Ultimate guide to penalty points

We all know we need to avoid penalty points but are you fully aware of what they mean, and how you get them? In this ultimate guide, we’ll explain just about everything there is to know about penalty points.
 
We’ll look at what offences carry them, how long they stay on your licence, what impact they’ll have on your driving career, and much more.
 
We’ll also explore the impact they have on your vehicle insurance. So if you’re looking to insure an impounded car, or just want to know if your premiums will rise after a motoring conviction, you’ve come to the right place!
 
It’s worth noting that some things have changed since our previous blog on all you need to know about traffic convictions. This guide will bring you bang up to date – and also take a quick glance at future amendments that are on the cards.
 
Ready? Let’s go!
 
Chapter 1. Penalty points: a whistle-stop introduction
Chapter 2. How to start your driving career with a clean slate
Chapter 3: Speeding
Chapter 4. Drink and drug driving
Chapter 5: Dangerous and careless driving, and accidents
Chapter 6: Licence and insurance penalties
Chapter 7: Tyres, crossings and more
Chapter 8: Don’t get caught out by these new penalties for 2022
Chapter 9: When is a motoring offence a criminal conviction?
Chapter 10. How to insure an impounded car and get back on the roads
 
 

Chapter 1. Penalty points: a whistle-stop introduction

Let’s start at the very beginning. What exactly are penalty points?
 
  • Also known as endorsements, they’re essentially marks that go on your driving record whenever you’re caught committing a driving offence. We’ll take a look in Chapters 3-7 at some of the offences that carry penalty points.
 
  • They can be issued by means of a fixed penalty notice (FPN), for example if you are snapped speeding by a traffic camera. You’ll often be given a fine as well.
 
  • For more serious offences, or if you refuse to accept an FPN, you will be prosecuted. The courts can issue penalty points and hand down heftier fines, driving bans, or even jail time.
 
  • If you accrue 12 or more points, then that’s an automatic driving ban of at least six months – with very few exemptions (you can prove that disqualification would cause you exceptional hardship).
 
  • Penalty points stay on your licence for four or 11 years – see our tables below. You have to declare them if asked by certain organisations (but in the case of 11-year endorsements, only for the first five years).
   
  • Penalty points are considered “valid” by courts for all but the final year that they are on your record. If you commit any further offences while they are valid, your earlier endorsements can be taken into account.
 
Not sure if you have any penalty points? You can view your driving record at the official government site, and also generate a code to share information with others, such as hire car companies.
 

Chapter 2. How to start your driving career with a clean slate

It might be a shock to learn that you can gain endorsements before you’ve even passed your test!
 
  • If you’re driving on a provisional licence, any penalty points will be carried over to your full licence after you’ve passed your test.
 
  • If you’re a new driver, the rules are even tougher. If you accrue just six points on your licence in the first two years after passing your test, you’ll have your licence revoked.
 
  • To get it back, you’ll need to re-apply for a provisional test, and retake your driving theory and practical tests.
 
As you’ll see below, using your mobile phone while driving carries six points. So it’s very easy indeed to have your driving licence revoked, and all your hard work in passing the tests wasted.
 
So follow our 21 tips for learner drivers to avoid being penalised before you’ve even passed your test.
 

Chapter 3: Speeding penalties

So now we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a look at some of the most common offences and the penalties they carry. We’ve compiled this information from the government’s official web pages on penalty points, as well as the Highway Code’s annex on penalties.
 
Speeding is a widespread offence. Even those drivers who have never been convicted are likely to have drifted over the limit once in a while.
 
For your first offence, assuming you weren’t way over the limit, you’re likely to be offered a speed awareness course. Otherwise, the penalties are as follows:
 
Code Offence Penalty Points Time on record Other penalties
SP30 Exceeding speed limit on a public road Three to six (three if a fixed penalty) Four years from date of offence Max £1000 fine (£100 if a fixed penalty)
SP50 Exceeding speed limit on a motorway Three to six (three if a fixed penalty) Four years from date of offence Max £2,500 fine (£100 if a fixed penalty)
 
The higher penalties can only be issued by a court, and will depend on how much over the speed limit you were. Fines are calculated as a percentage of your weekly income.
 
Find out more about speeding penalties in our blog.
 

Chapter 4: Drink and drug driving penalties

Drink-driving and drug-driving are serious offences.
 
If you’re stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink or drugs, you’ll be given a roadside breathalyser test. If you fail it, you’ll be taken to a police station for another test, and will probably later face charges.
 
You won’t be allowed to drive your car. You could ask someone else to collect it, or it might be impounded.
 
That means you would have to insure an impounded car, on top of all your other woes. Many insurance providers won’t cover you for driving your vehicle away from a pound, so you’ll need to find specialist insurance.
 
The penalties you could face are as follows:
  
Code Offence Penalty points Time on record Other penalties
CD50, CD50, CD60, CD70 Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs Three to 11 if exceptionally not disqualified 11 years from date of conviction Up to life imprisonment. Unlimited fine. Obligatory disqualification for minimum five years.
DR10, DR20, DR80, DG10 Driving while unfit through drink or drugs or with excess alcohol Three to 11 if exceptionally not disqualified 11 years from date of conviction Up to six months’ prison. Unlimited fine. Obligatory disqualification.
DR30 Failing to provide a specimen for analysis Three to 11 11 years from date of conviction Up to six months’ prison. Unlimited fine. Obligatory disqualification.
DR40, DR50 In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above the limit, or while unfit through drink 10 Four years from date of offence, or four years from date of conviction where disqualified. Up to three months’ jail. Fine of up to £2,500. Possible driving ban.

If you’re handed down a community sentence, you might also be issued with an abstinence order to stop you drinking. You could be fitted with an alcohol tag to ensure you comply.
 

Chapter 5: Dangerous and careless driving, and accidents

Many drivers aren’t aware of the difference between these two categories of offence. Indeed, there are grey areas.
 
But dangerous driving is the more serious one, and it carries a possible prison sentence. You can find out more in our recent blog about the difference between careless and dangerous driving.
 
Here are the penalties for some of the key offences that fall into this category:
 
Code Offence Penalty points Time on record Other penalties
CD10, CD20, CD30, CD33 Careless and inconsiderate driving Three to nine Four years from the date of the offence Unlimited fine/ Discretionary disqualification
DD40 Dangerous driving Three to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) Four years from the date of conviction Up to two years’ prison/ Unlimited fine/ Obligatory disqualification
AC10, AC20 Failing to stop after an accident, or failing to report an accident Five to 10 Four years from the date of offence Up to six months’ jail/ unlimited fine/ Discretionary disqualification

If you’re stopped by police on suspicion of dangerous driving, you face having your car impounded. That means that on top of all the other legal troubles you now face, you’ll have to look into how to insure an impounded car before you can get your vehicle back from the pound.
 

Chapter 6: Licence and insurance penalties

Driving a manual car when you’re only licensed for an automatic? Or perhaps you’ve let your paperwork lapse, and you’re uninsured?
 
You can expect a fine, points on your record, and a possible driving ban for any insurance or licence-related offence. 
 
Code Offence Penalty points Time on record Other penalties
N10 Using a vehicle uninsured against third-party risks Six to eight Four years from the date of offence Discretionary disqualification/ unlimited fine
LC20 Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence Three to six Four years from the date of offence Fine of up to £1,000/ Discretionary disqualification
LC50 Driving after a licence has been revoked or refused on medical grounds Three to six
Four years from the date of offence		 Up to six months’ imprisonment/ Unlimited fine/ Discretionary disqualification
BA10, BA30 Driving or attempting to drive while disqualified Six Four years from the date of offence Up to six months’ jail (12 in Scotland)/ unlimited fine/ discretionary disqualification
 
Driving without car tax or a valid MOT are both offences which carry a possible fine of up to £1,000, but no penalty points. However, doing either might invalidate your insurance.
 
If you’re suspected of driving without a valid licence, tax or insurance, your vehicle is likely to be impounded. So as well as having to pay a fine, you’ll need to pay fees to get it released.
 
Plus, you’re likely to have to find out how to insure an impounded car before you can drive it away from the pound. Find out more on this topic in our recent blog: impounded insurance – your common questions answered.
 

Chapter 7: Tyres, crossings and more

Finally, let’s take a look at a few other common offences.
 
It’s an offence to drive a car that’s not roadworthy. This could include defective steering, faulty brakes, or bald tyres.
 
Note that you can be given points for each fault. So two tyres with a tread of less than the required 1.6mm can land you with six points on your licence – and if all four are flawed, you face an automatic driving ban.
 
Bad parking, failing to stop at traffic lights, or failing to comply with regulations around pedestrian crossings can all land you in trouble with the law.
 
Code Offence Penalty points  Time on record Other penalties
CU10, CU20, CU30, CU40 Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition Three penalty points for each fault Four years from date of offence Unlimited fine for LGV or PCV/ Up to £2,500 for other vehicles/ Obligatory disqualification of minimum six months if committed within three years of similar conviction/ Otherwise discretionary disqualification 
TS10 Failing to comply with traffic light signals Three Four years from date of offence Up to £1,000 fine/discretionary qualification
PC20 Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing Three Four years from date of offence Up to £1,000 fine
PC30 Parking across a pedestrian crossing Three Four years from date of offence Up to £1,000 fine

Of course, there are many more motoring offences on the statute books – just take a look at the government’s penalty points pages.
 
Plus, there are many ways you can get into trouble with the law which don’t actually lead to penalty points!
 
Parking where you’re not allowed to leave your car will not usually result in penalty points (unless it creates a hazard). But it could well mean a penalty charge notice, clamping, and a fine.
 
If you fail to remove your car promptly, it could be towed away and impounded. At that point, you might well need to talk to a specialist insurance company to insure an impounded car.
 

Chapter 8: Don’t get caught out by these new penalties for 2022


In 2022, several new driving laws were introduced, and the penalties for certain offences were made stiffer.
 
So let’s take a quick look at some of those changes:

 

Hierarchy of road users

The revised Highway Code has introduced a new “hierarchy of road users” aimed at improving the safety of vulnerable pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and so on.


That means several changes like giving pedestrians crossing a street priority at junctions with no signals and allowing more space when you overtake horses or cyclists.
 
Most of these changes don’t carry penalty points as such. But they shift the responsibility for avoiding accidents onto the driver in many more cases.
 
So if you hit a pedestrian who’s crossing a side street at a junction, you’re now more likely to be charged with careless or dangerous driving. See Chapter 7 above for the possible penalties you’ll incur.
 
At any accident scene, you also face having your car seized as evidence. To get it back, you might need to insure an impounded car.

 

Mobile phones

Previously, there was a loophole: you could not touch your mobile phone to make calls while behind the wheel, but you could use it to take photos, scroll through playlists, or even play games.


This loophole has now been closed, and the penalty for any use has been increased. You now face six points on your licence and a £200 fine for touching your mobile while behind the wheel – even if you’re stopped at traffic lights.
 
Our laws are always being updated, so it’s important to keep abreast. Other changes that could come into play in the coming years include:

 

Penalty points for failing to wear a seatbelt

Currently, you can be issued with a £100 penalty charge notice for failing to wear a seatbelt, or failing to ensure that under-14s in your car wear one. This can rise to £500 if challenged in court.
 
However, the government is considering revising this, so that drivers who don’t wear seatbelts are slapped with penalty points as well as a fine.

 

Pavement parking

Currently, this is banned in London and some other areas, but mostly allowed (so long as it doesn’t cause an obstruction). The government is considering a nationwide ban on pavement parking.
 
This offence is unlikely to lead to penalty points, but could very well result in your vehicle being seized and towed away to a pound. To insure an impounded car, it’s often essential to find specialist providers like the Insurance Factory.
 

Chapter 9: When is a motoring offence a criminal conviction?

Many motorists are worried that acquiring penalty points means you have a criminal record. However, in most cases, you don’t. But it is a little complex – so we’ll explain.
 
  • If you accept a fixed penalty notice and acquire points on your licence, they are held on your driving record. However, that’s not the same as a criminal record.
  • If you plead or are found guilty of an offence in a court, that’s a criminal conviction. But even then, you don’t necessarily have a criminal record.
  • If you are convicted in court of a motoring offence which carries a potential jail term, you will acquire a criminal record – even if you are not actually sent to jail.
 
So, for example, if you’re convicted of dangerous driving and given six points and a £1,000 fine, you will get a criminal record. That’s because the magistrates or judge could have sentenced you to jail time for this offence, but chose not to.
 
If, however, you are convicted of careless driving and given six points and a £1,000 fine, you will not get a criminal record. That’s because the magistrates did not have the power to send you to prison for this offence.
 
If you don’t pay the fine, you’re heaping more trouble onto yourself. Court enforcement officers will take action to recoup your debt.
 
That could mean seizing your car, and impounding it. You’ll have to pay your debts and pound fees, and may well need to find a specialist provider to insure an impounded car.
 
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, most convictions are considered spent after a certain number of years. Very serious offences that lead to a jail term of more than four years, such as causing death by dangerous driving, are never spent.
 
Find out more in our convicted driver FAQs.
 

10. How to insure an impounded car and get back on the roads

If you’re stopped on suspicion of committing certain motoring offences, there’s a chance that your vehicle will end up in the pound. For example, if you fail a roadside breath test, or if you are caught driving a dangerous vehicle.
 
If you’re caught without a valid MOT, licence, tax or insurance, then your car is likely to be seized, too.
 
That could well mean you need specialist insurance cover before you’re allowed to drive your car away from the pound (or get a friend to do so for you).
 
Impounded car insurance covers you for one month (or sometimes up to one year), giving you the ability to drive your car home or to a garage, and get your paperwork in order.
 
It’s difficult to find, and having a car impounded is a very stressful event. The last thing you want to be doing is researching how to insure an impounded car!
 
So contact a specialist broker to do the legwork for you, searching for policies that suit your needs and your budget.
 
That’s it for our ultimate guide to penalty points! Have we missed anything? Let us know in the comments.

 

Frequently asked questions

How many penalty points can I get on a driving licence?

In the UK, the number of points you can accumulate on your driving licence before facing serious consequences depends on the severity and frequency of your offences. However, if you notch up 12 or more points within a three-year period, you could be disqualified from driving. It's a system designed to encourage safe and responsible driving.

Is there any way to avoid penalty points?

Yes, there certainly are ways to avoid driving licence penalty points. The most straightforward way is by adhering to traffic rules diligently. Wearing your seat belt, obeying speed limits, not using your phone while driving, and not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are some of the basics. It's also essential to keep your vehicle in good condition, ensuring lights and brakes work properly. Regular checks can prevent unexpected malfunction leading to penalties. The key is responsible and careful driving.

How can I remove points from my UK driving licence?

Removing points from your UK driving licence isn't an immediate process, but rather a matter of time and good behaviour. According to the UK law, penalty points stay on your licence for four or 11 years, depending on the offence. However, the points become 'inactive' after three years for insurance purposes. The only way to remove points from your license before they naturally expire is by successfully arguing in court that they were wrongly applied. Hence, the best strategy to keep your driving licence clean is by following road rules meticulously and driving responsibly.

What happens if I get points on my licence if I'm a new driver?

If you're a new driver, getting points on your licence can have serious consequences. The UK operates a system where drivers can accrue points for driving offences, known as penalty points. If you gain 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test, your licence will be revoked. This means you'll have to reapply for a provisional licence and pass both theory and practical parts of the test again.

Do points on your provisional licence carry over to a full licence?

Any points on your provisional licence will carry over once you pass your test. They don't disappear when you upgrade to a full licence - a common misconception. These points can potentially increase your insurance premiums and if you accumulate six or more within two years of passing your test, your licence could be revoked. So, it's always best to drive carefully and responsibly to avoid any points and penalties.

How do I check my penalty point information?

You need to view your driving licence record on the official DVLA website. Here, you'll be able to see how many penalty points you have and when they'll be removed. The process is straightforward and only requires your driving licence number, national insurance number and the postcode on your driving licence.