The points system

Driving carelessly, while over the limit, or too fast, means you may have points added to your licence. Once you have a certain number of points, you may be banned from driving for a certain period of time, or asked to re-sit your driving test. Having points on your licence will also increase your insurance premium.

How does the points system work, and how long do points stay on your licence? The following is a basic guide to the points system.

When are points added?

Points are added by a court when an offence is committed. For example, a court may impose three points on the licence of a driver whose vehicle has been found to have defective brakes, or who has been found to have failed to stop at a ‘Stop’ sign.

Length of time

Points will stay on your licence for four or eleven years, depending on the offence.

They will stay on your licence for eleven years from the date of conviction if the offence is drinking or drugs and driving (shown on the licence as DR10, DR20, DR30 and DR80); causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs (CD40, CD50 and CD60); or causing death by careless driving and then failing to provide a specimen for analysis (CD70).

The points will stay on your licence for four years from the date of conviction if the offence is for reckless or dangerous driving (DD40, DD60 and DD80); one that results in disqualification; or one that results in disqualification until a driving test has been passed.

In all other offences, the points will stay on your licence for four years from the date of the offence.

In order to remove the expired points from your licence, you will have to apply to DVLA for a replacement licence. 

‘Totting up’

If you tot up 12 points or more within a three-year period, then you may be disqualified under the ‘totting-up’ system. This is shown on your licence as TT99. The period of disqualification may last for six months, or 12 months if you get a second disqualification within three years, or two years if you get a third disqualification.

A short period of disqualification will have drastic implications for many, for example, the loss of their job. If this is the case, you can plead ‘excessive hardship’. If the court accepts this, it may waive the disqualification, although the points will remain on your licence. However, this argument cannot usually be used more than once within a certain period.

The extended practical driving test

If you are disqualified, a court can order you to take an extended practical driving test. This effectively returns you to the position of being a learner driver, except that the test will be far more demanding than when you sat it the first time around. You will also have to apply for a provisional driving licence.

The test will involve a theory test, and a 70-minute practical test involving a variety of roads, usually including a dual carriageway.

The court may decide to order this if you have been convicted of a dangerous driving offence or some other offence involving disqualification.

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