Only one out of 23,000 disqualified drivers penalised for failing to surrender licence since 2022

Darragh Mc Donagh

Almost 23,000 disqualified drivers have failed to surrender their licence as required by law during the past three years – but only one was penalised for the offence, new figures have revealed.

That individual was convicted of failing to submit a licence following disqualification under the Road Traffic Act 2010. They were subsequently fined and disqualified from driving again.

However, none of the other 22,711 drivers who were disqualified in court since 2022 for failing to surrender their licence faced any penalty, according to data from the Department of Justice.

Figures published this week show that just 1,935 drivers who were put off the road in court during the past three years actually surrendered their licence. The other 92 per cent failed to submit the document.

The only recorded conviction occurred in 2022. A total of 26 other individuals appeared in court in connection with the offence of failing to submit a licence during the past three years, but none of these were convicted.

The statistics were published by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan in response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael TD and Assistant Government Chief Whip Emer Currie.

Recent figures also show that the trend of disqualified drivers failing to surrender their licences has continued into 2025. A total of 66, or just four per cent of individuals put off the road in the first two months of this year, complied with the legal requirement.

The 1,533 drivers disqualified during that period included individuals put off the road for drink driving and exceeding 12 penalty points.

“It is important to note that, while the non-surrender of licences is of concern, the more important issue from a road-safety perspective is that the disqualification from driving is in effect, regardless of whether their licence is surrendered,” Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said earlier this year.

“The individuals in question are fully aware that the disqualification from driving is in effect regardless of whether their licence is surrendered.

“An Garda Síochána have access to data on the National Vehicle Driver File (NVDF) as part of their Mobility Strategy and therefore can detect and prosecute a driver who continues to drive while disqualified. This is the case whether or not a licence has been surrendered,” he added.