How Many Points for a Driving Offence?
If you’re accused of a driving offence, you will want to know what the likely penalties are.
Unless you are offered a driver awareness course, you are almost certainly facing a fine at the very least. Usually, it is the penalty points or potential driving disqualification that causes concern for most people.
Penalty Points
Most driving offences are ‘endorsable’, which means they result in penalty points. The law specifies the number of points to be imposed for each offence. This may be a set number of points or a range, depending on the offence.
There are a number of non-endorsable driving offences, such as not wearing a seatbelt or keeping a vehicle without insurance.
All endorsable offences carry a minimum number of penalty points. For example, speeding carries a minimum penalty of 3 points, and driving without insurance carries a minimum penalty of 6 points.
These minimums are non-negotiable. They are mandatory unless you have a defence or special reasons argument.
You cannot avoid points by paying a higher fine.
Disqualification
The alternative to penalty points is a driving disqualification. Such driving bans are called ‘discretionary disqualifications’.
The court has the discretion to impose a discretionary ban. The police have no say in the decision. You cannot choose but can try to encourage the court to impose a ban if that is what you would prefer.
All offences which carry penalty points can attract a discretionary ban instead.
There is no minimum or maximum length of discretionary disqualification in law. The courts’ sentencing guidelines set out suggested periods for bans in certain circumstances.
Common Driving Offences
Below are some of the most common offences that carry points and the minimum and maximum number of penalty points you can normally receive.
The table does not take into account special reasons arguments.
Offence | Minimum Points | Maximum Points |
| Speeding | 3 | 6 |
| Failing to give driver details | 6 | 6 |
| Careless driving (driving without due care) | 3 | 9 |
| Using/permitting or causing the use of a vehicle without insurance | 6 | 8 |
| Red light | 3 | 3 |
| Using a mobile phone or handheld device | 6 | 6 |
| Not in proper control of a vehicle | 3 | 3 |
| Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence | 0 or 3 (depending on the nature of the offence) | 6 |
| In charge of a vehicle (alcohol or drugs related offences) | 10 | 10 |
If you are facing one of the above driving offences and are worried about penalty points, let us help you.
We can provide advice about getting 12 or more penalty points.
Need help with your case?
I’m Lucy Whitaker, a specialist driving offence solicitor based in Nottingham. My team and I really know our stuff when it comes to motoring offences.
I have gained recognition for my technical ability and understanding of complex areas of driving offence law.
Since 2008, I have worked exclusively as a driving offence lawyer. I set up Pragma Law in 2014 after 8 years working for another law firm. I now work only for private defendants charged with driving offences, but I have also prosecuted cases in the criminal courts in the past. I believe that having experience in both prosecuting and defending has made me a better solicitor and advocate, and I will use my knowledge to your advantage.