Did you know over 3 million UK drivers[1] have penalty points on their driving licence?
We analysed DVLA driving licence data to find out what the most common offences are and where the drivers with the most points live… We’ll also examine how these points can affect insurance policies.
But first, let’s take a look at some of the key findings[2]:
- Over 3 million drivers have penalty points on their licence – with speeding being the biggest cause and men aged 56 being the most penalised
- 10,000 drivers face disqualification with 12 or more points – and one driver has 176 points!
- Only 43% of drivers notify their insurer after receiving points and only 54% tell their partners…
What were the most common motoring offences?
Our DVLA data research found the following offences as the biggest causes of points:
- Speeding – 68%
- Going through a red light – 14%
- Movie phone use – 11%
- Careless driving – 9%
- Parking in a dangerous location – 8%
Nearly one in five (17%) motorists also admitted to bragging about how many penalty points they have.
Which town has the highest proportion of penalised drivers?
| Rank | Location | Population | Drivers with points |
% | |
| 1 | Worthing, West Sussex (BN13) | 10,312 | 1,379 | 21.5% | |
| 2 | Coldstream, Scottish Borders (TD12) | 1,289 | 170 | 21.2% | |
| 3 | Wimborne, Dorset (BH21) | 21,427 | 2,761 | 20.7% | |
| 4 | Dartford, Kent (DA10) | 6,658 | 788 | 19.1% | |
| 5 | Boston Spa, West Yorkshire (LS23) | 9,149 | 1,066 | 18.8% | |
| 6 | Skipton, North Yorkshire (BD23) | 16,424 | 1,885 | 18.5% | |
| 7 | Newquay, Cornwall (TR8) | 8,221 | 891 | 17.5% | |
| 8 | Wetherby, West Yorkshire (LS22) | 15,747 | 1,625 | 16.6% | |
| 9 | Exeter, Devon (EX5) | 18,799 | 1,920 | 16.4% | |
| 10 | Banwell, Somerset (BS29) | 2,588 | 261 | 16.2% |
Over a fifth of drivers based in Worthing, West Sussex, have been penalised for motoring offences. This is closely followed by Coldstream in the Scottish Borders (21.2%) and Wimborne, Dorset (20.7%). A point of interest is how many of these areas are based around or near the coast.
Which area has the highest number of drivers with penalty points?
| Rank | Location | Population | Drivers with points |
% of drivers |
| 1 | Croydon, Greater London (CR0) | 153,812 | 7,005 | 7.3% |
| 2 | Leicester (LE2) | 119,003 | 5,474 | 7.4% |
| 3 | Leicester (LE3) | 101,091 | 5,402 | 8.6% |
| 4 | Iver, Bucks (SL6) | 77,532 | 5,384 | 11.2% |
| 5 | Bristol (BS16) | 75,733 | 4,647 | 9.9% |
| 6 | Willesden, Greater London (NW10) | 91,959 | 4,344 | 7.6% |
| 7 | Walthamstow, Greater London (E17) | 103,402 | 4,343 | 6.8% |
| 8 | Northampton (NN3) | 68,995 | 4,317 | 10.1% |
| 9 | Slough, Berkshire (SL1) | 70,367 | 4,242 | 9.7% |
| 10 | Nottingham (NG16) | 63,697 | 4,189 | 10.6% |
The south London borough of Croydon is home to more than 7,000 drivers with penalty points on their license – that’s more than anywhere else in the UK. Two postcode districts in Leicester (LE2 and LE3) come in second and third place with 5,474 and 5,402 offenders respectively.
How many penalty points can you get on your licence?
The UK government states ‘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.’
From speeding fines to breaking motorway and insurance rules, there are many penalties for drivers who don’t follow the rules. There are even some UK driving offences you may not be aware of.
If you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of three years, you could be disqualified from driving (new drivers have different rules). On rare occasions, judges can make exceptions if a ban causes unfair hardship for the driver e.g. causing them to lose a job or break up a relationship.
How do you check the penalty points on your licence?
You can view your driving licence record to see what penalty points you have and when they’ll be removed.
From our research, it appears a significant portion of drivers may be unknowingly putting their insurance at risk, with 43% not informing their insurers after receiving penalty points. This could potentially lead to policy invalidation or concerns regarding insurance fraud.
Claire Wills-McKissick, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, says: “It’s important to be honest with your insurance provider, accuracy ensures your coverage remains valid and protects you on the road.
Failing to promptly declare penalty points to your insurance company can lead to serious consequences, including policy invalidation, increased premiums, and potential insurance fraud charges.
If you have received penalty points, seek professional insurance advice but the best way to avoid insurance complications is to drive safely and follow traffic laws – giving you peace of mind every time you’re on the road.”
How to avoid penalty points
If you want to avoid penalty points on your licence, you should drive safely and follow the guidance of the Highway Code. Adhere to speed limits and red lights etc.
If you are caught speeding, you may be offered the opportunity to attend a speed awareness course, a National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) that focuses on educating a driver on the dangers of speeding and importance of road safety.
If you are accused of an offence, you can accept the penalty and pay the fine or challenge it if you feel you were not guilty. You should always inform your insurer of any potential penalty.
Sources
- Tempcover analysis of DVLA driving licence data on 10/03/25. UK adults (aged over 17) make up 82.8% of population, according to the 2021 Census. And 75% of adults drive regularly, according to the National Travel Survey 2022. See table in release. Full research available on request.
- Research conducted online by Opinium, 18th – 21st February 2025, among 2,000 UK residents, weighted to be nationally representative.
