Drivers to face steep licence fee hike

The fees for various types of driving licences, including regular, learner’s and licence renewal have been increased by up to 1,000 per cent across the province, effective from January 1, 2024.

Unlike in the past, the licence fees will now be charged annually instead of every five years. The fee for a five-year learner’s license, previously set at Rs60, has been increased to Rs500 per year.

Similarly, the five-year motorcycle licence fee, initially fixed at Rs550, is now Rs500 and the five-year licence fee for a motorcycle rickshaw, formerly costing Rs550, has been revised to Rs500 per annum.

Previously, the fee for a five-year motorcar and jeep licence was set at Rs950, but it will now be Rs1,800 each year.

Read Learners to pay Rs1,000 for licence

Further, the five-year fee for a light transport vehicle licence was Rs950, which has now been revised as Rs2,000 per year, while the five-year heavy transport vehicle licence fee, which was initially set at Rs450, will now be Rs2,000 per year.

Furthermore, a tractor licence, which costs Rs450 for five years, will now cost Rs1,000 annually. On the other hand, the commercial tractor's five-year licence fee, which was Rs450, is now Rs1,500 per year.

Meanwhile, the five-year fee for a public transport vehicle license, which was Rs450, has now been increased to Rs1,500 per year.

However, the driving licence fees for other categories have been raised from Rs100 to Rs1,000.

This considerable escalation in driving licence fees is slated to take effect across Punjab from January 1, as confirmed by traffic officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2023.