Only 14% of drivers renew vehicle papers online a year into eMVRC

Twelve months into Tax Administration Jamaica’s electronic Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate programme, online renewal remains the exception rather than the rule. Just 14 per cent of motorists have chosen the digital route to renew their vehicle registration.

TAJ reported that by July 20, some 107,744 drivers had completed renewals through the electronic service. Eligible private-vehicle owners can finish the process online and receive an electronic certificate at once. That tally, however, covers only a slim share of those who qualify, while most motorists continue to handle renewals face to face at tax offices.

The eMVRC went live on July 21, 2025. It superseded the paper registration certificate and did away with the need for a physical registration decal, or sticker. Even with those changes, uptake has stayed modest across the programme’s first year. TAJ has not explained why so many eligible motorists have yet to switch to the online option.

For now, the platform serves private motor vehicle owners who are renewing. Holders of public passenger, commercial and diplomatic vehicles, as well as owners of newly registered units, must still transact at a Tax Office. First-time applicants likewise have to attend in person.