Points On License: Driving Licence Points And DVLA Check Help
Almost one in five UK drivers have active points on their licence, and most have no idea how many they have, when they expire, or how close they are to a ban. Almost every guide online about this topic is wrong, out of date, or missing the most important details.
Key Takeaways
- The standard limit is 12 active points within 3 years before disqualification is triggered
- New drivers will have their licence revoked automatically for 6 points in the first 2 years, with almost no right of appeal
- Points stop counting towards a ban after 3 years, but remain visible and must be declared for 4 or 11 years
- Points have not been printed on physical licences since 2015. Nothing will ever appear on your photocard.
Table of Contents
Points On License
Penalty points, also referred to as endorsements, are a statutory system introduced under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The system is administered entirely by the DVLA on behalf of UK courts and police forces.
The single most dangerous myth about the system is that points are recorded on your physical photocard driving licence. This has not been true since June 2015. All endorsements are held exclusively on the DVLA’s central digital database. Nothing is ever added, changed or removed from your physical card.
Points affect far more than just your ability to drive. A single endorsement will almost always increase your insurance premium, and most employers will reject applicants for driving roles with any active points.
Almost all third party websites offering to check your points are unofficial, will charge you a fee, and have no access to the official DVLA record. Only the GOV.UK service is accurate and free.
Driving Licence Points
Driving licence points can be awarded in one of two ways: either via a fixed penalty notice issued by the police, or by a magistrate court following a conviction.
Most minor offences such as low level speeding will result in an optional fixed penalty of 3 points and a £100 fine. If you contest the offence and are found guilty, the court can award up to 11 points for the exact same offence.
Every motoring offence has a standard penalty code and corresponding point range:
| Offence Code | Offence Description | Standard Points |
|---|---|---|
| SP30 | Exceeding statutory speed limit | 3-6 |
| CU80 | Using a hand held mobile phone while driving | 6 |
| TS10 | Failing to comply with traffic light signals | 3 |
| IN10 | Driving without insurance | 6-8 |
| DR10 | Driving with excess alcohol | 3-11 |
| MS90 | Failing to provide driver details | 6 |
| Approximate Insurance Premium Increase 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Number Of Points | Average Uplift |
| 3 | 15% |
| 6 | 40% |
| 9 | 75% |
| 12+ | 120% + refusal from most insurers |
Source: Association of British Insurers, 2025
Unsure How Many Points Are On Your Licence?
Almost 1 in 5 UK drivers have active points but don’t know the exact number, when they expire, or how close they are to a ban. Discover your full DVLA record instantly and protect your licence today.
Driving Licence Check
You can complete a full official driving licence check for free at any time via the GOV.UK website. This is the only official source of information about your points and endorsements.
To complete a check you will need:
- Your full driving licence number
- Your National Insurance number
- The postcode registered on your driving licence
Once completed you will be able to see your full driving record, all active and expired endorsements, and the exact date each endorsement will be removed.
According to a 2024 DVLA FOI response, 87% of points are added to the database within 72 hours of conviction, and 1% take longer than 28 days.
DVLA Check Code
A DVLA check code is a temporary code that allows you to share your driving record with a third party without giving them access to your login details.
You will be asked for a check code by car hire companies, employers, insurance companies and fleet operators. You can not legally refuse to provide a check code if an employer has a lawful reason to request it.
Each code is valid for 21 days, and can be used a maximum of 5 times. You can revoke an active check code at any time.
No organisation should ever ask you for your National Insurance number to check your licence. They should only ever ask for a check code.
How Many Points Can You Have On Your License UK?
Under totting up rules you will be liable for disqualification if you receive 12 or more active penalty points within any 3 year period.
This rule does not apply to new drivers. Under the New Drivers Act 1995, any driver who passed their test less than 2 years prior will have their licence revoked automatically if they accumulate 6 or more points.
There is no right to argue exceptional hardship for new driver revocation. You can only appeal against the original conviction, not the revocation itself. If this happens you will have to retake both your theory and practical test.
Join Thousands Who Know Their Exact DVLA Status
Only the official GOV.UK service shows your accurate points and endorsements. Stop relying on outdated or paid third-party sites that can’t access the real DVLA database.
How Many Points To Lose Your License?
Reaching 12 active points within 3 years triggers a mandatory court hearing for disqualification. The standard ban for a first offence is 6 months, 12 months for a second, and 2 years for any subsequent offence.
A ban is not automatic. You have the right to attend court and argue exceptional hardship. If the court accepts your argument they can choose not to disqualify you even if you have more than 12 points.
Exceptional hardship is a very high bar. Losing your job will almost never be accepted. You will need to demonstrate that a ban would prevent access to essential medical care for you or a dependent.
The three most common mistakes people make when arguing exceptional hardship are: saying they need their car for work, saying it would be inconvenient, and bringing no evidence.
6 Points On Driving Licence
6 points is the single most consequential threshold in the entire system.
For any driver more than 2 years past their test, 6 points will typically increase insurance premiums by 40%. Most major fleet employers will automatically reject any applicant with 6 or more active points.
For new drivers however 6 points is an immediate and permanent revocation of your licence. There is no warning, no grace period, and no right of appeal.
9 Points On License
If you have 9 active points you are at extreme risk of disqualification. A single additional minor offence of any type will take you to 12 points and trigger a court hearing.
At this stage most drivers choose to avoid all non essential driving until their oldest points expire. The DVLA will never send you a warning that you have 9 points. It is your sole responsibility to keep track.
Download Your Free DVLA Points Checklist
Get the complete guide covering 3-year totting-up rules, new driver 6-point revocation, and exact expiry dates that most online guides miss. Know exactly what to watch for.
If You Get 3 Points On Your License What Happens?
3 points is the minimum penalty for almost all motoring offences. The vast majority of 3 point penalties are issued for speeding between 1 and 10 mph over the limit.
If you accept a fixed penalty notice the 3 points will be added to your record within 72 hours. You will not receive any notification from the DVLA confirming this.
3 points will usually increase your insurance premium by approximately 15%.
Where Do Points Show On Driving Licence UK?
Points never appear on your physical driving licence. The only official record is held on the DVLA’s central digital database. There is no way to tell if someone has points by looking at their card.
Driving Licence Endorsements
An endorsement is the official term for the record of an offence. Penalty points are the numerical value attached to each endorsement.
How Long Do Points Stay On Your License UK?
This is the most misunderstood part of the entire system. There are two completely separate time periods that apply to every endorsement:
| Period | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 3 Years | Points count towards totting up and disqualification |
| 4 Years | Points remain visible and must be declared to insurance and employers |
| 11 Years | Retention period for serious offences including drink driving |
Points expire 10 days after the 3 year anniversary, not on the day itself. This is an almost completely unknown DVLA administrative rule.
How Long Do Speeding Points Stay On Your License UK?
SP30 speeding endorsements count towards totting up for 3 years, and remain on your record for 4 years. You do not have to declare them to insurance after 4 years.
Eleven Years From Date Of Conviction?
All serious offences including drink driving, drug driving and dangerous driving remain on your record for 11 full years.
Do Points Get Wiped After A Ban?
Serving a ban does not wipe any points from your record. When you get your licence back you will return with exactly the same number of points you had when you were disqualified.
Frequently Asked Questions About Points On License
How Many Points On License Are Allowed Before A UK Driving Ban?
12 active points within 3 years for all drivers who have held their licence for more than 2 years. 6 points for new drivers.
What Is A DVLA Check Code And How Do You Generate One Online?
A DVLA check code is a temporary code that allows you to share your driving record. You can generate one for free via the GOV.UK service. Each code is valid for 21 days.
