CUTS International has called on Parliament to investigate the legality and administration of escalating “delinquency” charges imposed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on motorists who renew or replace expired driver’s licences.
The public policy think tank is also urging the DVLA to suspend the charges pending full disclosure of their legal basis, approval process and the formula used to calculate the amounts.
Under the DVLA’s 2026 Summary of Licensing and Other Activity Rates, the standard charge for renewing a driver’s licence before expiry is GH¢127.
However, the charge rises to GH¢204.25 when the licence has expired for between one day and six months, GH¢279.25 for seven to 12 months, GH¢315.25 for up to two years, GH¢352.25 for up to four years and GH¢404.25 for more than four years.
Similar escalating charges apply to the replacement of expired licences.
CUTS argues that the charges are unfair and opaque unless the DVLA can identify the specific legal provision and approved fee schedule authorising the amounts.
“The DVLA must show Ghanaians the law, the approved fee schedule and the formula behind every cedi it collects as a delinquency charge,” said Appiah Kusi Adomako, Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International.
“Public power must rest on law. If the Authority cannot point to a clear legal basis for each charge, it must stop collecting the money and refund affected licence holders,” he added.
CUTS cited Regulation 46 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which provides for the renewal of driver’s licences after expiry.
According to the organisation, Regulation 46(2) states that a late renewal takes effect from the earlier expiry date unless the DVLA, for good cause shown, permits the renewal to take effect from the date of renewal.
It also pointed to Regulation 46(8), which makes failure to renew a driver’s licence as prescribed an offence punishable upon summary conviction by a fine of between five and 25 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
CUTS said these provisions raise questions about the legal basis for a separate automatic “delinquency” charge imposed at DVLA offices when a licence holder seeks to renew an expired licence.
The organisation argued that the expiry of a licence does not, on its own, establish that the holder continued to drive after the licence became invalid.
“A person may hold a Ghanaian driver’s licence without owning a vehicle or driving regularly. The person may be ill, studying, living abroad or otherwise unable to drive for a prolonged period,” CUTS said.
It cited the example of a Ghanaian who spends five years abroad for studies or work and whose Ghanaian driver’s licence expires during that period.
According to CUTS, such a person would be required to pay the highest charge under the DVLA’s current schedule despite not having driven on Ghanaian roads during the period.
Mr Adomako said the DVLA should distinguish between an expired licence and the act of driving without a valid licence.
“CUTS is not encouraging anyone to drive with an expired licence. Driving without a valid licence must attract lawful enforcement,” he said.
“Our concern is different: the DVLA should not presume that every person with an expired licence continued to drive, then impose an automatic escalating charge without first establishing the legal and factual basis,” he added.
CUTS also questioned the use of the term “delinquency” for late renewal, describing it as inappropriate because it presumes wrongdoing before the circumstances of the licence holder are established.
It called for neutral terminology such as “renewal after expiry” and clear criteria for waivers or exemptions where appropriate.
The think tank further raised concerns about what it described as the potential for double punishment, particularly where a driver has already been prosecuted and fined by a court for driving with an expired licence but is subsequently required to pay an additional escalating charge when renewing the licence.
CUTS is also asking the DVLA and Ghana Police Service to clarify their respective enforcement responsibilities, including which institution investigates and prosecutes persons who drive without valid licences and the circumstances under which the DVLA can impose administrative charges.
The organisation further criticised the GH¢181 charge for amending a licence holder’s electronic records, arguing that charging motorists to update basic information such as an address or telephone number could discourage people from keeping their records current.
“The DVLA should design fees to support compliance, not discourage it,” Mr Adomako said.
“When a citizen wants to correct an address or telephone number, the Authority gains better data. Charging GH¢181 for a basic update risks leaving the database outdated and weakens the public interest the database is meant to serve,” he added.
CUTS has consequently called on Parliament to conduct an urgent inquiry into the legality, approval and administration of the DVLA’s escalating charges and related licensing operations.
