ZINARA licence and vehicle insurance, Zimbabwe

Short answerChecked 31 October 2026

In Zimbabwe no one may use a motor vehicle on a road without third-party insurance (or an approved security) in force — Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11], section 22; the offence carries a fine up to level six or up to 12 months in prison. ZINARA, which licenses all classes of vehicles, offers three products at its offices and on its self-service portal: the vehicle licence, insurance and the radio licence. Licence fees follow Statutory Instrument 67 of 2024 (from 28 October 2024) and can be paid in US dollars or ZiG.

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Answers come from the law, the regulator and the insurers' own documents, with the source under each answer. General information, not advice.

What excess will I pay on a claim?Am I covered if I use the car for business?What should I check before I renew?

On this page · 7 sections

What the law requires
What ZINARA does
How to license and insure your vehicle
Licence fees (SI 67 of 2024)
Checking a licence and an insurance cover
FAQ
Sources

What the law requires

Section 22(1) of the Road Traffic Act: no person shall use a motor vehicle or trailer on a road unless a policy of insurance, or a security, in respect of third-party risks is in force. Section 22(5): fine not exceeding level six, or up to twelve months in prison, or both; the court may also prohibit the person from driving (22(6)).
Section 23: the statutory policy covers liability for the death of or bodily injury to any person and for damage to property, caused by or arising out of the use of the vehicle on a road. It is issued by an insurer approved by the Minister.
Section 24A: the insurer issues a certificate in the prescribed form for every statutory policy. For vehicles that need no registration or licence, the insurer issues an insurance disc that must be displayed (section 27).

What ZINARA does

ZINARA, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, is a statutory body set up in 2002 under the Roads Act [Chapter 13:18]. It collects vehicle licence fees, tolls, the fuel levy and other road charges to maintain the road network (ZINARA).

On its licensing page ZINARA lists the products you can select when you license a vehicle: Vehicle License, Insurance, and Radio License (optional). Failure to licence a vehicle is a criminal offence, and vehicles without a valid licence disc are liable to fines and impoundment (same page).

How to license and insure your vehicle

At a ZINARA office	Online (ZINARA self-service portal)
Bring your Vehicle Registration Number (VRN)	Register, then add your VRN under My Vehicles
Choose Vehicle License, Insurance and/or Radio License, and the term	Products & Services → Vehicle Licensing: VRN, owner ID, licence frequency
Pay in USD cash, RTGS, EcoCash or InnBucks	Choose USD or ZiG; pay by Visa/Mastercard or ZiG via Zimswitch
The disc is issued at once	Collect at a chosen office, or ask for courier delivery

All from ZINARA, vehicle licensing. Head office: ZINARA House, Stand 489 Runiville, Glenroy Crescent, Highlands, Harare; +263 242 44 2711-3; WhatsApp +263 712 245 276 (contact).

Licence fees (SI 67 of 2024)

ZINARA publishes the licence fees by vehicle weight, "in terms of Statutory Instrument 67 of 2024 … with effect from 28 October 2024". A few lines of the table, in ZiG:

Vehicle class (net mass)	US$ index fee per term	4 months	12 months
Up to 1,500 kg	40	ZWG 1,120	ZWG 3,360
1,500 – 2,250 kg	50	ZWG 1,400	ZWG 4,200
2,251 – 3,000 kg	60	ZWG 1,680	ZWG 5,040
3,001 – 3,750 kg	120	ZWG 3,360	ZWG 10,080

ZINARA adds that the fees are indicative and subject to change. All classes and terms: ZINARA licence fee calculator. The insurance premium is a separate amount, set by the insurer.

Checking a licence and an insurance cover

ZINARA's website assistant has a Vehicle Status check: enter the registration number and the owner's ID, and it shows the licence expiry date and, when renewal is due, the renewal fee (ZINARA). It does not show the insurance. For the insurance, keep the certificate the insurer must issue (Road Traffic Act, s 24A) and check the insurer on IPEC's list: check a motor insurance cover.

Already insured?

Check my motor certificate Understand my policy Prepare a claim

Next step

1. Find the cover that fits

Frequently asked questions

Is third-party insurance compulsory in Zimbabwe?

Yes. Section 22 of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11] forbids using a motor vehicle or trailer on a road without a third-party policy or security in force. The offence carries a fine up to level six or up to 12 months in prison.

Can I buy vehicle insurance at ZINARA?

ZINARA lists Insurance as one of the products you can select when licensing a vehicle, at its offices or on its self-service portal, together with the vehicle licence and the radio licence.

Can I pay ZINARA in ZiG?

Yes. ZINARA accepts USD and ZiG: at offices USD cash, RTGS, EcoCash and InnBucks; online Visa/Mastercard or ZiG via Zimswitch.

How much is the ZINARA licence for a small car?

For a vehicle up to 1,500 kg, ZINARA's table under SI 67 of 2024 shows ZWG 1,120 for 4 months and ZWG 3,360 for 12 months (US$ index fee 40 per term). ZINARA says fees are indicative and subject to change.