Searching for traffic fines by identity number or business registration number is the most thorough way to find out what is actually outstanding against you or your company. It catches fines you never received a notice for, which is the category that causes trouble later when a licence renewal or a vehicle transfer is blocked at the counter.
This guide explains the difference between searching on an ID number and on a business registration number, what each search does and does not cover, how to handle a fleet, and what to do with the results.
Search facilities are run by issuing authorities and official platforms, and coverage differs between them. TrafficDepartment.co.za is an independent information resource and cannot look anything up for you.
ID number, registration number, or BRN
- Identity number: finds fines recorded against you personally, typically where you were identified as the driver.
- Vehicle registration number: finds fines recorded against the vehicle, which is how most camera fines start. See camera fines.
- Business registration number (BRN): finds fines recorded against a company that owns vehicles, which will not appear under any individual’s ID.
These are not alternatives. Searching only one is the most common reason someone believes they are clear and later discovers they are not. Run all the identifiers that apply to you.
Searching as an individual
- Search on your identity number first.
- Search separately on each vehicle registration you currently own.
- Search on any vehicle you have sold within the last few years, since fines can still attach if the transfer was never registered.
- Note the issuing authority against every result, because that determines where you pay or dispute.
- Record the reference numbers before doing anything else. See notice numbers.
Searching as a business or fleet
Company vehicles create an extra step, because the fine attaches to the business but the infringement was committed by a person. Someone has to identify the driver within the applicable period, or the business carries it.
- Search on the business registration number to see what is recorded against the company.
- Search each vehicle registration in the fleet as well, since coverage between searches is not identical.
- Have a process for nominating drivers promptly rather than at renewal time. See proxy and nominated driver fines.
- Keep records, because a fleet with unresolved fines can find multiple licensing transactions blocked at once. See business and fleet fines.
Why a clear result may not mean clear
- The platform you used may not cover every issuing authority, particularly municipal ones. See municipal fines.
- A recent fine may not have been captured yet.
- A fine may sit under an identifier you did not search.
- A recently paid fine may still show, or a recently issued one may not.
Where the result matters, for example before a vehicle transfer, check more than one source and confirm with the authority.
What to do with the results
Deal with each fine according to its own process rather than paying everything at once. Some may be disputable, some may qualify for a reduction, and some may belong to another driver. See paying a fine, reducing a fine and which system applies.
How often to check
Most people check only when something forces them to, which is usually at a licensing counter when a transaction is refused. By then the options are limited: discounts have often lapsed, and a fine may have escalated.
- Before any vehicle licence renewal or driving licence renewal.
- Before buying or selling a vehicle, on both sides of the transaction.
- After driving in a municipality you do not normally use.
- Every few months if you run vehicles for a business, since nomination windows are short.
- Whenever you receive a notice, to see whether anything else is outstanding alongside it.
When a search result does not match your expectation
Two situations come up often. The first is a fine you are certain is not yours, which is worth checking against the evidence before disputing, since a misread registration is possible but so is a car you forgot lending out. The second is a fine you already paid still showing outstanding.
In both cases the answer is the same: do not pay again, and do not ignore it. Take the reference and your evidence to the issuing authority. See viewing the fine photo and payment receipts.
Related guides
- Traffic fines hub
- Check outstanding fines
- Business and fleet fines
- Vehicle licensing
- Change of ownership
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to enter my ID number to search for fines?
On an official platform, yes, that is how the search works. Be careful with third party sites you have not verified, and never enter your details on a page you reached from an unsolicited message.
Can I check fines for someone else?
You generally need their identifier and, depending on the platform, their authorisation. For company vehicles the business registration number covers the fleet.
Why do fines appear against a car I sold?
Because the change of ownership was probably never registered, leaving you as the recorded owner. See selling a car.
How often should a business check?
Regularly rather than at renewal time, because nomination windows are limited and a backlog discovered late usually cannot be reassigned to the drivers responsible.
Does checking cost anything?
Official routes generally allow you to see what is outstanding without charge. If you are asked to pay simply to view whether fines exist, use an official channel instead.