We fill in the form. You stay in control of everything else.

TrafficForms is an independent South African service — not affiliated with NaTIS, the RTMC or any government department.

  • We never collect government fees or make bookings.
  • Nothing is submitted on your behalf — you review, download, print, sign and hand it in yourself.
  • Your documents are deleted immediately after reading — nothing is stored. POPIA-compliant.

Deregistering a Vehicle in South Africa: The ADV Form, Explained

The ADV is the form used to deregister a motor vehicle.

The form gives three reasons for deregistration: the vehicle was stolen, it's permanently unfit for use (scrapped), or it's exempted from registration.

And one line on the form is worth knowing: the owner may apply for a refund of licence fees under certain circumstances.

TrafficForms fills the ADV in for you from your own documents.

Fill my ADV now

Takes a few minutes · Your documents stay yours · Deleted after processing

What the ADV form is

ADV stands for Application for Deregistration of Motor Vehicle. It removes a vehicle from the register — because it no longer exists, no longer belongs to you, or no longer needs to be registered.

You may be able to get money back

This is the part most people don't know about, and it's printed on the form itself.

"The owner may apply for the refund of licence fees under certain circumstances."

If you've paid a licence for a vehicle that's since been stolen or scrapped, that's worth asking your registering authority about. It won't apply in every case — but it costs nothing to ask, and nobody tells you it's an option.

The three reasons the form gives

You mark which applies:

  • Motor vehicle stolen — Regulation 54
  • Motor vehicle permanently unfit for use (scrap) — Regulation 55. The form notes the vehicle would be re-registered as "built-up" if it's ever rebuilt.
  • Motor vehicle exempted from registration — Regulation 17

What you'll need

  • Identification for the title holder — the form notes acceptable identification is essential, including that of a proxy or representative where an organisation is involved.
  • The vehicle's details — licence number, register number, chassis/VIN, make, series name, and the odometer reading if available.
  • The address where the vehicle can be inspected, which the form asks for.
  • The completed ADV form.
Fill my ADV now

How TrafficForms helps

Upload your ID and the vehicle's registration papers. TrafficForms reads them and completes the ADV — the title holder's particulars and the vehicle's identification, placed in the right fields on the official form.

You review it, mark the reason for deregistration, preview it, and download it ready to print and sign.

Your source documents are deleted the moment they're read. Nothing is stored, and nothing is submitted on your behalf.

Where things tend to go wrong

  • Not asking about the refund. The form explicitly mentions it. Most people don't.
  • The inspection address. The form asks where the vehicle can be inspected — worth having ready.
  • A company-owned vehicle. Identification for the proxy or representative is needed too.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get my licence fees back?

The form states that the owner may apply for a refund of licence fees under certain circumstances. Worth raising with your registering authority.

What reasons can I deregister for?

The form lists three: the vehicle was stolen (regulation 54), it's permanently unfit for use / scrapped (regulation 55), or it's exempted from registration (regulation 17).

What happens if a scrapped vehicle is rebuilt?

The form notes it would be re-registered as "built-up".

Do I need the vehicle's details?

Yes — licence number, register number, chassis/VIN, make, series name, and the odometer reading where available.

Is this the form for a scrapped or stolen car deregistration?

Yes — ADV is the vehicle deregistration form, used when a car is stolen, permanently unfit for use (scrapped), or exempted from registration.

Lost the deregistration certificate? See the DRC guide.

Selling the vehicle instead of deregistering it? See the NCO guide.

Fill my ADV now

Takes a few minutes · Your documents stay yours · Deleted after processing