driving licence cost?
A duplicate card costs 50,000 TZS for a vehicle and 20,000 for a motorcycle. A driving licence is 70,000 TZS and lasts five years; the provisional licence is 10,000 and the test fee 3,000.
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.