You moved from Lahore to Karachi, or from Peshawar to Islamabad, and your car still has the old number plate. Can you just keep driving it? Not for long. Vehicles are registered by the provincial Excise department, so a car registered in one province has to be re-registered when it moves to another. This guide explains how to transfer vehicle registration to another province: the NOC you need first, what to take to the new office, and which steps are still unclear.
I found no single official guide for moving a vehicle between provinces. The steps below combine the Islamabad Excise page and recent guides, so please confirm the exact requirements at your old and new Excise offices.
The Key Rule: You Need an NOC First
A car with a Punjab, Sindh, KP, or Balochistan number cannot simply be transferred in another province. Guides say you must first get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Excise department where it is currently registered. Islamabad’s Excise page lists the NOC as a required document for vehicles coming from another Excise office, along with the original registration file.
The NOC confirms that no dues are pending. The same rule applies if you buy a used car registered in another province, because the new Excise office will ask for the NOC and the old file.
Step by Step: Moving Your Car to a New Province
Step 1: Clear Everything in the Old Province
- Pay all token tax and clear any fines.
- Check the vehicle’s record on the old province’s Excise verification portal.
- If the car is financed, get an NOC from the bank.
One guide says Punjab’s transfer papers ask for a registration certificate showing paid token tax, so clear arrears first.
Step 2: Apply for the NOC and the Registration File
Visit the Excise office where the car is registered and ask for an NOC and the original registration file. Take your CNIC, the registration book or smart card, and the car. A recent guide says it could not find an online NOC application, a published NOC form, a fee, or a time limit on the Punjab, Sindh, or KP Excise websites. So expect to go in person and ask what is needed.
Step 3: Get Proof of Residence in Your New Province
Islamabad’s Excise page accepts proof such as an electricity, gas, or telephone bill, a lease agreement, a driving licence, a registered property deed, or an allotment letter. Keep a recent utility bill or lease agreement ready.
Step 4: Apply at the New Excise Office
Submit your NOC, the original file, your documents, and the application. What happens next depends on where you are moving.
Step 5: Pay the Fees and Get Your New Plate
Pay the fees at the designated window or bank, complete biometric verification, and collect your new registration documents and number plate.
What the New Province Asks For
| Moving To | What Is Known |
|---|---|
| Islamabad (ICT) | The Excise page lists an application to the Motor Registration Authority, your CNIC copy, Form F, a computerised transfer letter, the transfer of ownership form, proof of residence in Islamabad, a copy of the registration book, a copy of the full registration file (or the original), and the NOC. |
| Punjab | Excise Punjab announced in January 2026 that it would start re-registration of vehicles registered outside Punjab, with a new Punjab number plate. A recent guide says it found no separate document list for out-of-province cars. |
| Sindh, KP, Balochistan | No separate published list was found. Expect to follow the normal transfer documents and bring the NOC. |
Normal Transfer Documents to Have Ready
- Original registration book or smart card
- Your CNIC and photocopies
- Transfer of ownership form (Form F)
- Token tax receipts
- Vehicle inspection, if the office asks
- Proof of fee payment
How Much Does It Cost?
There is no single figure. Fees vary by province, engine size, and vehicle age. Reports mention:
- A 2026 Islamabad guide lists the Excise processing fee at Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 3,000.
- A calculator site says to expect a smart card fee of roughly Rs. 480 to Rs. 630 and a biometric fee of Rs. 150 to Rs. 300, plus the province’s base transfer fee.
- A federal withholding tax may also apply and can be larger than the Excise fees.
I could not find a published NOC fee. Ask the old Excise office, and check the new office’s fee before you pay.
How Long Does It Take?
Ordinary transfers inside one province take about 3 to 15 working days, according to guides. Moving a car from another province usually takes longer because of the NOC and file transfer. One Islamabad guide estimates 4 to 8 weeks. Treat that as a rough guide, not a promise.
Can Any of It Be Done Online?
Parts of the process can. Guides say Punjab’s ePay system handles fee payment and application steps, and Islamabad offers some services through the City Islamabad app. But biometric verification and document submission still require a visit, and I found no online NOC application.
Tips to Avoid Problems
- Do not wait. Driving with an old province’s plate for a long time can cause trouble at checkpoints.
- Clear dues before you ask for the NOC.
- Keep copies of every paper you hand over.
- Do not give your original file to an agent without a receipt.
- Ask each office for a written list of requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my old province’s number plate after moving?
Not for long. Guides say vehicles must be re-registered where you now live, and you cannot just transfer ownership across provinces without an NOC.
What is the NOC for?
It is a certificate from the old Excise office that confirms there are no pending dues and allows the new office to register the vehicle.
Is there an online NOC application?
A recent guide found none on the Punjab, Sindh, or KP Excise websites.
Will I get a new number plate?
Yes. Reports say the vehicle gets a new plate from the new province or Islamabad.
Does the same process apply if I buy a car from another province?
Yes. The new Excise office will ask for the NOC and the original registration file.
Moving a vehicle between provinces takes more steps than a normal transfer, but the order is clear: clear dues, get the NOC and file, then re-register at the new office. Start early, and confirm each requirement in person.
