DVLA ready to defend delinquency charges on expired licences in court – CEO

The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, says the Authority is prepared to defend in court its decision to impose delinquency charges on motorists who fail to renew expired driver’s licences.

Mr Kotey explained that the charges are not determined by the DVLA but were approved by Parliament under the legal framework governing the Authority’s operations.

His comments follow calls by public policy think tank CUTS International for Parliament to investigate the legality and administration of the charges. The organisation has also urged the DVLA to suspend the fees pending the disclosure of their legal basis, approval process and calculation methodology.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, August 11, on the sidelines of a courtesy visit by the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to the DVLA Head Office in Accra, Mr Kotey said the Authority’s new IPP Pro system automatically applies the approved charges once a driver’s licence expires.

He explained that the automated system leaves DVLA staff with no discretion to remove or alter the charges.

According to him, the system was introduced partly to eliminate inconsistencies in the application of delinquency fees and prevent opportunities for staff to negotiate payments with motorists.

Mr Kotey said that before the introduction of the new system, some DVLA officials were able to waive delinquency charges or negotiate alternative payment arrangements with motorists.

He maintained that the current automated system has made the application of the charges more transparent and consistent by ensuring that motorists are billed strictly in accordance with the approved fee structure.

“DVLA doesn’t determine our charges. They are determined by Parliament. It is a law which was enacted in 2012 and amended in 2025, so we are ready to face them in court,” Mr Kotey said.