Penalty points do not stay on your licence forever, but how long they last depends on what you did to earn them. Getting this wrong with your insurer can invalidate your policy.
The Two Timelines for Penalty Points
There are two distinct periods for how long points stay on your licence in the UK.
4 years from the date of the offence. This applies to most common driving offences - speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, failing to stop after an accident, careless driving, and so on.
11 years from the date of conviction. This applies to more serious offences, including:
- Drink driving (DR10, DR20, DR30, DR40, DR50, DR60, DR70)
- Drug driving
- Dangerous driving
- Causing death by dangerous or careless driving
The key distinction for the 4-year category: the clock starts from the date of the offence, not the date of conviction. If your offence was in January and you were convicted in September, the 4 years runs from January.
For 11-year offences, the clock starts from the date of conviction.
Endorsement Codes and What They Mean
Every penalty point endorsement has a code. The code tells you the offence and the relevant retention period. Common codes include:
| Code | Offence | Points | Duration | |---|---|---|---| | SP30 | Exceeding speed limit | 3 | 4 years | | CU80 | Using a mobile phone while driving | 6 | 4 years | | IN10 | Using a vehicle without insurance | 6-8 | 4 years | | CD10 | Careless driving | 3-9 | 4 years | | DR10 | Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol above limit | 3-11 | 11 years | | DD40 | Dangerous driving | 3-11 | 4 years | | MS90 | Failure to give information as to identity of driver | 6 | 4 years |
Check your licence at GOV.UK to see the exact codes and dates on your record.
Points on Your Licence vs Points Declared to Insurers
This is the distinction most drivers miss.
Points fall off your DVLA record after 4 years (or 11 for serious offences). But insurers often ask you to declare points for a longer window than the DVLA keeps them.
Most UK insurers ask for all endorsements incurred in the last 5 years. Some ask for 3 years. Some specialist insurers working with higher-risk drivers ask for more. The declaration window in your policy documents is what matters.
If your 4-year points expired from the DVLA record 6 months ago but your insurer asks for declarations going back 5 years, you still need to declare them. Failing to do so can invalidate your policy and leave you uninsured.
Read the declaration question on your insurance application carefully. If it says "the last 5 years" - it means 5 years.
New Drivers and the 2-Year Rule
New drivers who passed their test after 1 June 1997 face a stricter rule. If you accumulate 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your test, your licence is automatically revoked.
You must then re-apply for a provisional licence and re-take both the theory and practical tests.
This applies even if the points came from fixed penalty notices for minor speeding offences. Six points in two years as a new driver means starting again.
Totting Up and Disqualification
Once you reach 12 penalty points on your licence at any one time - regardless of the offences - you face mandatory disqualification under the totting-up procedure. The minimum disqualification period is 6 months.
A court can reduce or avoid disqualification only if it would cause exceptional hardship. This is a high bar and is not routinely granted.
After a disqualification, points accumulated before it may be wiped. However, serious offence endorsements (11-year codes) remain on record regardless of any disqualification.
How to Check Your Current Penalty Points
You can check your DVLA driving licence record online at GOV.UK. You will need:
- Your driving licence number
- Your National Insurance number
- Your postcode
The check shows all current endorsements, their codes, and the dates they were incurred. It is free and takes about two minutes.
If you want to share your licence record with an employer or insurer, you can generate a check code through the same service.
FAQ
How long do penalty points stay on your licence in the UK?
Most penalty points stay on your licence for 4 years from the date of the offence. Points for more serious offences - such as drink driving, dangerous driving, and causing death by driving - stay for 11 years from the date of conviction.
When can I stop declaring points to my insurer?
Most insurers require you to declare any points incurred in the last 5 years, even though 4-year points technically fall off your licence after 4. Always check your insurer's specific declaration window, as it varies between providers.
Do penalty points ever get removed automatically?
Yes. Once the relevant period has passed (4 or 11 years), the endorsement is automatically removed from your DVLA record. You do not need to apply for removal. You can check your current licence record at GOV.UK using your driving licence number and National Insurance number.
Useful Links
- View driving licence - GOV.UK - Check your current endorsements and points online
- Penalty points and disqualification - GOV.UK - Full list of endorsement codes and retention periods
- Driving disqualification - Citizens Advice - What happens if you are disqualified
