The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has rolled out a Flexible Payment Plan designed to ease the financial burden on motorists who have fallen behind on vehicle licence payments. The new initiative allows vehicle owners with arrears of more than five terms to clear their outstanding fees in three manageable installments, while continuing to renew their current licences.
The facility, which came into effect this week, will be available at all ZINARA licensing offices across the country until December 15, 2025. It also extends to pensioners, offering them the same opportunity to regularise their accounts regardless of the amount owed.
In a statement, ZINARA said the programme was introduced to help motorists stay compliant without facing the full financial strain of paying all arrears at once.
“ZINARA is pleased to announce the introduction of a Flexible Payment Plan option for our licencing customers who are in arrears and would like to start clearing their balances. This initiative is designed to assist customers with over five terms of outstanding licencing fees and penalties amounting to at least US$400, as well as pensioners with arrears beyond five terms,” read the statement.
Under the new arrangement, qualifying motorists will pay the current licence fee plus 40 percent of their outstanding balance in the first term, 35 percent in the second term, and the remaining 25 percent in the final term. To register for the plan, motorists must present their national identity card, vehicle registration book, and proof of residence at any ZINARA licencing office. If the vehicle is not registered in the applicant’s name, a valid agreement of sale will also be required.
ZINARA has cautioned, however, that those who default on the agreed installments will be removed from the plan and barred from rejoining.
“This offer will last until December 15, 2025, and clients already on the plan will continue to clear their arrears into next year,” ZINARA confirmed.
The new payment scheme forms part of ZINARA’s broader efforts to improve compliance and boost revenue for road infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation. Earlier this year, Government endorsed ZINARA’s ambitious goal to licence one million vehicles by the end of 2025, describing it as a key driver for sustainable road development.
At the close of 2024, Zimbabwe had approximately 827,000 licenced vehicles out of an estimated 1.3 million vehicle population, highlighting a significant compliance gap. To close this gap, ZINARA has launched several initiatives, including enforcement at tollgates, targeted licencing operations, and partnerships with local authorities.
In addition, ZINARA has introduced public awareness campaigns such as the “Licence and Win” promotion, which ran from October 2024 to February 2025 and drew participation from nearly 793,000 motorists, rewarding those who stayed compliant.
Vehicle licencing in Zimbabwe is a mandatory legal requirement governed under the Vehicle Registration and Licencing Act, applicable to all vehicles whether in use or temporarily off the road. By introducing the Flexible Payment Plan, ZINARA aims to strike a balance between enforcing compliance and providing financial relief — a move expected to strengthen both accountability and national road development.
