# Islamabad police to impound cars driven without a licence; underage drivers' parents called in

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/auto/islamabad-police-to-impound-cars-driven-without-a-licence-underage-drivers)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 20 Oct 2026
Updated: 20 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 20 Oct 2026

> IGP Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry says vehicles driven without a valid licence will be held at police stations. For underage drivers, a parent must sign an undertaking to get the car back.

**Islamabad Police will impound any vehicle driven without a valid driving licence in the federal capital and release it only after the driver obtains one, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Captain (retd) Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry has announced**, [Business Recorder reported](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40445005/islamabad-police-to-launch-crackdown-unlicensed-amp-underage-drivers-to-face-action) on Tuesday. He made the announcement at a meeting with the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association.

## The two rules

| Who | What happens | How to get the vehicle back |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adult driving without a licence | Vehicle impounded at the police station | Only after the driver gets a valid licence |
| Underage driver | Vehicle impounded; no criminal case registered | A parent comes to the police station and signs a written undertaking |

The IGP said laws against unlicensed and underage driving would now be strictly enforced. No start date for the drive was given, so assume it applies from now.

## What it means for you

The practical risk is losing your car or motorcycle for as long as it takes to get a licence, which can be weeks if you have to start from a learner permit. Three things to do now:

1. **Carry your licence**, or make sure it is valid. An expired licence is not a valid one.
2. **Renew online.** Islamabad moved driving licence renewal and learner permits online earlier this week; our story on [Islamabad driving licence renewal and learner permits going online](/news/auto/islamabad-driving-licence-renewal-and-learner-permit-now-online-only) explains the steps.
3. **Keep your keys from under-18s.** Under-18s cannot hold a full licence. If a child is caught driving, a parent has to go to the police station in person to sign for the vehicle.

If you are buying a used car in the city, make sure the transfer is done properly so the car is not stuck in a station under someone else's name: our [vehicle transfer fee calculator](/tools/cars/vehicle-transfer-fee-calculator) and [token tax calculator](/tools/cars/token-tax-calculator) show what the paperwork costs.

## Fewer checkpoints, more patrols

The IGP also said:

- More than **half of the security checkpoints outside the Red Zone** have been removed, with police told to patrol instead of standing at fixed pickets.
- Patrolling against **street crime** is being stepped up, with better vehicles for the force.
- The **Safe City** cameras are being used to prevent and investigate crime.
- Containers have been cleared from the city's roads and normal activity has resumed.

For road users this means fewer stops at pickets but more mobile checks, and a mobile check is where a missing licence will be noticed.

## Why now

Making parents responsible, instead of registering a case against a minor, is meant to put the pressure where the keys come from.

## Frequently asked questions

**What happens if you drive without a licence in Islamabad?**

Islamabad Police will impound the vehicle at the police station and return it only after the driver obtains a valid driving licence, IGP Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry announced in October 2026.

**What happens if an underage driver is caught in Islamabad?**

The vehicle is impounded but no criminal case is registered. It is released after a parent comes to the police station and signs a written undertaking.

## Sources

- Islamabad police to launch crackdown: Unlicensed & underage drivers to face action (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40445005/islamabad-police-to-launch-crackdown-unlicensed-amp-underage-drivers-to-face-action

How to cite: "Islamabad police to impound cars driven without a licence; underage drivers' parents called in", Searchable, 20 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/auto/islamabad-police-to-impound-cars-driven-without-a-licence-underage-drivers