Traffic Register Number for foreigners

Your TRN, readyin one visit.

You need a Traffic Register Number before a car can be registered in your name in South Africa. I prepare everything remotely: the document checklist, the right licensing office, the booking and a walkthrough. You attend the appointment yourself.

Start my TRN R2,500 plus government fees

Your TRN filePrepared remotely

Entry type confirmed with the office
Document checklist for that office
Application form filled in with you
Appointment booked around your arrival
Walkthrough call before you go

You attendOne appointment

What a TRN is

The number that stands in for a South African ID.

A Traffic Register Number puts a foreign national on eNaTIS, South Africa's national vehicle and licence system. Without one, a car can't be registered in your name, whether you buy from a dealer or privately.

You apply in person at a motor vehicle registration centre. The forms are simple. Most trouble comes from bringing the wrong document, going to an office that treats your visa differently, or arriving when the office is short-staffed.

Rules are under review. In June 2026 Parliament was briefed on TRN abuse, and tighter checks against Home Affairs records were recommended. Expect offices to check your visa closely, which makes the right paperwork matter more.

What you'll usually need

1
Valid passportA copy of the photo page. Some offices want it certified.
2
Valid visa or permitVisa, work or study permit. How a tourist entry is treated depends on the office.
3
Two ID photosStandard passport-size photos.
4
Proof of addressA South African address. If the bill isn't in your name, an affidavit from the person whose name it's in.
5
TRN application formThe Application and Notice in respect of Traffic Register Number. I fill it in with you.

Based on the City of Cape Town's published list. Your exact list comes with your booking.

How it works

Prepared remotely. Done in one visit.

Nothing is paid until I've confirmed the office accepts your entry type.

01
Your dates
Send your arrival date, how long you're staying and the area you'll be in.
02
Confirm
I confirm which office suits you and whether it accepts your entry type, before you pay.
03
Prepare
Exact document list, the form filled in with you, and the booking made around your arrival.
04
Walkthrough
A short call so you know what happens at the counter and what to say.
05
Your visit
You attend the appointment and leave with your TRN or a clear date for it.

Pricing

One fee. Credited if you buy.

TRN preparationR2,500

Office confirmed, checklist, form, booking and walkthrough. Government fees paid directly at the office.

Full vehicle serviceFrom R18,000

Car sourced, checked, inspected and negotiated, with the TRN included. Your R2,500 is credited if you upgrade. See the full service

Questions

TRN questions, answered.

Licensing rules are set by each office and can change. I confirm what applies to you before you pay.

What is a Traffic Register Number?

A TRN is the number a foreign national uses on South Africa's national vehicle system, eNaTIS, in place of a South African ID number. You need one before a car can be registered in your name, and for most other licensing transactions.

Can I get a TRN on a tourist entry?

It depends on the office. The City of Cape Town lists a valid visa, work or study permit among the documents, and offices apply that differently to visitors. I confirm whether your entry is accepted at the office I book you into before you pay anything.

What documents do I need?

For Cape Town the City lists a copy of a valid passport, a valid visa or permit, two ID photos, proof of address and the completed TRN application form. Other offices ask for much the same, and some want certified copies. I give you the exact list for your office.

How long does it take?

Some offices issue the number on the day, others take longer. Offices also run reduced hours over Christmas and New Year, which matters if you land in late December. I check what is realistic for your dates.

Can you apply on my behalf?

No. You attend the appointment yourself. I do everything around it so that one visit is enough: the checklist, the right office, the booking and a walkthrough beforehand.

What does it cost?

My fee is R2,500. Government fees are paid directly at the office. If you go ahead with the full vehicle service later, the R2,500 is credited toward it.

Where to next.

Start your enquiry

Send your dates. I'll confirm the office first.

Fill this in and it becomes a WhatsApp message to me, ready to send. Nothing is paid until your entry type is confirmed.

luyanda@avaloncapitalgroup.co.za

+27 71 220 5313

Based in

Pietermaritzburg. Buyers anywhere in South Africa and abroad.

Your TRN, readyin one visit.

The number that stands in for a South African ID.

Prepared remotely. Done in one visit.

Your dates

Confirm

Prepare

Walkthrough

Your visit

One fee. Credited if you buy.

TRN questions, answered.

Where to next.

Buying the car too?

Driving Africa?

Who you'd be dealing with

Send your dates. I'll confirm the office first.