Driving without a licence and driving disqualified in NSW

Despite reforms aiming to reduce reoffending rates, a recent report has found that reducing penalties for unauthorised driving offences has not impacted the volume of reoffending.

The umbrella term of unauthorised driving offences refers to offences such as driving while never having been licensed, or driving with a licence that is cancelled, suspended, or disqualified.

18,598 offenders charged with an unauthorised driving offence appeared before the Local Court in the 2019/20 financial year.

This is a higher rate than those charged with common assault, drink driving and possession of prohibited drug over the same period.

Reforms introduced in 2017 meant that the penalties imposed by the Local Court for unauthorised driving offences were substantially reduced.