Starting December 2nd, 2024, all manufacturers of vehicle registration plates in Barbados will need to be annually registered with the Barbados Licensing Authority (BLA). This comes after a recent amendment to the Road Traffic Act (Cap 295).
The new regulation prohibits anyone from making license plates without being registered with the BLA. Additionally, individuals cannot purchase plates from unregistered manufacturers.
The BLA is now accepting applications from both existing plate manufacturers and those interested in becoming certified. The application process begins on December 2nd as well.
To apply for registration, businesses must submit the following documents to the Licensing Authority:
- Applicant’s name and address
- Business or company name to be registered
- Certificate of registration under the Registration of Business Names Act (Cap 317) OR
- Certificate of incorporation under the Companies Act (Cap 308) (for registered businesses or companies)
The BLA may also request additional relevant information. Application forms are available for download on the Barbados Licensing Authority website (bla.gov.bb) under the “Forms” section.
Following approval from the BLA, successful applicants must pay a $500 initial registration fee to the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA). They will then receive a certificate of registration that must be displayed at their place of business. This certificate is valid for one year from the date of issue.
Only businesses approved by the BLA will be listed on their website as certified manufacturers authorized to produce and issue vehicle registration plates.