The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has clarified the legal basis for delinquency charges imposed on motorists who fail to renew their driver’s licences before they expire.

The authority says drivers have a responsibility to ensure that their licences remain valid at all times and should not allow them to expire before seeking renewal.

According to the DVLA, Regulation 46(1) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) allows a driver’s licence to be renewed within one month before its expiry date upon payment of the prescribed fee.

The regulation further provides that such a renewal takes effect from the date the previous licence expires.

The DVLA also explained that under Regulation 46(6), a driver’s licence must be renewed every two years and replaced after six years from the date of issue.

It added that Regulation 46(7) places a responsibility on licence holders to personally renew their licences after passing an eye test and providing evidence of training with a certified driver training institution.

Delinquency charges

The DVLA said the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2512) provides for penalties, referred to as delinquency charges, for licence holders who fail to renew their licences before the expiry date.

The applicable charges are:

Non-renewal – one sticker: GH¢52

Non-renewal – two stickers: GH¢104

Renewal after 7 to 12 months: GH¢75

Renewal after more than 1 year to 2 years: GH¢111

Renewal after more than 2 years: GH¢148

The authority said the charges are therefore backed by law and apply to licence holders who fail to renew their licences within the required period.

The DVLA has consequently urged motorists to renew their licences on time to avoid paying delinquency charges.

The authority also disclosed that it sends SMS alerts to licence holders using the phone numbers provided during the licence application process.

The alerts are sent twice—one month before the licence expires and again weeks before the expiry date—to remind motorists to begin the renewal process.

The DVLA said it remains committed to upholding high driver-licensing standards and urged licence holders to comply with their responsibilities under the law.