The sea smelled like salt and diesel the morning Dannah rode her scooter toward the Vehicle Testing Station. Palm shadows flickered across the road as she passed small stalls unfurling bananas and old men sipping coffee. Her papers were folded in one pocket; the other held a single worn photo of her father beside his old Land Rover—proof, she’d been told, that some things were worth keeping.
The testing station sat near the harbor, a low concrete building with blue trim and a tin roof that clanged when the wind came in from the east. A rusted sign read VEHICLE TESTING STATION in faded block letters. Behind it, technicians in navy overalls moved between cars, lifting hoods, checking brakes, and making notes on clipboards. The place hummed with the careful business of keeping the islands moving.
Dannah clutched her helmet as she stepped inside. The receptionist, a woman named Mari, offered a quick smile and a clipboard. “Registration?” she asked, voice warm enough to cut through the morning heat. Dannah nodded and handed over the folded papers. The form asked for a contact number; Dannah hesitated—her family phone was still tied to the old house that mornings sometimes forgot to wake up—but she filled it in with a neighbor’s number and the tester’s name: Mr. René, who everyone said had hands that could coax life back into any engine.
They called her scooter in a few minutes. Mr. René—broad-shouldered, with a laugh that crinkled his eyes—ran his hand along the scooter’s frame as if greeting a friend. “We check everything,” he said, and Dannah felt oddly reassured. The tests moved in a steady rhythm: lights and horn, brakes and suspension, exhaust and emissions. Each small inspection tugged at memories—the Land Rover’s stubborn engine coughs, her father teaching her to listen for problems like tuning a song.
Outside the station, a tour bus idled with tourists comparing maps. A couple argued quietly about where to find the best snorkeling. A fisherman in a faded cap leaned back against a lamp post and watched the technicians work with an experienced curiosity. Life on the islands balanced between careful maintenance and the sudden generosity of the sea.
René beckoned Dannah to the vehicle inspection lane. He spoke softly about wear and tear: a frayed brake cable, a headlight needing alignment, a muffler patch that would hold for a month or two but not forever. He wrote suggestions on the bottom of the receipt and circled the essentials in red ink. “We can fix the small things today,” he said. “For the rest, come back next week.”
Dannah handed over payment—a few notes folded like promises—and thanked him. She thought of her father’s Land Rover again and how he’d always say, “Things last when you look after them.” It felt like an instruction and a blessing at once. vehicle testing station seychelles contact number
When she left, the passport of a passed inspection tucked in her wallet, she realized the station had given her more than just a clearance sticker. It had returned a sliver of certainty: that the island’s fragile motion relied on people who kept watch, who mended and tended so others could move safely from point to point. The sea wind lifted her hair as she rode away, and for a moment the world narrowed to the steady, reliable hum of her scooter and the knowledge that somewhere near the harbor, hands like René’s would keep caring for the island’s vehicles—and the stories bound to them.
Contact number: For appointments and inquiries, call the Vehicle Testing Station at +248 4 321 210.
The primary contact number for the Vehicle Testing Station (VTS)
in Seychelles is +248 4 322 263. This station, managed by the Department of Land Transport, is responsible for vehicle roadworthiness examinations and technical inspections. Core Contact Information Mahe Station (Head Office) Phone: +248 4 322 263 Alternative Phone: +248 4 283 436 (SLA VTS Office) Email: VehicleTestBookings@gov.sc Address: Bois de Rose Avenue, Roche Caiman, Mahe Praslin Station Phone: +248 4 300 100 / +248 4 300 106 Email: VehicleTestBookings@gov.sc Address: Ile Eve, Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin Operational Details
Standard Hours (Mahe): Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Booking Requirements: It is strongly recommended to book appointments in advance. While some services may be automated through the e-gateway portal, direct phone booking remains a standard method. The sea smelled like salt and diesel the
Documentation Needed: When visiting for a transaction, ensure you have your vehicle registration number, road license expiry date, and a valid driving license. Related Authorities
For issues concerning vehicle licensing or registration rather than technical testing, you may need to contact:
Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA): Headquartered at Orion Mall Building, Victoria. Phone: +248 4 283 400.
Seychelles Land Transport Agency (SLTA): For infrastructure and road maintenance inquiries. Phone: +248 4 224 449. Contacts - Ministry of Transport Seychelles
Here is the contact information for the Vehicle Testing Station in Seychelles.
Main Contact:
Additional Useful Numbers (Land Transport Authority): If you cannot get through to the testing station directly, you can contact the main switchboard for the Land Transport Authority (LTA):
Opening Hours (for reference):
Note: It is highly recommended to call ahead or arrive early in the morning, as queues for vehicle testing can be quite long.
To avoid frustration, follow these recommendations:
In Seychelles, vehicle safety and emissions compliance are mandated by the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA). All motor vehicles (excluding brand-new vehicles with a temporary exemption) must undergo periodic roadworthiness tests. The primary facility is government-operated, though there are authorized private centers for specific services (e.g., emission tests for imports).
Key Regulatory Body: Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) – oversees all vehicle registration, testing, and licensing. Additional Useful Numbers (Land Transport Authority): If you
Unlike many countries with dozens of private garages, Seychelles centralises its official vehicle testing at a single, dedicated facility. All roadworthy tests for private cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and heavy goods vehicles are conducted here.
Facility Name: Seychelles Licensing Authority – Vehicle Examination Centre
Location: Roche Caiman (adjacent to the main SLA headquarters and the Roche Caiman Sports Complex), Mahé