Court rejects bid to halt DVLA 2026 number plate rollout

The High Court has dismissed two interlocutory applications seeking to restrain the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority from embossing and distributing vehicle number plates for 2026.

The applications, filed on 22 December 2025 and 5 January 2026, were brought by 26 vehicle embossment companies and their parent association as part of a substantive suit challenging a contract awarded by the DVLA to another company.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the contract null and void, arguing that it breaches an existing agreement between them and the Authority.

The first application sought an injunction to prevent the DVLA and the newly contracted company from embossing or distributing number plates pending final determination of the case. The second application asked the court to restrain the defendants from producing or distributing number plates in any form, including digital plates, until the case is resolved.

The court dismissed both applications, describing them as without merit.

In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs contend that the DVLA’s earlier approval of 27 of their members to emboss vehicle number plates, coupled with the conduct of the parties, created an enforceable contract that has not been withdrawn. They argue that the Authority owes arrears for pre-financing the embossment of plates and that the contract remains valid despite their exclusion from the 2026 exercise.

They further state that although the DVLA intends to introduce digitalised number plates in January 2026, their members have not been engaged. According to them, embossment should have commenced in October 2025 with the allocation of blank plates, but this did not happen despite public announcements.

The plaintiffs say that on 27 October 2025, the DVLA Chief Executive Officer informed them that the manufacturing and embossment contract had been awarded to Dr Nyarko Esumadu Appiah of Original Manufacturing and Embossment, also known as Daasebre, a position they say was later confirmed by the Deputy Chief Executive.

They describe the decision as unfair, unreasonable and an abuse of administrative authority. According to the plaintiffs, for 30 years manufacturing and embossment contracts were awarded separately to avoid conflicts of interest. They argue that awarding both contracts to one individual while overlooking 46 companies and sole proprietors is illegal and discriminatory.

The plaintiffs also contend that the DVLA neither advertised for tenders nor obtained approval from the Public Procurement Authority to sole-source the contract, in breach of the Public Procurement Act, 2003. They argue that the Authority is estopped from arbitrarily terminating what they describe as an existing contract.

While supporting the introduction of digitalised plates, the plaintiffs are seeking a six-month suspension of the rollout to allow for planning, training and stakeholder engagement. They state that consultations began in 2021 and that an earlier rollout was postponed for further engagement, but management changes in 2024 stalled the process.

They warn that without court intervention they risk unfair disengagement, irreparable harm and significant financial losses. According to them, their members employ more than 3,000 workers whose livelihoods could be affected if the contract is revoked.