How Long Do Penalty Points Last in the UK? (2026 Guide)
Key takeaways
- Penalty points stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence
- Most offences, including speeding, count 4 years from the date of the offence, and are "valid" for the first 3 years
- Drink and drug driving count 11 years from the date of conviction, and are valid for the first 10 years
- 12 or more points within 3 years can mean a minimum 6-month ban
- New drivers face a stricter rule: 6 points within 2 years of passing your test means your licence is revoked
If you've received penalty points on your UK driving licence, you're probably wondering how long they will stay there. The answer depends on the type of offence, and on whether the clock starts at the offence or at the conviction. This guide explains the rules, using the figures GOV.UK publishes.
The simple answer — most points last 4 years
GOV.UK says endorsements must stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence.
- 4 years from the date of the offence for most offences, including speeding (SP30, SP50), using a mobile phone (CU80), driving without due care (CD10) and driving uninsured (IN10).
- 4 years from the date of conviction for dangerous driving (DD40, DD60, DD80) and for any offence that results in a disqualification.
- 11 years from the date of conviction for drink or drug driving (for example DR10, DR20, DR30) and for causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.
"Valid" vs "on your record" — what's the difference?
Every endorsement has two timelines:
- Valid period — GOV.UK says a 4-year endorsement is "valid" for the first 3 years and an 11-year endorsement for the first 10. A court can take an endorsement into account if you commit another offence while it is valid. This is why you will often see the first 3 years described as the period when points "count".
- On your driving record — the endorsement stays on your record for the full 4 or 11 years. GOV.UK says insurers and employers may see a 4-year endorsement for its whole duration, and an 11-year endorsement for the first 5 years (or the first 30 months if you're under 18).
For example, a speeding offence committed on 1 June 2023 is valid until 1 June 2026, and stays on the record until 1 June 2027.
How long do different offence types last?
| Offence Code | Description | Points | Valid For | On Record For | Counted From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP30 | Speeding — exceeding the limit on a public road | 3–6 | 3 years | 4 years | Offence |
| SP50 | Speeding — exceeding the limit on a motorway | 3–6 | 3 years | 4 years | Offence |
| CU80 | Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle (such as using a mobile phone) | 3–6 | 3 years | 4 years | Offence |
| IN10 | Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks | 6–8 | 3 years | 4 years | Offence |
| CD10 | Driving without due care and attention | 3–9 | 3 years | 4 years | Offence |
| MS90 | Failing to say who was driving | 6 | 3 years | 4 years | Offence |
| DD40 | Dangerous driving | 3–11 | 3 years | 4 years | Conviction |
| DR10 | Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol above the limit | 3–11 | 10 years | 11 years | Conviction |
| DR20 | Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink | 3–11 | 10 years | 11 years | Conviction |
| DR30 | Driving or attempting to drive, then not providing a specimen for analysis | 3–11 | 10 years | 11 years | Conviction |
When exactly do points expire?
It depends on the start date. For most offences, such as speeding, the clock starts on the date of the offence. For dangerous driving, any offence that leads to a ban, and drink or drug driving, it starts on the date of conviction.
For example, if you were caught speeding on 15 March 2023 and convicted on 20 June 2023, the points count from the offence date, 15 March 2023. They are valid until 15 March 2026 and stay on your record until 15 March 2027. If instead you were convicted of drink driving on 20 June 2023, they would count from the conviction date and stay on your record until 20 June 2034.
Use our Penalty Points Calculator to work out the dates for your own offence.
How do penalty points affect car insurance?
Insurers normally ask about motoring convictions when you buy or renew a policy, and a conviction can raise your premium. According to GOV.UK, insurers and employers may see a 4-year endorsement for its whole 4 years, so you should assume you will need to declare it until it comes off your record.
How much your premium changes depends on your insurer, your age, your vehicle and the offence. Some insurers also have their own rules about how long they ask you to declare convictions, so check your policy wording. Not declaring a conviction when asked can cause problems with your policy, including a claim being refused, so be honest and ask your insurer if you're unsure.
What if I get 12 points? The totting-up rule explained
GOV.UK says you can be disqualified if you get 12 or more penalty points within 3 years. Courts have to impose a ban unless they accept that it would cause exceptional hardship. The minimum ban lengths are:
- 6 months for 12 or more points within 3 years
- 12 months for a second disqualification within 3 years
- 2 years for a third disqualification within 3 years
Exceptional hardship must go beyond ordinary inconvenience. The court will consider the impact on employment, family and dependants, but losing your job because you need to drive is not automatically exceptional hardship without strong evidence.
New drivers have a stricter limit. If you get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test, your licence is revoked. Unexpired points on your provisional licence carry over and count.
Check your exact expiry date
Enter your offence details into our free calculator to find when your points stop being valid and when they leave your record.
Use the Penalty Points Calculator →Frequently asked questions
Can I get penalty points removed early?
No. Points come off your record when their period ends. If you are offered a speed awareness course instead of a fine and points, completing it means no points are added, but it doesn't remove points you already have.
Do penalty points count from the offence date or the conviction date?
It depends on the offence. For most offences, such as speeding, they count from the date of the offence. For dangerous driving, any offence that leads to a ban, and drink or drug driving, they count from the date of conviction.
I'm a new driver — what are the rules for me?
If you get 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your driving test, your licence is cancelled (revoked). Unexpired points on your provisional licence carry over. To drive again you must apply for a new provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again.
How do I check how many points I have on my licence?
Use the official GOV.UK service to view your driving licence information at gov.uk/view-driving-licence. It shows your current endorsements and when they will be removed.
You might also find these useful
Sources
- GOV.UK — How long endorsements stay on your driving record
- GOV.UK — Endorsement codes and penalty points
- GOV.UK — Driving disqualifications
- GOV.UK — Penalty points for new drivers
- GOV.UK — View or share your driving licence information
Prakash
Prakash is the founder and editor of UK Driving Tools. He maintains the site's calculators and guides and checks the rates and rules they use against official UK sources, such as GOV.UK, the DVLA, HMRC and Transport for London, before publishing.
Pages are drafted with the help of AI tools and then checked by the editor. He isn't a lawyer, accountant or UK-qualified adviser, so every page lists its sources and states what its calculator can't tell you. Nothing on this site is legal or financial advice.
Pages on UK Driving Tools are drafted with the help of AI tools. Before publishing, the figures and rules on each page are checked against the official source named on the page, and calculator examples are tested against the working formula. Pages are updated when rates or rules change. Our Editorial Policy explains the full process, including how to report a mistake.
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