![SDVH [Self Drive Vehicle Hire]](https://sdvh.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SDVH_logo_concept_4-02.svg){kind=logo}
If you’re reading this, chances are you just received penalty points on your license, or maybe you just want to know more about endorsement codes. Either way, you’re in the right place. For starters, you should know that you’re at risk of being penalised whenever you commit an offence in the UK. As this blog post goes on, we’ll explore what these penalty points mean for your driving licence and how to avoid them.
Table Of Contents
- 1 What Are Driving Penalty Points?
- 2 How Does The Penalty Points System Work In The UK?
- 3 How Can You Check Penalty Points?
- 4 How Long Do Points Stay On Licence?
- 5 Can You Remove Points From Your Driving Record?
- 6 Do Points On Licence Affect Car Insurance?
- 7 Common Motoring Offences Leading to Penalty Points
- 8 Tips For Avoiding Penalties
- 9 Frequently Asked Questions
- 10 Conclusion
What Are Driving Penalty Points?
Driving penalty points are endorsements that are added to your driving record when you commit a driving offence. In many cases, these points are accompanied by a monetary fine. The aim of issuing these penalty points is to deter drivers and motorcyclists from unsafe motoring practices.
Many countries, including the United Kingdom, use this system, in which you lose your driving licence or are banned based on the number of points you accumulate over a period of time.
How Does The Penalty Points System Work In The UK?
The penalty points system in the UK works by the addition of points to your driving licence. The court may endorse your driving record with penalty points and issue a fine when you break a driving law to prevent the recurrence of such an issue. For example, someone caught exceeding the speed limit and is fined and endorsed with points will be less likely to do it again.
Some of the common driving offences resulting in licence endorsements include speeding (3+ points), drunk or drug driving (3-11 points), using your mobile phone while driving (3-6 points), etc. There’s a fixed penalty notice for clear-cut cases, while other serious and unique scenarios require a court hearing to determine how many points you’re endorsed with.
How Can You Check Penalty Points?
You can check penalty points on the UK Government website. All you need are details from your driving licence and your national insurance number. Once you log in to the service, enter your driving licence number along with your National Insurance number. You’ll also have to input the postcode on your driving licence. Once you’re logged in, you’ll be able to see the number of points on your licence and any current driving bans or disqualifications.
You can also call the DVLA’s contact centre on 0300 790 6802 to inquire about the points on your licence. This is a great option for anyone looking to understand any codes on the licence and how long they will be on there.
Check out this detailed guide on the speed limit for vans in the UK.
How Long Do Points Stay On Licence?
Points stay on your licence for 3 years but can remain on your driving record for between 4 and 11 years. Each point added to your licence puts you at risk of disqualification or a ban. You’ll usually be disqualified from driving if you acquire 12 or more penalty points within three years.
For new drivers, the consequences are even more severe. You’ll get your licence revoked if you get 6 or more points in the first two years. Having your licence revoked means you have to apply and pay for a new provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical parts of the driving test again.
Here are key points to note about the duration of points on your licence:
- Four Years From Conviction Date: Points for reckless driving will stay on your record with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for four years from the date of your conviction. This is also the case if the offence you’ve committed results in a disqualification.
- Four Years From Offence Date: In other cases that result in points on a truck or car driving licence, points will stay on your driving record for four years from the original date of the offence. This will be noted on the official document you’ll release.
- 11 Years From Conviction Date: This one applies to more serious offences like drunk or drug driving and death from dangerous driving. These driving offences usually stay on your record for 11 years. You can identify them by their codes, which include DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31, DR61, DR80, CD40, CD50, CD60, and CD70.
Can You Remove Points From Your Driving Record?
No, you can remove points from your driving record. Once you are endorsed with points, you must wait till the points expire, which takes between 4 and 11 years. The more important question is, can you appeal a speeding ticket? And the answer is yes. If you believe the conviction was unjust or the process was flawed, you may be able to appeal the decision. If successful, the conviction and all associated points would be overturned.
Do Points On Licence Affect Car Insurance?
Yes, points on licence affect car insurance. You have to inform your insurance company if you’ve been issued with penalty points, as they have to take it into account when working out your insurance quote. In fact, if your insurer is unaware of driving convictions, they could refuse to deal with a claim. It’s worth noting that the insurance company may see you as a bigger risk if you do have points on your licence, and this may cause your quote to be higher.
See this comprehensive blog post on the insurance requirement to rent out a campervan.
Common Motoring Offences Leading to Penalty Points
You can get endorsements on your licence for various reasons, but these are the most common reasons for receiving points:
- Speeding
- Drink driving
- Drug driving
- Driving without insurance
- Dangerous or reckless driving
- Using your phone while driving
- Driving while disqualified
- Using a vehicle with defective tyres
- Running a red light or ignoring signs
- Exceeding towing limits
- Exceeding speed limits
Tips For Avoiding Penalties
Given the consequences attached to various offences, it’s best to stay out of trouble on the road. Here are some tips to help you in this regard:
- Look out for road signs and ensure you’re always within the speed limit.
- Keep your vehicle in good condition. Make sure you check your lights, brakes, tyres and mirrors regularly to see that they meet legal standards.
- Obey red lights, stop signs and other traffic signals.
- Be careful at yellow lights. Don’t speed up to try to beat them.
- Use the probationary sign if you’re still learning so other drivers can be more lenient on you.
- Use devices like dashcams, so you can provide evidence in case of a dispute.
Explore SDVH’s range of executive cars, perfect occasions that require you to show luxury. Our economy cars are also available for regular errands or quiet solo trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Motoring Offence Attracts The Most Penalty Points?
The motoring offence that attracts the most penalty points is dangerous driving, drawing between 3 and 11 points if you’re convicted. Drug or drunk driving also attracts a similar penalty. Driving without insurance, exceeding speed limits and failing to stop after an accident are some other serious offences with high points endorsements.
Can I Get Points On A Provisional Driving Licence?
Yes, you can get points on a provisional driving licence, so you still need to be very careful as a beginner driver. Any points you receive on your provisional licence will be carried on to your full car licence once you pass the driving test. You must also remember that accumulating too many points could cause you to lose your licence if you’re within two years of your full licence.
Is It Possible To Clear A Record With Penalty Points?
No, it’s not possible to clear a record with penalty points. Unfortunately, points remain on your record until they expire once they are added, so you have to wait it out. It takes between 4 and 11 years for penalty points to be scraped from your record. In that time, it’s best to avoid other offences that attract points.
How Many Points Lead To A Driving Ban?
12 points within a 3-year period leads to a driving ban. Once you’ve reached this limit, you automatically get a minimum of a 6-month driving ban, which is sometimes known as the ‘toting up ban’. However, even fewer points can lead to a ban if you’re convicted of an offence, such as drunk driving or dangerous driving.
What Is The Maximum Number Of Points You Can Receive?
The maximum number of points you can receive is 11 and this applies to both dangerous driving and drug driving. Once you’re found guilty of either one of these offences, you risk being endorsed with between 3 and 11 points. Driving without care or attention is another serious offence, warranting up to 9 points.
Conclusion
Penalty points on licence is one important topic every driver must be fully aware of before getting on the road. Chances are most people explored this topic before their driving test but this guide is here for those who need to jog their memories. So, whether you’re driving your personal car or a hired vehicle and whether you’re a beginner or pro driver, remember to always drive safely and you’ll stay out of trouble.
