Suspension of your driving licence can cause serious problems, especially if you rely on your car for work, family or everyday activities. Before you accept the situation as final, it is important to check that the measure has been applied correctly.
The process of recovering a suspended driving licence differs from case to case. Sometimes an administrative-offence appeal is needed; in other cases the administrative procedure must be examined, and in certain situations the solution depends on the evidence in the case.
Licence retained or right to drive suspended?
In practice, many drivers use these terms as if they meant the same thing. Legally, however, it is essential to establish which measure was ordered: retention of the licence, suspension of the right to drive, or issue of a temporary replacement certificate with or without permission to drive.
These details matter, because they influence what you can do next and how urgently you must act.
When can the suspension of the driving licence be contested?
Suspension may be challenged where the offence report or supplementary sanction raises issues concerning legality or factual justification. For example:
• the act is not described clearly enough;
• the legal classification seems wrong;
• there is insufficient evidence of a misconduct;
• there are inconsistencies between the actual situation and those recorded by the agent;
• the procedural conditions have not been complied with;
• the penalty is disproportionate to the circumstances of the case.
What is the deadline for taking action?
If the suspension of the driving licence is linked to an administrative-offence report, the period of appeal shall be immediately checked. An administrative-offence appeal must ordinarily be lodged within 15 days of the report being handed to you or formally served.
The sooner you send the documents for analysis, the easier it is to prepare the defence and submit the documents within the time limit.
What do you have to send for analysis?
• the administrative-offence report;
• the temporary replacement certificate for your driving licence;
• any document received from the police;
• photographs, videos or other evidence;
• a brief explanation of how the event occurred.
Why is rapid legal analysis important?
In cases of suspended license, time counts. A late analysis may limit available options. A lawyer may verify whether there are grounds for appeal, what evidence must be prepared and what effect the complaint may have.
There is no standard solution for all cases. The strategy depends on the alleged offence, documents received, evidence and the history of the case.
Request a review of the offence report
If your license has been detained or suspended, send the documents for a legal analysis. We are quickly checking whether the measure can be contested and what steps must be taken.
Frequently asked questions
May I challenge the suspension of the driving licence?
Yes, if the measure was ordered by a record of infringement, it can be analysed and, where there are grounds, contested.
What's the deadline for the appeal?
The usual deadline is 15 days from the date the report is handed to you or formally served.
Does the temporary replacement certificate allow me to drive?
This depends on what the certificate states. It may be issued with or without permission to drive.
Can my lawyer guarantee that I get my license back?
No outcome can be guaranteed. However, it is possible to examine the legality of the measure and to formulate defences adapted to the specific situation.
