The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has announced a major policy change that eliminates the need for garage permits when registering land vehicles, in an effort to streamline procedures and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for the public.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed that while having a dedicated garage remains a mandatory requirement, applicants will no longer need to submit a garage permit as part of the registration process. Officials said the decision was made to make vehicle registration more efficient and remove unnecessary paperwork that had long burdened residents.
Previously, individuals registering vehicles were required to submit three separate documents:
• A permit from Malé City Council or Housing Development Corporation (HDC) authorising the specific use of a building
• A parking permit from the same authority for vehicle placement inside the garage
• A signed authorisation letter from the garage owner accompanied by their identity documents
The ministry said the updated regulation addresses longstanding concerns from the public, especially individuals facing obstacles in changing the registration of vehicles imported before 2009—prior to the introduction of the garage requirement for imported vehicles.
It added that vehicles registered under the Malé Zone can now transfer ownership or update registration details without presenting a garage permit.
Although the formal paperwork requirement has been removed, ministry will continue to verify garage ownership and inspect physical locations to ensure compliance before approving any vehicle registration.
In a further reform aimed at easing administrative processes, the ministry also confirmed that vehicle registrations can now be cancelled even if outstanding annual fees or penalties remain unpaid.
Officials said the changes are part of the Government’s broader efforts to modernise services, reduce red tape, and respond directly to public complaints surrounding vehicle registration procedures.
