New drivers & penalty points!
Everybody knows about driving offences and points you can receive for these offences, but many new drivers don’t realise there are stricter limits allowed for them. A new driver is classed as somebody who has gained their driving license within the previous 2 years, but points can be carried forward if you get points on your provisional licence.
Under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act, if you get six or more penalty points whilst being a ‘new driver’ (within two years of passing your test) you will have your driving licence cancelled. This includes any penalty points given before they passed their test.
Penalty points can be given for a variety of reasons, such as speeding, driving through red lights or your car not being in a roadworthy condition amongst other things. Endorsements (penalty pooints) stay on your driving licence for 4 or 11 years depending on the offence committed. These will start from either the date you re convicted or the date of your offence.
Your endorsement is ‘valid’ for the first:
- 3 years, for a 4-year endorsement,
- 10 years, for an 11-year endorsement.
If you get your licence cancelled within your first 2 years you will need to pass both the theory and practical driving test again.
Passing your driving test again does not remove the penalty points, they will remain on your new driving licence until the endorsement period expires. If the total of valid points reaches twelve, the driver risks disqualification again.
You can be banned from driving if you already have 12 or more penalty points on your licence. Your ban can last:
- 6 months, if you get 12 or more penalty points within 3 years,
- 12 months, if you get a second disqualification within 3 years,
- 2 years, if you get a third disqualification within 3 years.
Further details about the New Drivers Act are available at gov.uk.