Overview
You can be banned (disqualified) from driving if you either:
* are convicted of a driving offence
* get 12 or more penalty points (endorsements) within 3 years
You’ll get a summons in the post that tells you when you must go to court.
Some disqualification rules are different in Northern Ireland.
How long a driving ban will last?
The court will decide how long the disqualification will last, based on how serious they think the offence is.
If you have 12 or more penalty points, you could be banned from driving for:
* 6 months if you get 12 penalty points or more within 3 years
* 12 months if you get a 2nd disqualification within 3 years
* 2 years if you get a 3rd disqualification
Disqualified for 56 days or more?
If you’re disqualified for 56 days or more you must apply for a new licencebefore driving again.
You might also have to retake your driving test or take an extended driving test before getting your new licence. The court will tell you if you have to do this.
Disqualified for less than 56 days?
View your driving licence record online to check the disqualification.
Drink-driving penalties
You could be imprisoned, banned from driving and face a fine if you’re found guilty of drink-driving.
The actual penalty you get is up to the magistrates who hear your case, and depends on your offence.
You may be able to reduce your ban by taking a drink-drive rehabilitation scheme (DDRS) course if you’re banned from driving for 12 months or more. It’s up to the court to offer this.
Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
You may get:
* 3 months’ imprisonment
* up to £2,500 fine
* a possible driving ban
Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink
You may get:
* 6 months’ imprisonment
* an unlimited fine
* a driving ban for at least 1 year (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years)
Refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis
You may get:
* 6 months’ imprisonment
* an unlimited fine
* a ban from driving for at least 1 year
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink
You may get:
* 14 years’ imprisonment
* an unlimited fine
* a ban from driving for at least 2 years
* an extended driving test before your licence is returned
The High Risk Offenders Scheme
Your driving licence won’t be returned automatically at the end of a driving ban if you’re a ‘high risk offender’. You’ll only get your licence back if you pass a medical examination.
You’re a high risk offender if you:
* were convicted of 2 drink-driving offences within 10 years
* were driving with an alcohol reading of at least 87.5 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, 200 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or
267.5 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine
* refused to give the police a sample of breath, blood or urine to test for alcohol
* refused to allow a sample of your blood to be tested for alcohol (eg if it was taken when you were unconscious)
Other problems you could face
A conviction for drink-driving also means:
* your car insurance costs will increase significantly
* if you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction on your licence
* you may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA
Last updated: 12 October 2016
Penalty points, fines and driving bans
* The drink drive limit
* Drink-drive rehabilitation courses
* Drugs and driving: the law
* Morein Penalty points, fines and driving bans
The courts can fine you and ‘endorse’ your driving record with penalty points if you’re convicted of a motoring offence.
Endorsements must stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence.
The endorsement and penalty points are put on your driver record. View your driving licence record to see what penalty points you have and when they’ll be removed.
You can be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of 3 years. There are different rules for new drivers.
Endorsement codes and processes in Northern Ireland are different.
Speeding penalties
The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your licence.
You could be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of 3 years.
If you’re stopped by the police for the speeding offence, they can either:
* send you the details of the penalty
* send the case straight to court
If you weren’t stopped by the police for the speeding offence (eg it was caught by speed camera), the vehicle’s registered keeper must be sent a notice of intended prosecution within 14 days. You may have to go to court if you ignore the notice.
New drivers
If you’re still within 2 years of passing your driving test, your driving licence will be revoked (withdrawn) if you build up 6 or more penalty points.
Read more information about fixed penalty notices for speeding in:
* England and Wales
* Scotland
* Northern Ireland
Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/driving-disqualifications/overview
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