As Jamaica prepares to roll out its digital system for motor vehicle registration certificates (MVRC) and certificates of fitness on Monday, July 21, Island Traffic Authority (ITA) Director General Colonel Daniel Pryce is encouraging the public to support the transition, noting that while minor challenges may arise, the change represents meaningful progress.

“We’d love to say to the Jamaican public, ‘Don’t get too worried about this change. Let us embrace this change. There will be little nigglings and teething pains, but if we work together we’re going to be able to sort this out and we’ll have a smooth sailing after some time. So if there is a problem, put that in the system so that we can know; and don’t get too uptight, don’t get too irate. Let’s just work together on this one,’ ” he said.

Pryce, who was speaking during a webinar hosted by Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and the ITA on Monday, explained that the digital transition is aimed at improving efficiency, reducing wait times, and providing better service to motorists.

He used the opportunity to detail a series of steps motorists will need to follow in order to access their digital certificate of fitness.

“You must issue a proof of payment. Customers must present a valid receipt, issued by Tax Administration Jamaica, prior to your vehicle undergoing the inspection. You will also be required to submit to us an active e-mail address — which must be clearly written on the inspection receipt — which will be issued to you at the service hub. This receipt must be then handed to the motor vehicle examiner during the inspection process,” he explained.

“Upon successful inspection and data entry the system will generate a reference number which will be sent to the e-mail provided. You will then go to the portal that is established — and this will be on the MSET [Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport] website — and that unique, generated, reference number must be inputted in that portal, along with the chassis number, and that will grant you access to generate your e-fitness,” Pryce continued.

Acknowledging that not all Jamaicans are tech-savvy or have access to smart devices, Pryce assured that the ITA has made accommodations at service hubs to assist those who may face difficulties.

“We will have a customer service rep which will be there with a device that will assist you in accessing and downloading a copy of your e-fitness, at which time you will be required to check the details concerning your vehicle to see that they are correct, and then you will proceed from there,” he assured.

Pryce also noted that free Wi-Fi has been installed at each service hub to facilitate access to the online system.

He also reminded motorists that there will be no grace period under the digital system, noting that once a vehicle’s fitness certificate expires, it must be renewed immediately to remain compliant with road safety laws.

Pryce emphasised that the inspection fee remains fixed, regardless of the length of the certificate’s validity period.

“It is one fee that you will pay — and the fee that you pay is not for the period of time that you’ll get the certificate of fitness, it is for the service that you’ll get. The fee is for the service that is offered by the examiner and so it is one service to do it, one inspection that you do. So, if you’re a new car and you’re getting a valid period of five years, if it’s a private vehicle you’re going to pay $4,500 — not a cent more, not a cent less for that five years,” said Pryce.

Under the new system, the validity period for certificates of fitness will vary. Brand new private motor vehicles will be issued certificates valid for five years while those that are 10 years old or less will receive a three-year certificate, and vehicles older than 10 years will get one year. For commercial vehicles, new units will be granted a three-year validity period while used ones will receive a one-year certificate. The same applies to public passenger vehicles (PPVs), with new PPVs eligible for three years and used PPVs limited to one year.

The inspection fee remains fixed at $4,500 for private vehicles, including private trucks and motorcycles, while for public passenger vehicles, commercial carriers, trailers and tractors, the fee is $5,400.

In addition to the changes to the certificate of fitness, the MVRC process is also being digitised.

According to Ricardo Campbell, business requirement specialist at TAJ, physical registration stickers and paper-based MVRCs will be phased out in favour of secure digital certificates.

He explained that in order for motorists to access the electronic certificate, they will be required to provide an e-mail address when conducting transactions at TAJ. The receipt issued upon completion will contain all the necessary information to retrieve the digital certificate, including a certificate number and the motor vehicle identification number.

Campbell noted that while the e-mail should be delivered immediately, motorists do not need to wait for the message to retrieve their certificate.

“Even if, for some reason, the e-mail doesn’t get to you in time — although expected to be there right after the transaction — you don’t need to get the e-mail to actually generate your motor vehicle registration certificate. This will be available on TAJ’s website so you can generate your MVRC, save it, print it, [and] you can also e-mail it to yourself for future use if you don’t have a printer to print it at the same time.

Motorists are also being encouraged to make use of TAJ’s online platform for MVRC renewals, particularly private vehicle owners who are no longer required to visit a TAJ branch for collection of documents.

“In our transactions online, currently, you’re able to renew motor vehicle registrations online, and as part of this change for private motor vehicles, we’re encouraging persons to go online. So, since you don’t need to come and get a physical sticker or a physical MVRC we’re encouraging persons, ‘Don’t come in and join the lines to get your MVRC transactions done. Go online and do it,’ ” he urged.

However, he clarified that owners of PPVs, commercial carriers, and newly registered vehicles will still be required to visit TAJ’s offices, due to additional documentation and verification procedures.