Host of the 3FM Sunrise Morning Show, Johnnie Hughes, has lashed the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for delaying the sales of Trade Plates to the general public as of January 22, 2025.
According to the award winning journalist, the delay in the release of the trade plates, popularly known as DV plates, shows the inefficiencies and gaps in the work of the DVLA.
He warned that all the vehicles moving around with the expired 2024 DV plates do not have a valid insurance and roadworthy certificate hence pose a lot of danger to road users.
“The vehicles are driving without roadworthy certificates from the DVLA and they have no insurance which is not the fault of the drivers because the DVLA has not released the DV plates. So if such a vehicle causes any accident, there will be no insurance payment,” he bemoaned.
Mr. Hughes quizzed on the Johnnie’s Bite segment why there cannot be a system whereby the DV plates would be made available by the close or last week in December so that vehicle importers and owners can have access to them.
“The delay in the release of the plates is not only a road safety and security issue but also affects the revenue generation of the DVLA as well as the businesses of vehicle dealers because they can’t obtain insurance for their vehicles without valid DV plates and as such move their cars beyond their garages.
“Is the DVLA headless because a new Chief Executive has not been appointed?” Johnnie Hughes quizzed.
Trade licence / DV plates
DV is an acronym for defective vehicles whilst DV plates are temporary license plates given to specific car owners for quick activities involving their vehicles.
Section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (LI 2,180) provides for the use of trade licence.
“The licensing authority may issue a trade licence to a motor trader, fleet owner or licensed trade plate dealer on payment by the trader, owner or dealer of the prescribed fee specified in the Fifth Schedule.”
Also “A trade licence is valid for a period of one year and only in relation to the specific motor vehicle for which the trade licence was issued.”
DVLA to introduce new vehicle number plates by close of year
