Vehicle Registrations & Licence Renewals
Revenue licence renewals, driving licence services, ownership transfers, and emission certificates — for all vehicle owners in the Welipitiya Division
Renew Your Revenue Licence Online — eRL 2.0
Motor cars, motorcycles, dual-purpose vehicles, three-wheelers, land vehicles, and more can be renewed from anywhere in Sri Lanka. Temporary licence emailed instantly after payment — official licence posted within 7 days.
Every registered vehicle in Sri Lanka requires an annual Revenue Licence (road tax certificate). The licence year runs from the anniversary of the vehicle's first registration date — not the calendar year. This means every vehicle has its own unique renewal date. You may renew up to 2 months before your expiry date to avoid penalties.
- Certificate of Registration (original CR) — or extract CMT-52 / MTA-11; if under finance, a certified copy of the CR approved by the finance company
- Previous year's Revenue Licence
- Valid Vehicle Insurance Policy Certificate — must be current at time of renewal
- Valid Emission Test Certificate (VET) — from an authorised testing station (Laugh Eco Sri or Klenco Lanka). Not required for: first licence of a brand-new vehicle, land vehicles, vehicles manufactured before 31 December 1975
- Fitness Certificate — required for commercial vehicles only: motor lorries, private coaches, omnibuses, ambulances, hearses, motor tricycle vans, special purpose vehicles
- Passenger Service Permit — required for omnibuses only
| Vehicle Type | Where to Renew |
|---|---|
| Motor cars | This office OR online |
| Motorcycles | This office OR online |
| Three-wheelers | This office OR online |
| Dual-purpose vehicles | This office OR online |
| Land vehicles | This office OR online |
| Motor lorries | This office (in person) |
| Private coaches / Omnibuses | This office (in person) |
| Ambulances / Hearses | This office (in person) |
| Special purpose vehicles | Provincial DMT Office |
Since eRL 2.0, you can renew your revenue licence at any Divisional Secretariat in Sri Lanka — you are no longer limited to the office in the province where your vehicle was originally registered. This is useful if you have relocated or are travelling.
The Electronic Revenue Licence (eRL 2.0) system allows most vehicle owners to complete their annual renewal entirely online. After payment, a temporary printable licence is sent by email immediately and is valid for 14 days. The official printed licence is delivered by registered post to the registered address within 7 days.
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Visit web.erl2.gov.lk and click Login. Sign in using your Google account.
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Enter your Province, Vehicle Number, previous year's Licence Number, and Chassis Number (last 6 digits). Verify that the owner name and address shown are correct.
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Select your Emission Certificate issuer (Laugh Eco Sri or Klenco Lanka) and your Insurance company from the dropdown. The system will verify both in real time — ensure both are current before proceeding.
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Confirm the vehicle details, ownership, insurance, emission (VET) status, and licence fee amount.
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Choose your delivery method (posted to registered address) and payment method (any credit or debit card with online capability). Confirm the OTP sent to your mobile to proceed to payment.
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After payment confirmation, a temporary licence (valid 14 days) is sent to your email immediately. Print it and keep it in your vehicle. The official licence arrives by registered post within 7 days.
- Your vehicle's emission test (VET) must be current and already validated in the system — complete the test before going online
- Your vehicle insurance must be active and registered in the eRL system by your insurer
- A Google account (Gmail) is required to log in
- A credit or debit card capable of online transactions
- Your mobile phone — an OTP will be sent for payment confirmation
- Your previous year's licence number and chassis number (last 6 digits)
First-time licence for a newly registered vehicle cannot be obtained online — it must be done in person at a provincial DMT office or this DS office. Online renewal is only available for vehicles that have previously obtained at least one revenue licence.
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Brand-new vehicles are exempt from the emission test for the first revenue licence only. From the second year onward, the test is mandatory.
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Reconditioned vehicles require the emission test from the very first revenue licence — no exemption.
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Land vehicles / agricultural tractors are permanently exempt from the emission test requirement.
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Vehicles manufactured before 31 December 1975 are exempt from the emission test.
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Complete the emission test before attempting online renewal — your VET certificate must be validated in the eRL system by the testing station before the portal will accept it.
- Laugh Eco Sri — authorised vehicle emission testing network. Visit their website for station locations nearest to Welipitiya.
- Klenco Lanka — authorised vehicle emission testing network. Visit their website for locations.
- Once tested, the station uploads your certificate directly to the eRL system — you do not need a paper copy for online renewal (the system verifies it automatically).
- For in-person renewal at this DS office, bring the physical emission test certificate.
Get your emission test done at least 2–3 days before attempting online renewal, as there may be a short delay between the test being conducted and the certificate being registered in the eRL system. Turning up at the online portal immediately after testing may result in a "not found" error.
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Obtain the renewal application form from the DMT website (dmt.gov.lk) or the nearest DMT regional office. Note: Driving licence renewal is handled by DMT, not at this DS office.
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Obtain a Medical Fitness Certificate from the Sri Lanka National Transport Institute (SLNTI) or a government hospital within 6 months before the application date. Fee: approximately Rs. 1,500.
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Gather all required documents (see right) and submit to the nearest DMT regional office or book an appointment online at dmt.gov.lk to visit the head office in Narahenpita, Colombo.
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Your photograph and digital signature will be captured at the DMT office. The new smart card licence is issued on the same day (priority service) or mailed to your address (normal service).
- Current driving licence (original to be surrendered)
- NIC (original + photocopy)
- Medical Fitness Certificate from SLNTI or government hospital — obtained within the last 6 months
- Completed renewal application form
- Passport-size photographs — number as specified on the form
- Payment of the applicable levy fee (Rs. 620 normal / Rs. 1,020+ same day per Motor Traffic Driving Licence Levy Regulations No. 03 of 2022, amended November 2025)
Driving licence renewal is handled by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) — not at this DS office. The nearest DMT regional office to Welipitiya is in Matara. Book an appointment at dmt.gov.lk to avoid long queues. This DS office can assist with queries and document guidance.
When a vehicle is bought or sold, the transfer of ownership must be registered with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). Both the seller (registered owner) and the buyer (new owner) must complete specific forms. Ownership transfer is not handled at this DS office — it is processed at the DMT head office (Narahenpita) or regional offices.
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The registered owner (seller) obtains MTA 6 and MTA 8 forms from the DMT head office, a DMT regional office, or the Government Information Centre (GIC).
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The seller completes Form A & A1 of MTA 6 and retains A1. Form B, B1 of MTA 6 and Form C, C1 of MTA 8 are handed to the new owner (buyer).
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The seller sends Form A of MTA 6 to the Commissioner of Motor Traffic by Registered Post or delivers it in person, retaining A1 as proof.
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Both buyer and seller visit a DMT branch together with original documents to formally register the transfer. The transfer fee is paid and the new Certificate of Registration is issued to the buyer.
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From 5 January 2026, a TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is required from both buyer and seller for all vehicle transfers — except motorcycles, tractors, and three-wheelers. See the TIN section below.
- Original Certificate of Registration (CR) of the vehicle
- MTA 6 — Transfer of Ownership form (all parts completed)
- MTA 8 — additional transfer declaration
- NIC of both buyer and seller
- TIN certificate from the Inland Revenue Department — for buyer and seller (mandatory from 5 January 2026 for cars, lorries, buses, and most vehicles; not required for motorcycles, tractors, tractor trailers, three-wheelers)
- For vehicles under hire purchase/finance: certified copy of the CR approved by the finance company
- Transfer fee — payable at DMT (varies by vehicle category; refer to DMT fee schedule)
Until the ownership transfer is formally registered with DMT, the original registered owner remains legally responsible for the vehicle — including any traffic violations, accidents, or penalties incurred after the sale. Both parties should ensure the transfer is completed promptly after any vehicle sale.
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From 5 January 2026, the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is mandatory for all new vehicle registrations and ownership transfers at the DMT.
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The TIN must be entered together with the owner's NIC number. For businesses or companies, the Business Registration Number is used instead of the NIC.
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This rule applies to motor cars, lorries, buses, vans, dual-purpose vehicles, and most other vehicles. It does not apply to motorcycles, hand tractors, tractors, tractor trailers, and three-wheelers.
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The rule was first introduced for certain DMT services from 15 April 2025 and extended to full enforcement across the DMT database from 5 January 2026.
- Apply for a TIN at any Inland Revenue Department (IRD) office or online at ird.gov.lk
- Required documents for individual TIN: NIC and a completed TIN registration form
- For businesses: Business Registration Certificate and other incorporation documents
- TIN is issued free of charge and valid for life — you only need to register once
- The nearest IRD office to Welipitiya is in Matara
If you are planning to buy or sell a vehicle and do not yet have a TIN, obtain it from the IRD before going to the DMT — the transaction cannot be processed at the DMT without it. Getting a TIN typically takes only one visit to the IRD office.
Vehicle Licence Counter — Welipitiya DS
Bring your documents to our counter for in-person revenue licence renewal. We can also advise on emission tests, TIN requirements, and DMT procedures.