Motorists offered £21,000 to surrender driving licence in radical plan to remove cars from roads
April 6, 2026
GB News
Young motorists could be given thousands of Euros to ditch their driving licences in a bid to reduce the number of cars on the road.Malta has set out a new scheme that offers drivers 25,000 (£21,800) to surrender their licence for all vehicle categories for five years.The scheme is being backed by 5million (£4.3million) in funding and works on a first come, first served basis, for drivers under the age of 30 years old.Eligible participants must be no older than 30 years of age at the date of applications, and be a resident in Malta for at least seven years at the date of application.
TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Applicants must hold a Category B licence for at least 12 months, which has never been revoked, suspended at the time of the application, and for which the relevant fees have been paid.Motorists who want to surrender their driving licence will receive five instalments of 5,000 (4,358) each, with the first payment coming upon return of their licence.The instalments will be awarded on the first, second, third and fourth anniversary of the licence being returned after grant approval.Transport Malta stated: The scheme aims to reduce the number of persons holding and using a driving licence and, consequently, the number of vehicles circulating in the Maltese roads.Certain exceptions will apply for the scheme, including for people with a chauffeur-driven car entitlement, including political office holders and their partners.Public officials, including diplomats working in foreign missions such as embassies or representations, will also be restricted from applying.Similarly, individuals whose job requires them to have a valid driving licence will be unable to benefit from the scheme.Applications must be submitted to Transport Malta's offices no later than June 30, 2026, in addition to all necessary documents.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSElectric car owners can travel 500 miles for just £10 with new offer - 'Never been a better time to switch'Car tax changes launching today will see petrol, diesel and electric vehicle drivers face price hikesPetrol and diesel drivers demand urgent action from Labour or risk 'fuel disruption'During the five years without their licence, successful applicants are unable to drive any vehicle in Malta or any other country.Once this timeframe ends, they may request a new licence, although they must complete 15 hours of driving tuition at a licensed motoring school.Drivers who flout the rules after surrendering their licence could be forced to hand back thousands of Euros to the Maltese government.Despite this, some exemptions exist to ensure motorists can get their licence back under certain circumstances without being penalised.If approved by Transport Malta, drivers can petition to get their licence back for health-related reasons for themselves or their immediate family members.Other measures include work-related matters relating to the applicant, as well as other reasons that the review board consider to be justified.More than 100,000 people between the ages of 18 and 39 hold driving licences, according to Malta's National Statistics Office, with tens of thousands of these eligible to surrender their licence. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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