MOTOR LICENSING · INSPECTION
Roadworthiness certification
A twenty-two point physical inspection, carried out at an accredited lane by a vehicle inspection officer, recorded item by item against the vehicle record. It is the only part of licensing that cannot be done from a phone, and the reason is obvious.
What is inspected and why
The roadworthiness certificate is a statement that on the day of inspection the vehicle met the minimum safety standard set by the National Road Traffic Regulations. It is not a warranty, and it does not survive a subsequent failure — a vehicle whose brakes fail the week after inspection is an unroadworthy vehicle regardless of the certificate in the glove box.
Twenty-two items are checked and each is recorded individually rather than as a single pass or fail, because a defect list is more useful to an owner than a refusal. Items are graded Pass, Advisory or Fail. An Advisory does not stop the certificate being issued but is recorded and will be looked at again next time; any Fail stops the certificate.
A vehicle that fails is given a written defect list and may be re-presented once, free of charge, within thirty days of the original inspection. Re-presentation after thirty days is treated as a fresh inspection and attracts the full fee.
The twenty-two point inspection
| Group | Items checked | Common causes of failure |
|---|---|---|
| Braking | Service brake efficiency, handbrake, brake fluid, hoses and pipes | Uneven braking across an axle; visibly perished hoses |
| Steering & suspension | Steering play, track rod ends, shock absorbers, springs | Excessive play at the wheel; a leaking shock absorber |
| Tyres & wheels | Tread depth, sidewall condition, wheel nuts, spare tyre | Tread below 1.6mm; a cut or bulge in the sidewall |
| Lighting | Headlamps and alignment, brake lights, indicators, hazards, reflectors | A single failed brake light; badly aligned headlamps |
| Visibility | Windscreen condition, wipers, mirrors, window tint level | A crack in the driver’s field of view; non-compliant tint |
| Body & structure | Chassis corrosion, doors, seats, seat belts, bumpers | A seat belt that does not retract or latch |
| Exhaust & emissions | Exhaust system integrity, smoke opacity | Visible black smoke under acceleration |
| Identification | Chassis and engine numbers, plate condition and legibility | A plate that is faded, bent or obscured |
| Safety equipment | Fire extinguisher, warning triangle, first aid kit (commercial) | An expired or discharged extinguisher |
Booking and passing
Book a slot
On the vehicle owner portal, choosing one of the eighteen accredited lanes and a time. Walk-ins are accepted but wait longer, particularly in the last week of the month.
Prepare the vehicle
Check the obvious first: lights, tyres, wipers, seat belts, the extinguisher and the warning triangle. Most failures are for items an owner could have fixed in ten minutes.
Present the vehicle and papers
Bring the proof of ownership, the current licence, the insurance certificate and the previous roadworthiness certificate.
The inspection
Takes about twenty-five minutes. Each of the twenty-two items is recorded on a tablet against the vehicle record as it is checked.
Result
A pass generates the certificate on payment. A fail generates a defect list, and the vehicle may be re-presented once within thirty days at no further charge.
Fees and intervals
| Vehicle category | Fee | Interval | Revenue head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | ₦7,500 | Every 12 months | 12070013 |
| Commercial vehicle | ₦12,500 | Every 6 months | 12070014 |
| Articulated vehicle / tanker | ₦18,000 | Every 6 months | 12070014 |
| Motorcycle | ₦3,500 | Every 12 months | 12070013 |
| Tricycle (Keke) | ₦4,500 | Every 6 months | 12070014 |
| Government vehicle | ₦4,000 | Every 12 months | 12070013 |
| Re-inspection within 30 days of a fail | No charge | Once | — |
Inspections are recorded, not negotiated
Every inspection is captured item by item on a tablet against the vehicle record, with the inspecting officer’s name and service number. There is no paper checklist that can be filled in afterwards.
No inspection officer may accept money. The fee is paid against a payment reference through an accredited channel, exactly like every other charge. An officer asking for cash should be reported on the whistleblower line with the lane and the time.
Book an inspection
Eighteen accredited lanes across the State, bookable by the half hour.