The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has announced a series of changes aimed at easing long-standing difficulties faced by the public in obtaining garage permits during the registration and ownership transfer process for motor vehicles with more than two wheels. The new measures will come into effect from 1 January 2026.

Under the revised arrangement, vehicles registered before the introduction of mandatory garage requirements in 2009, as well as vehicles registered after 2009 without a valid garage, will be allowed to change ownership within the same registration zone without the need to submit a garage permit. This measure is expected to significantly reduce delays and complications that vehicle owners have faced when transferring ownership.

For vehicles that are already registered with a valid garage, ownership transfers will still be permitted, provided that a written no-objection statement is submitted by the garage owner confirming that there is no objection to the vehicle continuing to be kept at the registered garage.

The Ministry also announced that, starting from January 2026, garage permits issued by Malé City Council and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) will no longer be required for the registration of vehicles with more than two wheels. Instead, vehicle owners will only need to submit documentation confirming that the parking space is registered as a garage, along with a statement from the garage owner indicating consent for the vehicle to be parked there.

According to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the changes are aimed at addressing widespread public concern over difficulties in obtaining garage permits, which have long hindered vehicle registration and ownership transfers, while still ensuring proper oversight of parking arrangements.