Penalty points stay on your driving licence for either 4 or 11 years, depending on the severity of the offence committed. For most common offences like speeding or using a mobile phone while driving, points typically remain for 4 years. More serious offences such as drink-driving or causing death by careless driving can stay on your licence for 11 years
. However, the penalty points themselves are usually "valid" or active for 3 years from the date they are added to your licence, after which they expire and no longer count towards disqualification thresholds, but the endorsement (offence) remains on your driving record for the full 4 or 11 years
. If you accumulate 12 or more points within 3 years, you risk a driving ban, and for new drivers (licensed less than 2 years), the threshold is lower-6 points can lead to licence revocation
. In summary:
- Points are valid for 3 years from the offence or conviction date.
- Endorsements stay on your record for 4 years for most offences, or 11 years for serious offences.
- Accumulating too many points within 3 years can lead to disqualification.
You can check how many points you have on your licence via the DVLA online service using your licence number, National Insurance number, and postcode
. This system aims to penalize repeat offenders and encourage safer driving behavior
