By Anna Shilongo
WINDHOEK
Over 200 motorists have applied for personalized number plates in Windhoek alone since the customized vehicle registration system was introduced.
Last month, Roads Authority launched personalized number plates, giving an opportunity for motorists to paste their desired names or numbers as car registration numbers.
Yesterday, Harold Geiseb became the first motorist to have his number plate personalized.
Audrine Mathe, Roads Authority Public Relations Officer, describes the response from the masses as overwhelming.
“It exceeds our own expectations; some people say it is expensive but, judging from the response, it is not,” he said.
A personalized number costs N$1 800 as a one-off payment while another N$240 is to be paid annually as a renewal fee.
The Road Authority woul,d in terms of revenue, generate more than N$1-million per annum.
The company says that, although motorists will pay for the number plates, such number plates should not be obscene, offensive or blasphemous.
Once again the Roads Authority said the personalized licence numbers to be issued on a “first-come-first-serve” basis, will carry a maximum of seven alphanumerical characters followed by the national flag and the letters “NA” denoting Namibia.
The plate can be numbers or letters, or a combination of both. The colour scheme of the personalized number plates will be blue characters on a white background on an acrylic plastic number plate.
Once the applicant gets the approved personalized number, it would have to be allocated to the vehicle within 21 days of acquiring it, lest it is given to another applicant.
Mathe reminded applicants to make use of the SMS service while it lasts. SMS service will be accepted only during the first two weeks, after which applications will have to be made through the appropriate registering authorities (NaTIS offices countrywide).