Penalty points stay on your driving record for several years and can increase your car insurance costs. Getting too many penalty points on your licence could even result in a minimum 6-month driving ban.
But how long do points stay on your licence? Here's everything you need to know.
Key takeaways
- Penalty points hang around on your driving record for 4 or 11 years depending on the offence. There's an odd quirk, though, as they only count toward disqualification for 3 or 10 years
- Want to check where you stand? It's free to check your current points via the GOV.UK "view driving licence" service. To get started, you'll need your licence number, National Insurance number, and postcode ready
- New drivers need to be extra careful. Rack up 6 points or more within 2 years of passing your test, and you'll lose your driving licence
- Don't hesitate to tell your insurer either. You must tell your insurer about any points at renewal, and in most cases as soon as they're added to your licence. Always check your policy terms first, though, as insurers can deal with this differently
- Doing a driving course doesn't make points disappear early. They stay for their full duration whether you complete a course or not
How do I check how many points I have on my licence?
You can find out how many penalty points you have on your licence through the DVLA information service.
To check driving licence points, you'll need:
- Your driving licence number
- Your National Insurance number
- The postcode on your driving licence
Once you're all set, here's what you'll need to do:
-
Go to gov.uk/view-driving-licence.
-
Enter your driving licence number.
-
Enter your National Insurance number.
-
Enter the postcode currently on your licence.
-
Here you'll see your record: any current endorsements, their offence codes (things like SP30 for speeding or DR10 for drink-driving), points per endorsement, and the dates they count from and expire.
-
Need to share your record with an employer or insurer? You can generate a check code from the same service for free. Plus, it's valid for 21 days.
One thing that catches people out: if you've just been convicted, don't be surprised if the points aren't showing yet. The DVLA aims to update records quickly, but it isn't always instant, so if a search turns up clean right after court, it's worth checking back again rather than assuming there's been a mistake.
It’s also important to know that accumulating too many points can lead to a driving ban. This is often called totting up. Here's how it works:
- 6 months: If you collect 12 or more points within 3 years, you’ll face a 6-month ban.
- 12 months: If you’re banned again within 3 years, this time it’s a year-long disqualification.
- 2 years: A 3rd disqualification within 3 years will result in a 2-year ban.
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What are penalty points?
Penalty points, also known as driving endorsements, are used when you've been convicted of a driving offence. You might have accepted a fixed penalty that includes an endorsement of points.
Driving offences have different endorsement codes, which correspond to the number of penalty points that can be added to your licence.
The minimum number of penalty points for a driving offence that can be put on your licence is 3. But the more serious driving offences can carry a maximum of 11 points.
Some examples of driving endorsements include:
- Speeding offences
- Drink-driving
- Driving while using your mobile phone
- Driving without car insurance
For more information, see our guide on motoring conviction codes.
How long do penalty points stay on your licence?
Penalty points for speeding usually stay on your licence for 4 years. But car insurance companies often keep driving offences on record for 5 years.
But a driving endorsement remains on your driving record for 4 to 11 years, depending on the severity of the driving offence.
Penalty points for serious driving offences like drink-driving or causing death by dangerous driving can be on your licence for 11 years.
| Offence | Penalty points* | Duration on licence |
|---|---|---|
|
Failing to stop after an accident
|
5 to 10
|
4 years
|
|
Failing to report an accident
|
5 to 10
|
4 years
|
|
Driving while disqualified
|
6
|
4 years
|
|
Driving without due care
|
3 to 9
|
4 years
|
|
Causing death by careless driving
|
3 to 11
|
4 years
|
|
Causing death by careless driving (under the influence of drink or drugs)
|
3 to 11
|
11 years
|
|
Using a mobile phone while driving
|
3 to 6
|
4 years
|
|
Drink driving
|
3 to 11
|
11 years
|
|
Driving without insurance
|
6 to 8
|
4 years
|
|
Speeding
|
3 to 6
|
4 years
|
|
Ignoring traffic lights
|
3
|
4 years
|
*Source of information: GOV.UK website. Correct at time of writing December 2024.
When do the penalty points and convictions start?
Generally, points are added to your licence from the date of the offence. So, if you commit a driving offence, you’ll see the points added from that date, even if your conviction comes later. Always check the specifics with the court or the relevant authority.
How many points can you get on your licence?
There’s no upper limit on how many points you can get on your licence.
But getting 12 points or more within a 3-year period usually results in a minimum driving ban of 6 months.
Someone charged with multiple driving offences at the same time could find themselves with more than 12 points. The most serious driving offences, including drink driving, carry up to 11 penalty points on their own.
You might see this also called 'totting up'. And if you've been disqualified from driving before, totting up on your penalty points could see you get a ban of up to 12 months.
How many points can I get as a new driver?
If you're wondering how many points a new driver gets, the rule is a strict one. If you get 6 or more penalty points within the first 2 years of passing your test, your licence can be revoked.
To get your licence back, you need to retake both the theory test and practical part of your driving test.
Any penalty points you get on a provisional driver’s licence are carried over onto your full driving licence.
Can I get points removed from my driving licence?
No, you can't remove penalty points from your licence once they're added. Once they’re added, they stay there until they expire, which is typically between 4 and 11 years depending on the offence. The DVLA automatically removes expired points.
But, if you're caught speeding, you may be given the option to attend a speed awareness course rather than get penalty points. This won’t apply to all cases, so it’s worth checking if it’s an option.
How to avoid penalty points
Drivers should aim to avoid penalty points altogether. But staying safe on the road is one of the best ways to keep your licence clean. Here are some tips to help:
- Take extra driving lessons. Brushing up on your skills can boost your confidence so you make fewer mistakes.
- Opt for a speed awareness course. If you're eligible for this option, this might be a more beneficial alternative to penalty points.
- Consider black box car insurance. These policies monitor your driving habits, helping you improve—and might save you money too!
Do you have to tell your insurance company about points straight away?
Most insurers don’t require you to tell them about penalty points straight away. But they do expect you to tell them about points you’ve gained when you renew your car insurance policy.
If you get penalty points, you should check your policy wording just in case.
When you apply for car insurance, you’re required by law to tell insurers about any penalty points that are still on your driving record.
Points on your licence are likely to make your car insurance prices go up. In some cases, convicted drivers might find their options for cover to be quite limited.
Why do car insurance companies need to know about penalty points for longer than the DVLA?
Even though penalty points are usually 'spent' on your licence after 4 years, motoring convictions still indicate a higher-risk driver. That's why insurance companies ask about any motoring convictions over the last 5 years.
When you compare car insurance quotes with us, we'll ask you for:
- The date of the conviction
- The conviction code
- How many points you had
- The amount of any fines you had
- The length of any driving ban
- Whether you were breathalysed
- Whether the conviction was related to an accident
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