You can be fined with penalty points if you're convicted of a motoring offence, and it can have a big impact on young drivers.
We'll run through everything you need to know about penalty points and why they matter.
Key takeaways
- Penalty points stay on a driving record between 4 and 11 years, depending on the offence committed
- New driving laws are introducing penalty points for offences that were previously only punishable with a fixed penalty fine
- Having penalty points on your record can increase your car insurance premiums
- But it's important you're honest when supplying insurers your driving history information
What are penalty points?
'Endorsements' are essentially motoring offences with a unique code to reflect the specific offence committed. Each endorsement carries with it an allocated range of penalty points - the more serious the offence, the more penalty points you may be hit with.
The scale of points ranges from 1 to 11, and if you're convicted, they must stay on your driving licence for 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence.
If you build 12 or more penalty points across a 3-year period, you can be disqualified from driving.
Can you get points on a provisional licence in the UK?
Yes, you can. Just like a fully qualified driver, any penalty points you receive for motoring offences are added to your provisional licence. If these points have not expired, they may be transferred to your full licence when you pass your driving test.
But there are different rules for newly qualified drivers to be aware of, particularly the “6-point rule.” If you receive 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your driving test, your driving licence may be revoked.
This is different from the 12-point “totting-up” rule that applies to more experienced drivers. For new drivers, there is no court hearing to challenge the revocation or suspension of the licence.
How long do points stay on your licence?
How long penalty points stay on your driving licence depends on the type of motoring offence. In many cases, they remain on your record for between 4 and 11 years. When applying for car insurance, insurers will typically ask about any penalty points from the last 5 years.
More serious motoring offences can stay on your licence for up to 11 years. These offences may also lead to court action, driving disqualification, fines, or even imprisonment, depending on the circumstances.
The DVLA keeps penalty points on your record, so they're visible to both insurers and employers, for example.
Driving licence points check: A step-by-step guide
Unsure if you have any penalty points or want to check if they've been cleared off your record?
As long as you have your driving licence number, national insurance number and know the postcode on your licence, you can check online! If you have these details handy, you can check the endorsements on your driving record and the expiry of your licence.
You can also check someone else's driving licence information. To do this, you'll need the last 8 characters of their driving licence number and a check code from the driver. Just make sure you have permission to access their driving information, without it, you'll be committing a criminal offence.
What are the new driving rules for 2026?
Driving laws change regularly to ensure the safety of drivers on UK roads, so it's worth pointing out a few new rules for 2026:
Stricter seatbelt penalties: Currently, driving without wearing a seatbelt can land you with a £100 fixed penalty. However, the government is considering plans to add penalty points to this type of offence.
Lower drink-drive limits: Scotland has already implemented a stricter threshold of 50 mg per 100 ml of blood (down from the current 80 mg). England and Wales may move to introduce a similar restriction.
Minimum learning period: It's currently in consultation, but the UK government may introduce a minimum learning period (MLP) for learner drivers. This would create a minimum wait time between passing the theory test and taking the practical test in a bid to increase experience and improve road safety.
New test booking rules: Booking a practical driving test has become increasingly difficult for learner drivers with growing waiting lists and last-minute cancellations. To tackle this, only learners themselves will be allowed to book their practical driving test, not instructors. In addition, you’ll only be able to change your test date or location twice. Your practical driving test must also be taken at a nearby test centre.
Vehicle safety technology: New safety rules could be implemented in the UK under the new road safety strategy to align the UK with existing rules in the EU. These regulations require new vehicles to implement features such as autonomous braking, driver attention warning and speed assistance.
Congestion charge updates: Cities with congestion charges have removed exemptions for EV cars. In London, congestion charges have increased for the first time since 2020. However, EVs may receive discounted rates if registered for the Auto Pay system.
How penalty points affect your insurance costs
Penalty points can signal increased risk to insurers, particularly for young drivers. Generally, the higher the perceived risk, the more you're likely to pay for car insurance.
When completing a car insurance quote, you’ll usually be asked to declare whether you have any penalty points on your licence. Insurers typically take into account any penalty point endorsements from the past 5 years.
Honesty is the best policy here – no pun intended. While it might seem tempting to leave out penalty points in the hope of securing cheaper premiums, doing so could invalidate your policy and result in any claims being rejected.
Insurers can also access your driving record, so it's not difficult to cross-reference the answers you provide. By being open and accurate, you can rest easy knowing your cover is valid.
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