Hyderabad police register 2,539 underage driving cases and suspend 719 registrations

The Hyderabad Traffic Police registered 2,539 cases of underage driving between January and May 2026, launching an aggressive enforcement campaign across the city, including areas like Shamshabad and Narsingi. Officials warned parents and guardians that they will face strict legal action, including potential jail time, for allowing minors to drive.

According to official traffic police data, authorities also suspended the registration certificates of 719 vehicles after they were found being driven by minors during the five-month crackdown. The drive combines strict legal action with counselling and awareness programmes to address the rising number of juveniles driving cars and two-wheelers without valid licences.

The police highlighted that the Motor Vehicles Act provides stringent penalties for these violations. Under Section 199A of the Act, the registration of a vehicle used by a juvenile can be suspended for one year, and the minor can be barred from obtaining a driving licence until they turn 25. Parents or guardians who knowingly permit a child to drive face criminal prosecution, which carries a penalty of up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25,000.

The intensified campaign follows several high-profile incidents in the city. In one case, a father was booked after a video surfaced online showing his 11-year-old son driving a luxury car on the Outer Ring Road near Shamshabad. Another viral video showed a minor girl driving a car in Narsingi while her grandfather, a serving police Sub-Inspector, sat in the front passenger seat.

Traffic police stated that vehicle owners who allow unlicensed individuals to drive are liable for prosecution under the Motor Vehicles Act. Minors caught driving are produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and may be sent for counselling and community service.