What is the punishment for driving without a valid driving licence?

Motor vehicle law distinguishes between not carrying your licence at the time (a comparatively minor lapse, where you can often avoid or reduce penalty by producing your valid licence within a specified period afterward) and actually driving without holding any valid licence at all, which is treated considerably more seriously and carries higher penalties.

If you genuinely hold a valid licence but simply weren't carrying it, you can typically resolve the matter by presenting your valid licence to the relevant traffic authority within the timeframe specified on any ticket or notice issued to you, which usually results in the matter being closed without significant penalty.

If, on the other hand, you were actually driving without ever having obtained a valid licence, or with an expired one that hasn't been renewed, this carries more significant consequences, including potentially affecting any insurance claim if you were involved in an accident during that period, since driving without a valid licence can be cited by insurers to deny or reduce a claim. Confirm your specific licence status and consult a lawyer if the matter has escalated beyond a routine traffic notice.