The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced that, effective January 2, 2026, vehicle registration plates will carry the suffix “26”, following delays in the implementation of a new registration system.
According to Stephen Attuh, Director of Corporate Affairs at the DVLA, the Authority was unable to introduce the new number plate system because the required legal amendments were not completed before Parliament went on recess.
“The specific regulations in the LI-2180, which we require to be able to amend before we can introduce the plate, were not successfully passed before Parliament went on recess. Being a law-guided institution, that regime must be in place before we can roll out the new license plate,” he explained.
The new system, initially planned to remove the year-based suffixes, would also feature RFID-enabled plates, allowing digital scanning for vehicle tracking, road toll collection, speed monitoring, and law enforcement. However, the required amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations (L.I. 2180) were not finalised in time.
“So, we’ve moved from the suffix 25, which was for 2025, to the suffix 26, starting today. Once the amendments are passed, we will introduce the new system and platform,” Mr Attuh added.
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Until the legal framework is in place, the DVLA said, vehicle registrations nationwide will continue under the existing year-based suffix system. The Authority reassured motorists that the new registration system would be implemented promptly once Parliament completes the necessary amendments.
