Driver’s Licences to expire on holders’ birthdays under new DVLA reforms
Under a new policy introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Driver’s Licenses in the country will now expire on the holder’s birthday.
The Chief Executive of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, said the change forms part of broader reforms aimed at modernising the Authority’s operations. Under the new arrangement, a motorist’s date of birth will serve as the licence expiry date, and the public has been urged to take note of the adjustment.
Mr Kotey also announced that the same system will be applied to roadworthiness certification. Motorists will receive SMS notifications reminding them when their roadworthy certificates are due for renewal.
Speaking at a media briefing last Friday to mark his first year in office, he explained that synchronising licence expiry dates with drivers’ birthdays would improve record-keeping, eliminate confusion around renewal timelines, and bring Ghana’s licensing regime in line with international best practices. He noted that the policy would enhance compliance, reduce missed renewals, improve service delivery, and strengthen revenue mobilisation within the transport sector.
According to him, the planned SMS reminder system for both driver’s licences and roadworthiness certificates would reduce dependence on manual reminders and help ease congestion at DVLA offices caused by last-minute renewals.
Mr Kotey said the reforms are part of the DVLA’s wider digital transformation agenda, which seeks to boost efficiency, minimise avoidable infractions, plug revenue leakages, and support nationwide road safety enforcement.
Highlighting achievements during his first year in office, he disclosed that the Authority had registered over 10,000 earth-moving and other movable machines at the ports, raising monthly registration figures from 10,000 to 16,000. He added that 10 new DVLA offices, including 24-hour service centres, had been established across regions such as Savannah, Bono, Ashanti, and Greater Accra.
The DVLA, he said, has also rolled out mobile licensing units, SMS reminder services, and skills development programmes to improve service delivery. Partnerships with the State Insurance Company (SIC) and the National Identification Authority (NIA) have further helped to streamline operations. These innovations and sound management practices, he noted, contributed to a nine per cent increase in revenue, which will be reinvested into expanding DVLA activities.
Looking ahead, Mr Kotey said the Authority is prioritising the introduction of an automated vehicle emissions testing system and the strengthening of vehicle inspection procedures. He explained that the initiative would help curb the use of unroadworthy vehicles that emit harmful gases, posing risks to public health and the environment.
He also announced plans to fully implement new number plates with enhanced tracking features and to extend 24-hour DVLA services to most regional offices, ensuring wider access to quality services nationwide.
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