I recently got three points for speeding. How long will they be on my licence?

points for speeding

Points for speeding are the same thing as having your licence endorsed. It’s a simple way for the authorities to punish drivers for breaches of motoring law. Read on to find out all about points.

How long do points for speeding last?

This depends on how serious the offence is. Endorsements stay on your licence for four or 11 years, depending on the seriousness of the offence. They will start either from the date of the offence or the date of conviction.

According to the government website: “An endorsement will stay on a driving record for four years from the date of conviction, if the offence:

  • is for reckless/dangerous driving – shown on the driving record as DD40, DD60 and DD80
  • results in disqualification.”

In all other cases, endorsements stay on your driving record for four years from the date of the offence.

points for speeding

When do points last for 11 years?

Points will stay on your licence for 11 years from conviction if the offence:

  • comes after drink or drug driving – shown on the driving record as DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31, DR61 and DR80
  • is for causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs – shown on the driving record as CD40, CD50 and CD60
  • is for causing death by careless driving, then failing to provide a specimen for analysis – shown on the driving record as CD70.

How do penalty points work?

The points are ‘valid’ for three years if they’re four-year points. They’re valid for 10 years if they’re 11-year points. This means a court can take them into account if you commit another motoring offence.

Employers and insurers can find out if you’ve points on your licence at any time if they’re four-year points or during the first five years if they’re 11-year points.

As soon as you accumulate 12 points you should have your licence taken away for a period of time.

How are points awarded?

You can have between two and 11 penalty points put on your licence. Authorities want them to represent the severity of the offence. Breaking the speed limit will result in a penalty charge notice and between three and six points.

Causing death by driving while disqualified will earn between three and 11 points. Driving without due care and attention has between three and nine points, as does dangerous driving. Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving is rewarded with three to 11 points.

Multiple individual offences will attract multiple points issues. Driving with a defective tyre is worth three points. But three illegal tyres results in nine points.

points for speeding
Currently not wearing a seatbelt doesn’t result in points, just a fine. Motoring organisations want to change that

New drivers

The points system for new drivers is a little different. For six points or more within two years of passing your test, the authorities will cancel your licence. To get the licence back, you have to sit and pass both theory and practical parts of the test again.

Any points on a provisional licence are transferred to a full licence and the rules above for new drivers apply.

How to actually receive the endorsement

To receive your endorsement you’ll need to hand over your licence to either the police, a fixed penalty office (FPO) or when you appear in court. The fixed penalty notice you get about your transgression will tell you how to find your local FPO.

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