The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a significant policy shift, setting the expiration date for all driver’s licences and roadworthiness certificates to coincide with the holder’s birthday.
This move is part of a sweeping modernization effort aimed at streamlining services and enhancing compliance.
Chief Executive Julius Neequaye Kotey unveiled the reform during a media briefing last Friday marking his first year in office.
He stated that aligning expiry dates with birthdates will simplify renewal tracking, reduce confusion, and bring Ghana’s system in line with international standards.
“Going forward, your date of birth will be the day your licence expires,” Mr. Kotey announced.
“This initiative, extended to roadworthiness certification, will be supported by an SMS notification system to alert motorists ahead of their renewal date.”
The DVLA believes the new measure will improve renewal compliance, reduce last-minute rushes, strengthen revenue mobilization, and bolster road safety enforcement.
The accompanying SMS alert system is designed to minimize manual reminders and long queues at DVLA offices.
Digital Transformation and First-Year Achievements
Mr. Kotey positioned the change within the DVLA’s broader digital transformation agenda, intended to “improve efficiency, curb avoidable infractions, reduce revenue leakages, and support road safety enforcement nationwide.”
Highlighting key achievements from the past year, the CEO reported:
• Registration of over 10,000 earth-moving and movable machines at ports, boosting monthly registration volumes from 10,000 to 16,000.
• Establishment of 10 new offices, including 24-hour service points, across regions such as Savannah, Bono, Ashanti, and Greater Accra.
• Introduction of mobile licensing units and skills development programmes.
• Strategic partnerships with the State Insurance Company (SIC) and the National Identification Authority (NIA) to streamline services.
• A nine per cent revenue growth attributed to innovative strategies and prudent management.
Future Initiatives
Looking ahead, the DVLA plans to:
• Roll out an automated vehicle emission testing system to combat pollution from rickety vehicles.
• Strengthen vehicle inspection protocols.
• Implement new number plates with enhanced tracking technology.
• Expand 24-hour services to most regional stations for greater public access.
The public is advised to take note of the new expiry date system and expect proactive SMS reminders as the reforms take effect.