What Do UK Driving Licence Points Mean?

Understanding the importance of UK driving licence points and what you can receive them for is essential for staying safe and legal on the road. Whether it’s a speeding ticket, using a mobile phone while driving, or for a more serious offence, penalty points can be given to drivers for many reasons. What’s more, the impact of having points on your licence can affect everything from your ability to legally drive a car to your insurance costs!

In this blog, we’ll break down how the points system works, what you can get points for, and how long they stay on your record — as well as what happens if you reach the limit. 

How does the UK driving licence points system work?

The driving licence penalty points system serves as a deterrent against unsafe driving practices. It works by assigning 'endorsements' — each identified by a unique offence code — to drivers who commit certain violations.

These endorsements are accompanied by penalty points, ranging from one to eleven, depending on the severity of the offence. 

For instance, failing to stop after an accident (endorsement code AC10) can result in 5 to 10 points, while driving whilst on your phone (code CU80) carries 3 to 6 points. Accumulating 12 or more points within a three-year period may lead to disqualification from driving. 

What are the most common offences that carry points?

There are a number of traffic violations and offences that can result in you gaining endorsements and points on your licence here in the UK. Some are understandably at the more extreme end of the scale, including offences around causing death or serious injury through dangerous driving, but there are also a number of common driving violations that can result in penalties, including:

• Speeding violations (e.g. exceeding the limit or variable speed limits)
• Using a mobile phone while driving
• Driving without insurance
• Failing to stop at a red light
• Dangerous or careless driving
• Drink or drug driving offences.

How many points before you face a driving ban?

If you’re a new driver with less than two years since you passed your test, you can only accrue 6 points before your driving licence is revoked to a provisional. This means you’ll have to retake your theory test and practical all over again in order to regain a full UK driving licence. 

As a more experienced driver, you are allowed to get 12 points on your licence before further action is taken. 

How long do points stay on your licence?

For different offences, the points you receive will stay on your licence for a different amount of time. The most serious offences will stay on your licence for up to 11 years, but most will last for 4 years. 

For example, lower-level offences, such as speeding, will typically have a timeframe of around 4 years until they’re removed from your licence. In comparison, points gained through a more serious offence, such as dangerous driving, can last on your licence for 11 years. 

How do points affect insurance and driving costs?

The amount of points you have on your driving licence will affect your insurance premiums. Simply put, the more points you have, the higher your risk, as seen by an insurance broker. If you have a lot of points on your licence, you may face difficulty getting affordable coverage, and in some cases, an insurer may decline to cover you.  

You must declare any unspent driving convictions on your record. If you don’t, your policy will be invalidated. Once your points are ‘spent’ (how long they stay on your licence), you won’t need to tell your insurer. 

Reducing or removing points from your licence

As an alternative to points, you may be eligible to go on driver awareness courses for offences such as speeding. You will have to pay for the course, which will be around the £80 price mark, give or take. While saving you a lot of money compared to a speeding fine, you may save more as it won’t affect your insurance premiums as much. 

Can I challenge unfair penalty points?

In short, yes, you can challenge unfair penalty points if you believe they were issued unfairly. This typically involves appealing the conviction in a court or requesting a mitigation hearing. If you want to overturn driving licence points, seek legal advice as recommended to strengthen your case.

Checking your driving licence points

You’ll need to go onto the DVLA website to see if and how many points you have on your licence. To check you’ll need the following to hand: 

• Your driving licence number
• Your National Insurance number 
• The postcode on your driving licence.

Alternatively, you can check by calling the DVLA’s Contact Centre during their open hours (Monday to Saturday).

Penalties for not having an MOT

Whilst an MOT can often be a chore you wish you could put off, it’s important to remember that it’s actually a legal requirement. If you are caught driving without one, you may be issued a fine. On top of that, if your car was deemed ‘dangerous’ at its last MOT, you could also get points on your licence. 

Stay safe and up to date with Kwik Fit

At Kwik Fit, our priorities are delivering expert service and helping motorists drive safely on the UK’s roads. To keep your vehicle compliant and safe, our expert technicians can offer you a full MOT service in-store. We can also check your tyres, brakes, and general vehicle safety for free.

Contact us today or find your local Kwik Fit centre. Keep up to date with our blog so that you never miss the latest news about road safety and compliance.