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Driving Points Explained

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The courts can ‘endorse’ your driving licence with penalty points if you’re convicted of a motoring offence. Each offence has a code and carries a number of penalty points. Generally, the more serious the offence, the more points you get.

For some offences, there’s a range of points for the court to choose from, depending on how bad they think the driving or behaviour was. For instance, driving without insurance carries between 6 and 8 penalty points – if you forgot to insure your car for a short period, it could be 6 points, whereas if you deliberately drove without insurance the court would likely impose 8 points.

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What happens when you get points on your licence?

The endorsement and penalty points are put on your driver record and recorded on the counterpart document of your photo card driving licence or on your paper driving licence.

If you get an endorsement you’ll need to hand over your licence to either the police, a fixed penalty office (FPO) or when you appear in court.

How many points does it take to lose your licence?

You can be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points within 3 years. This is called ‘totting’. Your licence will also be revoked if you get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test.

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How can we help?

It’s not difficult for a motorist, particularly a frequent driver, to get points on their licence. Prosecution for another offence, which is going to put points over 12, is likely to lead to disqualification. However, the court doesn’t have to disqualify you.

We’re experienced in persuading judges and magistrates that there’s no need to take our clients’ licences away when they become a ‘totter’. It’s important to be represented by a knowledgeable and specialist legal team who will fight for you.

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Examples of endorsements and penalty points

Causing death by dangerous driving (s 1 Road Traffic Act 1988)

Penalty Points: 3 – 11*
Disqualification: Obligatory
Imprisonment: Yes – max 14 years

Causing death by careless driving (s 2B RTA 1988)

Penalty Points: 3 – 11*
Disqualification: Obligatory
Imprisonment: Yes – max 5 years

Dangerous driving (s 2 RTA 1988)

Penalty Points: 3 – 11*
Disqualification: Obligatory
Imprisonment: Yes – max 2 years

Careless driving / driving without due care and attention (s 3 RTA 1988)

Penalty Points: 3 – 9
Disqualification: Discretionary
Imprisonment: No

Driving while disqualified (s 103 RTA 1988)

Penalty Points: 6
Disqualification: Discretionary
Imprisonment: Yes – max 6 months

Driving with excess alcohol or while unfit (s 5(1)(a) or s 4(1) RTA 1988)

Penalty Points: 3 – 11*
Disqualification: Obligatory
Imprisonment: Yes – max 6 years

In charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol or while unfit (s 5(1)(b) or s 4(2) RTA 1988)

Penalty Points: 10
Disqualification: Discretionary
Imprisonment: Yes – max 3 months

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