Whether you've just bought your first car here or brought one in from overseas, every vehicle needs to be registered and licensed with the Department of Vehicle and Drivers' Licensing, known locally as the DVDL, before it can legally go on the road. Here's a simple breakdown of how the process works.
Who Can Register a Vehicle
Vehicle registration and the right to drive are two separate matters. You may be able to register a vehicle in your name without necessarily holding a Cayman Islands driver's licence, but you'll still need a valid licence, or other lawful driving authorization, plus insurance, before you actually drive it. New residents and visitors may be able to drive on an overseas licence for a limited period, so it's worth checking your specific situation with the DVDL.
If you're registering the vehicle under a company name rather than your own, the requirements are a bit more involved. The company needs to provide either a Certificate of Incorporation (for a newly formed company) or a copy of its Annual Returns, dated within the last 12 months. On top of that, the company must submit a written, letterhead list of individuals authorized to act on its behalf, complete with specimen signatures and identification, notarized or witnessed by a Justice of the Peace.
Step 1: Get the Vehicle Inspected
Before a car can be licensed, it needs a Certificate of Roadworthiness. Inspectors check the basics, lights, signals, general safety, to make sure the car is fit to drive.
Tip: For renewals, the DVDL currently allows applications within 30 days of your vehicle licence expiry date, so there's no need to wait until the last minute. Keep in mind the renewal period can't extend beyond your Certificate of Roadworthiness validity, so it's worth allowing a little buffer time when booking your inspection.
Step 2: Fill Out the Right Form
If the car has never been registered in Cayman before, whether it's brand new or secondhand, you won't need a log book. Instead, the inspector will give you an Application to Register a Vehicle form to complete on the spot. After that, registering it for the first time follows much the same process as a regular renewal.
Step 3: Bring the Right Documents
Step 4: Choose Your Licensing Period
- Up to 5 years, for a new vehicle being registered for the first time in the Islands, that hasn't been registered anywhere before. The matching inspection validity can run up to 62 months.
- Up to 3 years, for a previously registered vehicle under ten years old, with inspection validity up to 38 months.
- 1 year, for a vehicle over ten years old, with inspection validity up to 14 months.
Step 5: Pay the Fees
For a Caymanian-owned private motor car not exceeding 2,500cc or four seats, the 12-month vehicle licence fee is CI$180, and a standard vehicle inspection costs CI$35, making CI$215 in combined licence and inspection fees when both are required. Note that fees can differ based on vehicle category and Caymanian versus non-Caymanian status, so it's worth confirming your exact fee with the DVDL.
Larger and heavier vehicles fall into different fee categories, and inspection fees for trucks in particular vary by weight bracket, so it's best to check the current DVDL fee schedule for your specific vehicle type rather than assume a flat rate.
If You're Buying a Used Car Locally
- Any outstanding licensing fees on the vehicle need to be settled before the DVDL will process the transfer.
- If the car was financed and a lien is registered against it, that needs to be cleared first. You'll need a Notice of Lien Removal from the lender, which currently carries a CI$25 fee, before the transfer can go ahead.
- The standard transfer fee itself is currently CI$25 as well.
If You're Importing a Vehicle
Importing Heavy Equipment or Special Vehicles
Where to Go
- George Town (Headquarters): #990 Crewe Road
- West Bay: #2357 West Bay Road, Jacques Scott Market Place
- Breakers: 2035 Bodden Town Road, South Coast Plaza
