DNA searches Ilfov driving licence office over alleged bribes for test slots and permits

Searches at 15 locations

Prosecutors from the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) carried out searches on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at the headquarters of the Serviciul Permise și Înmatriculări Ilfov, the driving licence and vehicle registration service for Ilfov County. According to the DNA, the searches were conducted in 15 locations in Bucharest and Ilfov County, under authorisations issued by the competent court. They cover the headquarters of a public institution and the homes of several private individuals. Investigators are seizing documents, administrative records and other evidence to establish the full scope of the alleged activity and identify everyone involved. Officers of the General Anticorruption Directorate are supporting the prosecutors in the case.

Alleged bribery scheme

The case concerns suspicions of corruption committed in the course of 2026. In its statement, the DNA said that officers of the service, along with accomplices from among driving school employees, would have received money for the following purposes:

They would have received various sums of money in connection with their official duties, for the preferential scheduling, 'queue-jumping', of persons for the practical driving test for obtaining a driving licence, facilitating the passing of this test, as well as expediting the resolution of applications for issuing or exchanging driving licences, respectively issuing certificates and number plates.

Digi24, citing its sources, said officers are suspected of taking bribes to get people through faster, to speed up registration procedures or to change the result of the practical driving test. Adevărul reported that investigators are checking whether these acts were committed by police officers and driving instructors.

Amounts and the role of instructors

Judicial sources cited by TVR Info said candidates paid about 500 euro to be scheduled faster for the driving test, a figure HotNews also reported. Ziare.com, citing AGERPRES judicial sources and TVR, said the sums were paid unofficially, separately from the fees charged by the state, to obtain a rescheduling ahead of other candidates. Digi24's sources said the sums offered reached 500 euro in some cases. HotNews, citing the same judicial sources, reported that prosecutors suspect several employees, including members of the service's management, and driving instructors of helping candidates. Driving instructors are described as the intermediaries between the service's staff and the candidates. Prosecutors are also checking suspicions of other payments made to obtain driving licences.

What comes next

HotNews, citing judicial sources, reported that the suspects were to be heard during the day at the DNA headquarters. At the time of reporting, the institution had not officially provided details on the case, according to HotNews. Digi24 said it would update its coverage when the DNA gives more details.