Penalty Points and Endorsements

The disqualification threshold depends on how long you have held your licence:

If you reach 12 points within a 3-year period, you will be summoned to a magistrates' court and face a minimum 6-month driving ban (known as a "totting up" disqualification).

For new drivers who passed their test less than 2 years ago, the threshold is much lower at just 6 points. Under the New Drivers Act 1995, your licence is automatically revoked and you must start the entire process again.

The length of time points remain on your licence depends on the offence:

Points are "active" for 3 years from the date of offence, meaning they count towards the 12-point disqualification threshold during this period. After 3 years they remain visible on your licence but no longer count towards totting up.

Yes. You can check your penalty points and endorsements for free using the View your driving licence information service on GOV.UK.

You will need your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and the postcode on your licence. The service shows all current endorsements, the number of points, and when they expire.

You can also generate a check code to share your driving record with employers or insurance companies.

Endorsement codes appear on your licence as a two-letter prefix followed by a number. The most common ones are:

The prefix letters indicate the category of offence: SP for speed, CU for construction and use, IN for insurance, TS for traffic signals, and DR for drink or drugs.

No. There is no way to remove penalty points from your licence before they naturally expire. They remain for the fixed period regardless of your driving behaviour after the offence.

However, you can apply to have expired endorsements removed from your licence record. Points that have passed their retention period (usually 4 years) should be automatically removed, but if they are still showing, you can contact the DVLA.

Under the New Drivers Act 1995, if you accumulate 6 or more penalty points within the first 2 years of passing your driving test, your full licence is automatically revoked.

This means you must:

1. Reapply for a provisional driving licence.

2. Pass the theory test again.

3. Pass the practical driving test again.

Until you pass both tests, you can only drive as a learner (with L plates and a supervising driver). This applies even if the points came from a single offence, such as using a mobile phone while driving (6 points).

Yes. You are legally required to declare all penalty points and endorsements to your motor insurer, both when taking out a new policy and when renewing.

Failing to disclose points could invalidate your insurance policy, meaning you would not be covered in the event of an accident. It could also be treated as fraud.

Penalty points typically increase your premiums. The impact varies by insurer, but generally 3 points for a minor speeding offence might add 5-10% to your premium, while 6+ points or drink-driving endorsements can significantly increase costs or make it difficult to find cover.

In some cases, yes. If you are caught speeding slightly above the limit (typically within the range of limit + 10% + 2mph to limit + 10% + 9mph), you may be offered a National Speed Awareness Course as an alternative to receiving 3 penalty points and a £100 fine.

The course costs around £80 to £100 (similar to the fine) but the key benefit is that you avoid the penalty points on your licence, which can save you money on insurance premiums.

You can only take a speed awareness course once every 3 years. If you are caught speeding again within that period, you will receive the points and fine.