Suspend ‘Delinquency’ Fees Until Legal Basis Is Clear – CUTS International to DVLA

Policy think tank *CUTS International* is calling on Parliament to probe the legality of the escalating “delinquency” charges the DVLA is imposing on motorists who renew or replace expired driver’s licences.

The organization is also asking the DVLA to immediately suspend the charges until it can publicly show the law backing them, how they were approved, and the formula used to calculate them.

According to the DVLA’s *2026 Licensing Rates*, a licence renewal before expiry costs *GH¢127*. But the fee jumps once it expires: *GH¢204.25* for 1 day to 6 months, *GH¢279.25* for 7 to 12 months, *GH¢315.25* for up to 2 years, *GH¢352.25* for up to 4 years, and *GH¢404.25* for more than 4 years. Similar increases apply to replacing expired licences.

CUTS says such charges are unfair and unclear without a specific legal provision authorizing them.

“*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 CUTS International’s West Africa Regional Centre.

“*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 referenced *Regulation 46 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519)*. Subsection 2 allows late renewals to take effect from the original expiry date unless the DVLA grants otherwise, while Subsection 8 makes driving with an expired licence an offence punishable by a fine of 5 to 25 penalty units, up to 30 days in jail, or both.

The think tank argues those provisions do not clearly justify a separate automatic “delinquency” fee at DVLA offices. It also noted that an expired licence does not automatically mean the person was driving. Someone could be abroad, sick, studying, or simply not own a car.

CUTS gave the example of a Ghanaian who studies or works abroad for 5 years. Under the current DVLA schedule, that person would pay the highest renewal charge even if they never drove in Ghana during that period.

“*CUTS is not encouraging anyone to drive with an expired licence. Driving without a valid licence must attract lawful enforcement*,” Mr. Adomako 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*.”