Do Penalty Points Affect Your Car Insurance?
Yes, penalty points increase your car insurance premiums because insurers view drivers with endorsements as higher risk. The more points you have and the more serious the offence, the bigger the impact on what you pay.
You are required to disclose penalty points when applying for or renewing insurance. Failing to do so is a misrepresentation under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, which can lead to a reduced claim payout or a voided policy.
The increase varies between insurers, which makes shopping around especially important if you have points on your licence. Our guide on car insurance costs explains the main factors that determine your premium.
Yes, and the size of the effect depends on which code you carry rather than the points alone. Three points for a minor speeding offence may barely register; a DR10 for drink driving can put you outside the mainstream market entirely. Points stay on your licence for four or eleven years depending on the offence, but most insurers stop asking after five.
Compare convicted driver insurance from insurers who price points fairly.
- How much do penalty points increase your premium?
- Which offences carry penalty points?
- How long do penalty points stay on your licence?
- Can you avoid points with a speed awareness course?
- What should you do if you get points?
- Will your premium drop when points expire?
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How much do penalty points increase your premium?
The impact depends on the offence code, the number of points, and your insurer’s underwriting criteria. Minor speeding endorsements have a smaller effect than drink-driving convictions.
What are the typical premium increases by offence?
| Offence code | Offence | Points | Typical premium increase |
| SP30 | Exceeding the speed limit | 3-6 | 5-25% |
| CU80 | Using a mobile phone while driving | 6 | 15-30% |
| CD10 | Careless driving | 3-9 | 10-30% |
| IN10 | Driving without insurance | 6-8 | 20-40% |
| DR10 | Drink-driving | 3-11 | 50-100%+ |
These ranges are approximate and vary between insurers. Some are more tolerant of minor endorsements than others, so comparing quotes is the most reliable way to find the best rate.
The increase compounds with existing points. A driver with 3 points from a speeding offence will see a modest rise, but adding a mobile phone offence on top can push premiums up sharply.
Drink-driving convictions (DR10) have the most severe impact. Some mainstream insurers will not cover drivers with a DR10 at all, while those that do typically charge at least 50 per cent more than a clean-licence premium.
Which offences carry penalty points?
Most motoring offences that result in endorsements carry between 3 and 11 points. The full list of endorsement codes is available on the GOV.UK penalty points page.
What about non-endorsable offences?
Not all motoring offences carry penalty points. Driving without a valid MOT carries a maximum £1,000 fine but no points, and not wearing a seatbelt can result in a fine of up to £500 but is not endorsable.
Only endorsable offences add points to your licence and directly affect your insurance premium. Non-endorsable offences do not appear on your DVLA record and insurers will not see them.
Using a mobile phone while driving was upgraded to 6 points and a £200 fine in 2017. This change brought it in line with drink-driving in terms of insurance impact, making it one of the most costly common endorsements.
How long do penalty points stay on your licence?
Most endorsements stay on your licence for four years from the date of the offence. Serious offences including drink-driving and causing death by dangerous driving stay for 11 years from the date of conviction.
When do points stop being ‘active’?
Points are active for three years from the date of the offence, meaning they count toward the 12-point totting-up threshold that triggers automatic disqualification. After three years they remain visible on your licence but no longer count toward totting up.
For insurance purposes, most insurers ask about convictions within the last five years. Once the conviction is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, you are not required to disclose it.
This means there can be a period where points have expired from your licence but your insurer still asks about them. Always check whether the conviction is spent before answering disclosure questions.
Can you avoid points with a speed awareness course?
For lower-level speeding offences, police forces may offer a speed awareness course as an alternative to points and a fine. Completing the course means no endorsement is added to your licence.
Is the course worth taking?
From an insurance perspective, the course is almost always worth taking if offered. The cost of the course, typically around £100, is far less than the cumulative premium increase from three years of points.
Courses are typically offered to drivers caught marginally over the speed limit who have not attended one in the previous three years. They are not available for all speed levels or all offence types.
Insurers may ask whether you have attended a speed awareness course. Answer honestly if asked, but because no endorsement exists, most insurers treat course attendance more favourably than points.
What should you do if you get points?
Disclose them honestly, check your DVLA record for accuracy, and shop around at renewal to find the most competitive quote for your situation.
How should you handle the disclosure?
Most policies require you to notify your insurer of any changes to your licence, including new endorsements. Check your policy wording to see whether mid-term notification is required or whether you can declare at renewal.
Verify the details on your DVLA record at GOV.UK to ensure the offence code, date, and points are correct. Errors on your record can lead to unnecessarily high premiums.
If you have six or more points, convicted driver insurance specialists may offer better rates than mainstream insurers. They understand higher-risk profiles and price accordingly.
Will your premium drop when points expire?
Not automatically. Your current insurer may not reduce your premium when points expire, so the most effective way to benefit from a clean licence is to shop around at renewal.
How can you get the best rate after points expire?
Once your points have expired and the conviction is spent, you can answer no when asked about convictions on application forms. New quotes from fresh insurers will reflect your clean licence rather than carrying forward the higher-risk pricing from your previous policy.
Our guide on lowering your car insurance premium covers additional steps that bring costs down alongside a clean licence.
Young drivers face a stricter threshold under the New Drivers Act 1995, where accumulating just 6 points in the first two years results in automatic licence revocation. A black box policy can help rebuild a driving record by rewarding safe behaviour with lower premiums.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, you must disclose endorsements when asked. Under CIDRA 2012, failing to disclose is a misrepresentation that can lead to a reduced claim, a voided policy, or a refused renewal.
Yes, the UK has a single driving licence system. Points are recorded on your DVLA licence regardless of where the offence occurred, and all UK insurers use the same database.
No, points cannot be removed before the retention period expires unless you successfully appeal the original conviction in court. There is no process for early removal based on good behaviour.
Accumulating 12 or more active points within three years triggers automatic disqualification under the totting-up provisions. The court will ban you for a minimum of six months unless you can demonstrate exceptional hardship.
No endorsement is added to your licence after completing a course. Insurers may ask whether you have attended one, and you should answer honestly, but most treat it more favourably than penalty points.