SARS will now require foreign-owned vehicles to be declared

South Africa’s revenue service is moving to require all foreign-registered motor vehicles, including those from SACU countries, to be declared when entering the country from 1 June 2026. The new rule means travellers will need to complete a temporary import declaration before or at the border, using the updated traveller declaration system.

The change is designed to bring foreign vehicles into the same customs control framework as other goods entering South Africa. SARS says the requirement is based on Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Act, which requires declaration of goods on entry, and it says SACU membership does not exempt vehicles from South African import controls.

For many border commuters and cross-border motorists, this is the big shift: vehicles that were previously allowed through with less formality will now need a formal declaration process. SARS says the older temporary exemption for SACU-registered vehicles was linked to operational challenges at border posts, but those challenges are being addressed through improved systems.

SARS says the new approach is part of a modernised customs process meant to improve compliance and reduce bottlenecks. The service has introduced a Travel Management System and a mobile app for pre-declaration, allowing travellers to submit details electronically before arriving at the border.

That matters because border traffic in the region is often heavy, especially for people travelling between South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, and Mozambique. By pushing declarations online in advance, SARS says it hopes to speed up processing and improve border management.

Foreign-registered vehicle owners should expect to register their vehicle information, submit the temporary import declaration, and carry the necessary confirmation when entering South Africa. Some reports also indicate that motorists may face fines or enforcement action if they fail to comply once the rule is in force.

This is especially important for Lesotho motorists and other frequent cross-border travellers, because the rule affects ordinary private vehicles as well as other foreign-registered motor vehicles. Revenue Services Lesotho has publicly clarified that the measure comes from SARS, not from the Lesotho revenue authority.

In practice, the policy could affect tourism, business travel, family visits, and daily commuter patterns across southern Africa. Drivers who regularly cross the border will need to plan ahead, especially if they are not used to customs-style paperwork for their vehicles.

It may also reduce confusion at checkpoints over which foreign vehicles are being brought in temporarily and under what conditions. That could help SARS track compliance more effectively, but it also adds another layer of responsibility for travellers who previously moved across borders with fewer formalities.

The policy reflects a broader trend in border control: customs authorities are using digital systems to tighten enforcement while trying to keep movement efficient. For South Africa, this is not just a traffic measure; it is also a revenue and compliance measure, because vehicles are treated as movable imports that must be declared properly.

For regional travellers, the main message is simple: foreign-registered vehicles are no longer casually waved through under old assumptions. From the implementation date, motorists will need to treat border crossing as a formal customs process and prepare their documents in advance.