That is _very_ interesting. Every time i was reading the requirements on eNatis and elsewhere i was wondering what they meant by 'Foreign ID document' and whether my Polish ID ('dokument tozsamosci') would suffice but obviously i wanted to try the TRN route first. I'm glad it worked in Cape Town for them - i will be registering the car in a couple of days and will make sure to ask them about my ID card here in Johannesburg and will post the results here. Thanks Enzo for keeping track of these things! Your website was (and is) very helpful in planning my trip!

Just before Easter i went to Randburg Traffic Department, applied for the registration and license (the roadworthy was done a day before and already entered into the eNatis system) - when i was handing my papers over someone (actually it was the same skeptical guy from my previous visits) confused the date of entry on my visa stamp with visa validity and initially refused to process the paperwork.

Once we resolved that mistake, he accepted all the papers and after 1-1.5h of waiting i received both the registration and the license disc.

I used my TRN to do all that and i must admit that there was no time or conditions to ask about the foreign id documents (it was very hectic as usual). However, my impression is that this is not a standard procedure for them and you would have to argue your way through to be able to use the foreign id card for registration (note: i'm not saying it would be impossible - i just don't know).

Moreover - the TRN is the standard document that people are familiar with in here. So at roadworthy tests, registration and even the police blockades (and in fact any other car-related transactions down the line) this will be one of the first things that they will ask you for. So it's always safer to actually have that if you can.

Hi There-anyone still need a hand in CT to get vehicle on their name give me a call. I have helped a few guys but you (as a person) need to get traffic registered on our system (TRC) and then with a semi permanent address (use mine- i will give you a letter to say you are a boarder) and then purchased vehicles registration document, deed of sale & sellers id and a roadworthy test we put vehicle in your name, i will assist with documents and roadworthy test. Cost-- send me pics of your trip as you travel!
Cheers

I will be arriving in SA July/Aug 2015 on my uk registered yamaha 660 tenere. Current plan is to ship back to uk but if someone wants to buy it to ride back?

I'm planning on arriving in SA at the end of June and buying a bike to travel north.

Does anyone know the carnet situation for a route going to Namibia and up towards Kenya?

My plan is to sell and/or abandon the bike in Kenya when I depart, so I would prefer not to invest significantly in a carnet...

Thanks!

Carnets traveling North
 

I am also very interested in the above... I will be purchasing a bike here in South Africa and traveling North. Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland... No definitive plan as yet.

Thank you for all the information regarding registration - the word document in early replies is brilliant! I hope it works for a private seller/buyer situation. Otherwise feeling fairly confident about getting a bike transferred into my name. I have found Fish Hoek transport centre to be incredible help!

:) Tilly

This information is ver helpful! I will be arriving in Cape Town on 12/09/15 and will be buying the xr125 from a honda dealership. Has anybody recently had any luck getting a TRN in Cape Town?

Cheers

TRN in Cape Town
 

Hello all!

Here is an update from Cape Town regarding the TRN. We arrived here middle of September and went straight to the Civic Centre to process our TRN application. Required were 2 x passport photos (colour photos were fine) and our passports. Also we provided Ido's property rental agreement and invoice, duly modified to suit our hostel in Cape Town. We also had photocopies of our passports and driving licences although these didn't seem to be required. Proof of employment wasn't required. Initially the lady at the counter was sceptical saying that with the visa in our passports they probably wouldn't issue a TRN. However we assured her that our friend had received one not long ago with the same visa (was thinking of you Nextlife). This seemed to reassure her and she said that she couldn't guarantee it would be approved but to come back in 2 weeks. We went back after 8 days and it was ready. :smartass:

In our experience it wasn't necessary to have a vehicle lined up ready to buy before we applied for the TRN. I guess it depends a lot on who you get at the counter. The lady we got seemed very helpful.

Hope this helps someone!

takechair :)

National ID card
 

It's also possible to register a vehicle in South Africa with a national ID card if you have personal ID numbers in your country.

To register with National ID card, they use code "03 Foreign ID" and no need to show passport (with tourist visa in it?). Just proof of address and your ID card.

It's free of charge, takes 10 minutes and no need for the hard-to-get-TRN. :D

Where do you do this? Which application form?

Also, on the TRN application form you give a postal address. I could make up one with the forms here (e.g. hotel in Cape Town). But what in the process of acquiring a TRN and buying a car is this address used for (any papers send for example)? I also heard that if you changed of address you should acquire a new TRN so for me it seems important that if I use a "fake address" nothing is actually done with this address.

At the South African Traffic department.
Just tell them that you want to be registered to be able to buy a car.
Hand over your ID card and proof of address - not your passport.

Buy a motorcycle in South Africa
 

Hello world,
I would like to buy a motorcycle in South Africa and travel all the way up to Europe than maybe all the way to Asia. The questions are:

1- Can I register a South African motorcycle to my name with a Canadian passeport?
2- Can I have problems travelling around with a South African license plate?
3- Will I have problems to sell the bike in Europe or Asia?
4- Any other pertinent information about travelling in Africa with a motorcycle is very well appreciated.

Thank You!

Pinned to top.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...le-south-80508

Does this still work?
 

Hey fellow riders, I would like to buy a bike in september/october in ZA to travel to Nairobi and back. Does anyone know if the method described here will still get me TRN?

Pieter