Withdrawal of driving and vehicle documents

When a traffic violation requires the withdrawal of documents, such as a driving license, vehicle registration certificate, license plate, or other authorizations, the officer immediately takes them on the spot. Within five days, these documents are sent to the competent authority: the Motor Vehicle Department for vehicle documents or the Prefecture for driving licenses.

The withdrawal is always recorded in the violation report. In some cases, the driver may be allowed to continue driving only to reach a safe place or storage location, according to regulatory rules. If the license plate is withdrawn, the vehicle is also subject to administrative immobilization.

The document can be returned only after the driver or owner has fulfilled the required obligation. For example, if the document was withdrawn due to missing inspection or authorization, the issue must be corrected before it can be returned. The competent authority verifies compliance before returning the document.

Both the withdrawal and the return are officially recorded.

If an appeal is filed against the main penalty, it also applies to the withdrawal of the document. If the appeal is rejected, the withdrawal remains valid; if accepted, the document must be returned immediately.

Driving while the license or documents are withdrawn is a serious violation. It results in a high financial penalty and the administrative immobilization of the vehicle for three months. In case of repeated violation, the vehicle may be confiscated.