NADRA
Last Updated: October 2026
In Islamabad, the Excise and Taxation Department of the Islamabad Capital Territory registers vehicles and transfers ownership, and NADRA prints the chip-based smart vehicle card. NADRA says the Excise office enters the data, NADRA runs verification and validation checks on it, prints the card and sends it back to the Excise office for issue. NADRA also provides the owner’s biometric verification through e-Sahulat and the PakID app, and a dematerialised vehicle card in the PakID ID Vault. Excise says a smart card for a transfer of ownership takes 10 days.
This guide uses the Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department’s website and NADRA’s Domestic Projects page, read on 16 October 2026. It covers Islamabad only: the provinces run their own vehicle registration. We did not register or transfer a vehicle.
Who does what
| Who | Their part |
|---|---|
| Excise and Taxation Department, ICT | The registering authority. Takes the application, inspects the vehicle, collects fees and taxes, enters the data and issues the registration certificate (Form G). |
| NADRA | Verifies and validates the Excise office’s data, prints the smart vehicle card and dispatches it to the Excise office. Provides the owner’s biometric verification through e-Sahulat and the PakID app, and a dematerialised card in the PakID ID Vault. |
| Buyer and seller | Get the vehicle inspected, complete biometric verification and pay the fee. |
NADRA has done this work for Excise since 2015, replacing manual booklets with smart vehicle cards, and counts 352,182 applications in 2024 and 432,003 in 2025, 2.6 million in all.
Transferring ownership
Excise says a transfer of ownership is mandatory within 60 days of the sale, under section 32 of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965. Its process runs in this order:
- Get a vehicle inspection ID from the official website portal.
- Have the vehicle inspected at the location Excise defines for that inspection ID.
- Get the transfer of ownership biometric verification from the seller.
- Generate the transfer application on the web portal or at the Excise office.
- Have documents verified, if the seller is a company or a bank.
- Pay the fee.
- Excise updates the registration and issues a new registration card.
Important: the seller has to take part. Excise’s process has the seller complete the transfer of ownership biometric verification before the transfer application is made, so a buyer who goes alone with a signed transfer letter cannot finish the transfer.
The documents Excise lists for a transfer are: the vehicle’s physical inspection; for an individual, the transfer of ownership biometric receipt; for a bank or company, a transfer letter on official letterhead; for a foreigner, personal presence; the original registration book, certificate or smart card; copies of the buyer’s and seller’s CNICs; a transfer letter signed by both; the seller’s affidavit; a no objection certificate from the financing bank or leasing company if the vehicle is on lease or finance; a token tax clearance certificate for a paper book or booklet; and the transfer fee challan.
Registering a new vehicle
Excise lists the biometric verification of the person registering the vehicle in their name, where applicable, an application to the Excise and Taxation Officer, proof of purchase (a sale invoice and sale certificate for a locally made vehicle; a bill of entry, bill of lading, old registration book and the importer’s passport for an imported one; an auction voucher and customs clearance for an auctioned one), a copy of the owner’s CNIC, an inspection, and the fee and tax challan paid online. A private vehicle needs a physical inspection, a commercial vehicle a passing report from the Motor Vehicle Examiner, and an auctioned vehicle a lab report. You can apply online or at the Excise office, and Excise issues the registration card (Form G) after inspection and document verification.
A lost or destroyed card
Excise issues a duplicate registration certificate under rule 37 of the Motor Vehicles Rules. It lists the duplicate certificate biometric receipt, an FIR for theft or a police report for a loss, an affidavit on stamp paper, a copy of the owner’s CNIC, a physical inspection of the vehicle, a newspaper cutting of the loss announcement, and the duplicate certificate fee challan.
How long it takes
| Service | Excise delivery time |
|---|---|
| Registration certificate for a motorbike | 10 days |
| Smart card for an auctioned or imported vehicle | 10 days |
| Smart card for a transfer of ownership | 10 days |
| Smart card for a locally manufactured vehicle | 15 to 30 days |
Where to do the biometric step
NADRA says it provides biometric verification of the vehicle owner through e-Sahulat and its PakID app. Excise’s own menu has a Biometric Verification option under Online Services. Our e-Sahulat guide explains how to find a franchise, and our PakID app guide covers the app, including the ID Vault, where NADRA says the dematerialised vehicle card now appears. If a scan fails, see our guide to failed PakID fingerprint checks.
Excise warns that only its own website and the PAK mobile application are official sources, and that information from any other source is illegal. Its office is in Sector H-9, its helpline is 051-111-383-383, and it now offers doorstep vehicle registration appointments in every sector.
What we could not confirm
- Fees. Excise publishes fee schedules and a calculator that we did not read for this guide.
- The cost of the biometric verification at an e-Sahulat franchise or in the app.
- Whether the PakID card replaces the physical card. NADRA says it is available in the ID Vault, but not whether it is accepted on its own.
- The steps behind the Excise portal login. We did not sign in.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the seller out. The seller’s biometric verification is part of the transfer.
- Missing the 60 days. Excise says a transfer is mandatory within 60 days of the sale.
- Skipping the inspection ID. The inspection comes before the application.
- Going to a NADRA centre to transfer a vehicle. NADRA prints the card and verifies identity. Excise does the transfer.
- Using an unofficial site or app. Excise names only its own website and the PAK mobile application.
Sources: the processes, documents, delivery times, office details and warning from the Excise and Taxation Department, Islamabad (its Vehicle Registration, Transfer of Ownership, Duplicate Certificate and Service Delivery Time pages); and NADRA’s role, the 2015 start and the figures from NADRA’s Domestic Projects page. All read on 16 October 2026. Excise can change its process without notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic.
Who issues the Islamabad vehicle smart card?
The Excise and Taxation Department of the Islamabad Capital Territory issues it. NADRA verifies the Excise office's data, prints the chip-based card and sends it back to the Excise office for issue to the owner.
How do I transfer a vehicle in Islamabad?
Get an inspection ID from the Excise portal, have the vehicle inspected, have the seller complete the transfer of ownership biometric verification, generate the transfer application on the portal or at the Excise office, pay the fee, and Excise issues a new registration card.
Does the seller need to be present for a transfer?
The seller has to complete the transfer of ownership biometric verification, which Excise's process puts before the transfer application. NADRA says it provides owner biometric verification through e-Sahulat and the PakID app.
How long does the Islamabad smart card take?
Excise lists 10 days for a smart card after a transfer of ownership or for an auctioned or imported vehicle, 10 days for a motorbike registration certificate, and 15 to 30 days for a locally manufactured vehicle.
Is there a deadline to transfer a vehicle?
Yes. Excise says a transfer of ownership is mandatory within 60 days of the sale, under section 32 of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965.
What do I need for a duplicate registration card?
Excise lists the duplicate certificate biometric receipt, an FIR for theft or a police report for a loss, an affidavit on stamp paper, a copy of the owner's CNIC, a physical inspection, a newspaper cutting of the loss announcement and the fee challan.
Can I keep my vehicle card in the PakID app?
NADRA says a dematerialised vehicle identification card is available in the Digital ID Vault of the PakID app. It does not say whether it is accepted in place of the physical card.
Can a NADRA centre transfer my vehicle?
No. The Excise and Taxation Department does the transfer. NADRA's part is identity verification and printing the card.
How do I contact Islamabad Excise?
Excise lists its helpline as 051-111-383-383 and its office in Sector H-9, Islamabad. It warns that only its own website and the PAK mobile application are official sources.
