Here are the facts how to checkpoints on license, and when to inform your insurance company.
If you break the law in the UK, penalty points can be added to your driving license.
Too many points will result in disqualification from driving. The bar for new drivers is lower.
Points can be added to your license if you receive a fixed penalty notice or are prosecuted in court.
There are more chances to drive drunk than ever with more cars driving on the roads.
- How can you verify the points on your licence?
It’s easy to check your license information online.
You only need your driving license number, your national insurance number, and your postcode. Vanarama, a vehicle leasing company, says you can check your driving record and penalty points. You can also create a license “check code” to share your driving records with others.
- What length of time do points remain on your license?
Your points can remain on your driving record for between 4 and 11 years. However, they will not negatively affect your driving record during the entire penalty period. Your points will only be valid for a portion of the entire endorsement period. For example, a 4-year endorsement is good for 3 years.
If points are valid, they can be used in court to count your points and determine if your license should or not be suspended.
If you are convicted of another offense during the last year of an endorsement, the court will not order these points (i.e. invalid) when calculating your total.
All points should be considered seriously and can be seen by future employers as well as insurance companies.
- What are the points you get for speeding up?
Depending on how serious the crime was, you may be assigned to one of three categories.
Band A – Three points and a maximum of 50% fine. *
Band B – 4-6 Points, 7-28 Days Disqualified from Driving and Up to 100% of Your Weekly Income. *
Band C – 6 points; 7-56 days disqualified driving and up to 150% your weekly income. *
- Do you know of any speeding loopholes that could be exploited?
You will sometimes be offered the opportunity to take speed awareness courses instead of getting points. This scheme is for motorists who have been convicted of minor offenses to improve their behavior. However, you will only be able to quality if:
You have not attended a speed awareness class in the past three years
You were caught driving at more than 10% + 2mph but less than 10% + 9mph. This is between 35mph to 42mph on a 30-mph road.
- Is it possible to pay for points to be removed from your driving license?
No, you can’t pay. The DVLA will remove the points automatically after they expire, which must be at least 4 years.
