Driving responsibly is something that all drivers have to take seriously, however even the most careful drivers can still find themselves on the wrong side of the road laws. Data shows that out of more than 40 million drivers in the UK, over 2.7 million have received penalty points on their license (DVLA).

If you have been caught speeding or running a red light, then you’ve probably got some points coming your way, but do you know exactly what you can expect?

In this guide we will explain the ins and outs of the penalty points system, from how you can receive penalty points to how they can affect your car insurance.

What are Penalty Points?

Penalty points are endorsements which are added to your driving license as a result of traffic violations. Each type of offence will give you a specific number of points, which can be accompanied with fines, and in severe cases, disqualifications.

If you are looking for specific information on endorsement code, driving offence or penalty point, click here.

How do Penalty Points Work?

Looking at it simply, the more serious the offence, the more points you will receive on your license.

Each offense is assigned a unique endorsement code and a corresponding penalty point range. For example, running a red light might result in fewer points than something more serious like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Whilst not all driving offences will lead to penalty points on your license, most have the potential to.

How Many Penalty Points Can I Get?

Depending on the offence you can be given anywhere from two points to eleven points at any given time.

If you receive twelve points or more within a three-year period, you may face disqualification. For new drivers the threshold is lower, meaning you only have to receive six points within two years of passing your driving test to see your license revoked.

If you are a new driver and you receive six or more points within two years, not only will you have to reapply for a provisional license, but you will have to retake both your theory and practical driving tests.

How Long Do Driving Penalty Points Stay on Your License?

Penalty points will typically stay on your license for four years from the date of conviction, however this can be extended up to 11 years for more serious offenses. After this time, the penalty points will automatically be removed from your record.

How Many Penalty Points Do I Have?

Not sure if you have any points on your license, or want to know when they should expire? Luckily you can easily view your driving record now online, which can also be useful for creating a license ‘check code’ which you may need to share when hiring a car.

You can view how many points you have online by clicking here.

How Can Points Impact Your Insurance?

If you receive a driving conviction or penalty, you must inform your insurance provider as they need to take this into account when providing you with an insurance quote. In the scenario of you not making your insurance company aware, they could refuse to deal with an insurance claim as your policy may not be valid.

Having points on your license will generally increase your car insurance premium. This is because insurers see drivers with penalty points as higher risk, which can hike up the price for you. Most insurance companies will ask for details of any driving convictions that you have received in the last five years.

Can You Avoid Landing Points On Your Licence?

Obviously, the best way to avoid receiving penalty points on your driving record is by not committing an offence in the first instance.

There is no way to remove points from your license. You will just have to wait until the points expire (normally 4 years), at which point they will be automatically removed.

However sometimes if you receive a speeding penalty you might be lucky enough to be presented the option to attend a speed awareness course instead. The scheme allows motorists who have committed minor offences to do a course with the aim of improving their behaviour whilst on the road.

You'll qualify to be considered for a UK speed awareness course if:

• You haven't attended a speed awareness course in the last 3 years.
• You've been caught driving over 10% + 2mph, but below 10% + 9mph – e.g. in a 30mph, this means anything between 35mph and 42mph.

What Happens If I Receive a Driving Ban?

Once you have had a ban imposed, you are disqualified with immediate effect. You would then need to inform your insurers of the ban, as if they are not made aware, then any claims for your vehicle could be refused a claim, even if you weren’t driving.

During your driving ban you must not drive, take control, or supervise the driving of any motor vehicles of any description on a road or public space.

To keep your driving license, you would need to be disqualified for less than 56 days, at which point your driving license would be automatically reinstated once the ban is over. However, if you have been disqualified for 56 days or more then your license will also be revoked, meaning you would need to apply for a new license before driving again. You may also have to retake your driving test or take an extended driving test before getting your full license, but the court will tell you if this is required. You can find out more here.

Ultimately penalty points are designed to penalise unsafe driving behaviours and encourage safe driving. Now by understanding how the points system works, you can take steps to avoid gaining points and maintain a clean driving license.

For any driver, especially those leasing vehicles, keeping informed and remaining aware of the rules of the road is important to enjoy hassle free motoring. For more information on vehicle leasing options reach out to us at Fleet UK on 02392 245570 or sales@fleetuk.com. Our experts are here to help you find the perfect leasing deal that suits your needs. Drive safely and stay informed!

Did You Know?

The total number of penalty points held by UK drivers collectively amounts to over a whooping 10.6 million.

Drivers aged 30 to 34 are the most likely age group to have penalty points, with 6,522 for every 100,000 drivers in this group. In contrast, drivers under 19 years old are the least likely to have penalty points, with only 352 for every 100,000 drivers.

Women are responsible for just 28% of the total penalty points, despite holding 46% of the driving licenses in the UK.

Sources for these statistics include the UK Government's official site and data analysis from roadsafetygb.org.uk.