Malta has offered drivers to give up their driving licenses for 5 years in exchange for €25,000.
The authorities in Malta have decided to strengthen the fight against traffic jams with an unusual proposal for drivers. They have launched the Driving Licence Surrender Scheme, which offers all drivers under the age of 30 the opportunity to voluntarily surrender their driving licenses for five years in exchange for €25,000 (almost 2.3 million rubles at the time of publication). The initiative has been in effect since January 2026, reports the Times of Malta portal.
Applications are accepted until June 30, 2026. The program stipulates that participants will not be able to drive a car for five years, not only in Malta but also outside its borders. At the same time, they will receive €5,000 annually for five years. The first payment is made immediately after the application is approved and the license is actually surrendered.
To participate in the program, one must not only meet the age criterion but also have lived in Malta for at least seven years, possess a category B driving license for at least one year, which must be issued by a European Union member country. Those who work in jobs that require a valid license (for example, professional drivers), as well as officials and their spouses entitled to a company car, will be excluded from participation in the program.
The terms of the program specify penalties for violations. If a program participant is caught driving within the five years, they will be fined €5,000. Additionally, they will face criminal liability for driving without a license. They will also have to return the entire amount of the grant received, proportionally to the period from the date of the violation until the end of the agreement.
In case of voluntary withdrawal from the program, the driver returns the remaining part of the grant. After the five-year period, participants will be able to obtain a new driver's license. However, it will need to be confirmed with several hours of mandatory training at a driving school.
It is emphasized that currently, the density of cars in Malta reaches 797 vehicles per one thousand residents.
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