Penalty points on your driving licence are something every driver hopes to avoid. Unlike other kinds of points, these aren’t a reward—they’re a consequence of breaking driving laws, such as speeding or driving without insurance.
Millions of UK motorists have penalty points on their licences. Here’s how to check how many points you have, what offences attract them, and how long they remain on your driving record.
What do you get points on your licence for?
You can receive penalty points for a wide range of driving offences, including:
- Failing to comply with traffic light signals – 3 points
- Exceeding the speed limit – 3 to 6 points, depending on the offence
- Using a mobile phone while driving – 6 points
- Driving over the legal alcohol limit – 3 to 11 points, depending on the offence
- Driving without due care and attention – 3 to 9 points
Hopefully you’ll never receive penalty points, but if you do, it’s important to inform your insurer as soon as possible. Most insurers require you to declare any motoring convictions, and failing to do so could affect the validity of your policy. Even if you don’t tell them, they’ll usually find out when checking your driving record.
For more information on pricing rather than points, check out our valuation guidance hub, to understand what your car or van may be worth in today’s market.
How to check the points on your licence
Penalty points can affect both your insurance premiums and your ability to continue driving, so it’s worth checking your driving record if you’re unsure.
Checking your licence is free and only takes a few minutes. You’ll need:
- Your driving licence number
- Your National Insurance number
- Your postcode
Once you have these details, you can check:
- Your current penalty points
- Any driving disqualifications
- Your full driving record
To check your licence:
- Visit the GOV.UK service to view your driving licence.
- Enter your driving licence number, National Insurance number and postcode.
- View the Penalties and Disqualifications section.
This will show any active penalty points currently recorded against your licence.
How many points can you get on your licence?
If you accumulate 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period, you could be disqualified from driving under the totting-up system.
If you’re disqualified for more than 56 days, you’ll need to apply for a new licence before driving again. In some cases, you may also be required to retake your driving test.
New drivers
New drivers face stricter rules.
If you accumulate six or more penalty points within two years of passing your driving test, your full licence will be revoked under the New Drivers Act.
Any penalty points received while driving on a provisional licence also count towards this six-point limit.
If your licence is revoked, you’ll need to:
- Apply for a new provisional licence
- Pass both your theory test and practical driving test again
How long do points stay on your licence?
Penalty points normally remain valid for three years for totting-up purposes.
However, the offence itself usually stays on your driving record for:
- Four years for most motoring offences
- Eleven years for serious offences such as drink or drug driving
While the conviction remains on your record, insurers may view you as a higher-risk driver, which can result in increased insurance premiums.
No matter what offence resulted in the points, they’re all treated seriously and can have lasting consequences.
If you’re concerned about how penalty points could affect your insurance costs, our guide to what is a no-claims discount? explains how claims, convictions and driving history can influence your premiums.
If you’re buying another vehicle after receiving points, it’s also worth reading our guide on taking out a personal loan for a car, which explains one of the most common ways drivers finance their next vehicle.
Thinking about valuing your car instead?
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