Driving in the UK looks very easy and smooth unless you break a rule or commit an offense. The strict criteria set by the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is to make sure only fully qualified drivers to get the driving license. This helps authorities to enhance the safety of the users on the road and ultimately smooth the flow of the traffic. However, being a fully qualified driver on the road does not mean he can’t commit a mistake. A driver has to go through various situations while driving. If he does something wrong, he may face a fine or in severe cases may get penalty points. So in this article today, we’ll discuss how long do points stay on your license?

No driver would like to have penalty points on his/her driving license. The reason is if he/she continues to commit offenses that can further add penalty points to the license. The situation ultimately leads to the disqualification of the license. Getting penalty points totally depends on the severity of the offense that someone commits while driving. The length of the stay of the penalty points on someone’s driving license is again dependent on the severity of the offense. However, it can stay from 4 to 11 years. This also impacts your insurance which will increase.

What are Endorsement Codes and Penalty Points?

When you are caught by the authorities of a motoring offense, the court will endorse Your driver’s license if you are found guilty. This refers to simply adding an entry to your driving record. This will include all the details about the date of conviction, type of offense, and the date of offense. Each endorsement has a special code. The penalty points are awarded on a scale from 1 to 11. Fur full details on the endorsement codes you can get more information by clicking here.

There are summarised details of the different types of offense and how long will penalty points stay on your license that you may get in case you commit the offense.

4 Years from the Date of Offense	Penalty Point	4 Years from the Date of Conviction	Penalty Points	11 Years from the date of Conviction	Penalty Points
Accident Offense	5-10	Causing death or injury from driving while disqualified	3-11	Causing death by careless driving while under the influence	3-11
Driving or attempting to drive while disqualified	6	Causing death by careless driving or while not permitted to drive	3-11	Drink driving offense	3-11
Careless driving	3-9	Dangerous driving	3-11	Drug driving-related offense	3-11
Faulty Vehicle and Vehicle use offense	3
Drink driving-related offenses	10
Insurance Offense	6-8
License Offense	3-6
Failure to observe roadway regulation	3-6
Overspeeding	3-6
Vehicle Theft	3-11

Impact on Your Insurance of Penalty Points:

You need to inform your insurer about any driving conviction or penalty. This will help your insurer to take into account all the relevant information when giving your a quote. Drivers who have got penalty points or convictions on their driving license are a big risk for insurance companies. Normally, they will ask you 5 years’ history about any points or convictions. It is your legal duty to present all the relevant information fully and honestly to the insurance companies. Normally, many people might think of disclosing this information to the insurance companies at the time of renewing the policy. However, it is wise to disclose this information when you face any conviction or penalty points.

Are You a New Driver: Take These Precautionary Measures to Avoid Any Trouble:

It is very hard for new drivers to get used to driving under strict rules and regulations. Therefore, new drivers are always at high risk of getting penalty points or convictions. However, you can safeguard yourself from such convictions and penalty points by taking some precautionary steps.

Always display ‘P’ plate on your vehicle. This will help all other road users to determine that you are a new driver and will further alert them to driver further cautiously. If you do a mistake, most probably they will not take it seriouslty because of the ‘P’ plate displayed on your vehicle.
Most of offenses that a driver make are due to the object that can easily cause distraction. Mobile phone is one such device. So as a new driver, alway keep it on silent mode or keep it away from you. Just focus on the road. This will help you driving smoothly without any distraction.
Most of the new drivers find it difficult to drive on the road on their own. Therefore, it is importnat to pay full attention to road users and signs. Therefore, try to dirve lonely when you are a new driver. Don’t give lifts to your friends. As you may get easily distracted by your friends and find yourself into a trouble.

How can I remove points from my card?

The only answer is when they expire. There is no other way to remove points from your card. The DVLA will automatically remove the points at the time of their expiry. There is one exception to the speeding fine. Where the authority may give you a speed awareness course instead of awarding penalty points. The course aims to improve the driving behavior of new drivers who commit minor mistakes. However, there are certain conditions to offer a course to the person :

Who has not attended speed awareness course in the last three years.
You have been caught driving over 10%+2 mph but below 10%+9mph. Like on the 30mph road this figure lies between 35-42 mph.

Can I be disqualified from driving?

Yes. If you continuously commit offenses while driving, then authorities will award you more penalty points. When you get 12 or more points within three years then you’ll be disqualified from driving.

It is in the best interest of the driver and all other road users to obey all traffic rules and regulations. This can protect the driver from any driving offense and penalty points.