(AUDIO): You need to seek parliamentary approval to phase out old driver’s licenses – Minority tell DVLA.

The Minority in parliament has stated that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) must consult parliament before making changes to the country’s driver’s license.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced the commencement of an exercise to phase out the old driver’s license cards issued before September 2017 from its system.
The DVLA, in a release issued by its management on September 6, 2023, indicated that the old cards will be replaced with smart driver’s license cards.
The exercise, according to the DVLA, takes effect from now till March 31, 2024, after which all old card driver’s licenses shall be rendered invalid by the Authority.
The Authority is thus inviting all holders of old card driver’s licenses to submit them to the nearest DVLA office for verification and replacement.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) wishes to inform the public that, it has commenced an exercise to phase out all Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) card driver’s licenses (the old PVC card driver’s licenses issued before September 2017) and replace them with the smart card driver’s license.
The Authority is inviting all holders of the PVC card driver’s licenses to submit them to the nearest DVLA office for verification and replacement of the smart card driver’s license. This exercise takes effect from now till March 31, 2024, after which all PVC card driver’s licenses shall be rendered invalid by the Authority. This exercise is at no additional cost to the holder,” the statement stressed.
The Authority has cautioned that holders of the PVC card driver’s licenses who fail to replace their licenses within the specified period will have to reapply and undergo all required tests to obtain a new driver’s license.
Stating the requirements for replacing the old cards, the DVLA said applicants will have to undergo and pass a mandatory eye test at any DVLA-accredited eye test center and present the driver’s license in person to the nearest DVLA office for a replacement.
The Authority takes this opportunity to remind all holders of the smart card driver’s license to check the renewal dates behind their licenses and have them renewed when they are due.
Speaking to Ahotor news, the minority chief whip Governs Kwame Agbodza said DVLA needs parliamentary approval before these changes.