WILLEMSTAD – Police have clarified that ongoing vehicle inspections across Curaçao are currently focused on checking whether motorists have paid their vehicle tax, and not on whether they have already switched to the new license plate system.
The clarification follows confusion among drivers after recent reports about increased traffic controls and the rollout of the island’s new vehicle registration plates.
According to authorities, officers are specifically checking whether drivers have their vehicle tax documentation in order and whether the annual tax obligations tied to their vehicle registration have been fulfilled.
That means motorists without the newly issued license plates are not currently being targeted solely for that reason.
However, police warn that drivers whose vehicle paperwork is not in order — particularly those who have not paid their road tax — risk being fined or having their vehicle temporarily taken off the road.
Authorities emphasized that motorists should make sure all vehicle-related documents are up to date and readily available during inspections.
The clarification is important because many vehicle owners are still in the process of transitioning to the new plate system, which has created uncertainty about enforcement.
Police stressed that specific controls related to the new license plate rollout will be announced separately at a later stage.
Until then, the main focus remains compliance with tax and registration obligations.
Drivers are being urged not to confuse the two issues.
While the new plate transition remains ongoing, vehicle tax compliance remains legally mandatory.
Officials say maintaining updated vehicle documentation is essential to avoid penalties and ensure smooth traffic enforcement operations.
The announcement is expected to ease concerns among motorists who feared immediate penalties for not yet having the new plates, while reinforcing that tax compliance remains a priority for authorities.