UK

I got points on my licence. How many before I'm disqualified?

12 points
Disqualification threshold
3 years
Points validity period
6 months
Minimum ban length
2 years
Extended ban for repeat offenders
The Short Answer

You will be disqualified from driving if you accumulate 12 or more penalty points on your licence within a 3-year period.

What the Law Says

The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 sets the legal framework for penalty points and driving disqualifications in the UK.

Under UK law, if you accumulate 12 or more penalty points on your driving licence within any 3-year period, you face mandatory disqualification under what is commonly known as the 'totting-up' procedure.

The court must disqualify you for at least 6 months, though it may impose a longer ban depending on the seriousness of the offences and your driving history. If you’ve been disqualified before within the past 3 years, the minimum ban increases to 12 months.

Points remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of the offence (or 11 years for serious offences like drink-driving), but only those accrued within the most recent 3 years count toward totting-up.

Statutory Text

Where a person is convicted of an offence committed after he has accumulated twelve penalty points… the court by which he is convicted shall order him to be disqualified… for a period of not less than six months.

— Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, s. 35 — Disqualification for reaching twelve penalty points

What to Do

1

Check your current penalty points online via GOV.UK using your driving licence number and National Insurance number.

2

If you have 9–11 points, avoid further offences — even one more conviction could trigger disqualification.

3

If summoned to court for a new offence while near 12 points, consider seeking legal advice about arguing 'exceptional hardship' to avoid disqualification.

4

If disqualified, apply for a new licence after the ban ends — you’ll need to retake both theory and practical tests if banned for 2 years or more.

Sources

statuteRoad Traffic Offenders Act 1988, s. 35 — Disqualification for reaching twelve penalty points

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.