DVLA suspends rollout of new license plates over stalled legislative amendments

Parliament’s recess has stalled required legislative amendments, forcing the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to suspend the planned rollout of new vehicle license plates from January 2, 2026.

The Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, explained that while Parliament successfully amended aspects of the Road Traffic Act, the specific provisions tied to Legislative Instrument 2180 could not be completed before lawmakers went on recess on Friday, December 19, 2025.

“Parliament was able to carry out amendments in the Road Traffic Act; however, the specific provisions requiring changes in LI 2180 have not been successful before recess,” Mr Kotey said during a media briefing on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.

He noted that the absence of the required legal backing makes it impossible to proceed with the introduction of the new plates as earlier scheduled.

“As a result of the fact that the LI 2180 amendments have not gone through, the DVLA announces the suspension of the impending rollout of the new license plates slated for 2nd January 2026,” he stated.

To avoid disruptions to vehicle registration and road use, the Authority announced temporary measures allowing the continued use of existing identification systems.

According to Mr Kotey, motorists will be permitted to rely on current drive-from-port (DP) stickers and defective vehicle (DV) plates until further notice.

“The DVLA announces extended use of the current drive-from-port sticker, that is the DP sticker, as well as the DV plates,” he said, clarifying recent changes in practice. “We changed from DP plates to DP stickers. So now DP is stickers, but DV still remains plates.”

The extension, he added, applies to all vehicles currently using these identifiers.

“This means that anyone who has the DP sticker on their vehicle, as well as the DV plates on their vehicle, could continue to use them up to a time limit to be announced by the Authority in due course,” Mr Kotey explained.

He assured motorists and industry stakeholders that the DVLA will communicate clearly once Parliament resumes and the outstanding legislative processes are completed.

“Once the necessary amendments are passed, we will provide adequate notice before any new rollout,” he said.

The suspension is expected to affect importers, dealers and new vehicle owners who had anticipated the January implementation, but the DVLA says the interim arrangement is intended to maintain legal certainty and orderly administration while Parliament addresses the pending amendments.