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Financial advice on what to do if you get penalty points/fines while driving

ended 01. October 2025

More than three million drivers (3,093,163) have at least three penalty points on their driving licences - the highest number of offenders since 2014 - according to the latest DVLA data analysed by vehicle history platform carVertical.

And postcode district LS23, near the town of Wetherby, in West Yorkshire has the worst motoring offenders, with one-in-seven (14.1%) carrying at least three points on their licences. 

With just over 50 million full and provisional driving licence holders across England, Scotland & Wales, approximately 1-in-16 drivers have points on their licences.

  • What financial advice do you have for people with penalty points on their licences or have receieved fines, do they need to pay it asap?
  • Does adding penalty points into the mix lead to even steeper insurance renewal quotes? What is your reaction to this with households already under financial strain?
  • Does penalty points or unpaid fines affect your credit score?
  • Do you have any experiences with penalty points you would like to share?

1 responses from the Newspage community

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Jen Green
Head of Marketing at LMP Legal
A couple of penalty points may seem minor, but the real risk is “totting up.” If you reach 12 points in three years, you face an automatic six-month ban under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. For many, losing a licence means losing a job, income, or independence. This is why the focus should not just be on the fine or short-term costs, but on avoiding disqualification.

Charlotte Le Maire, Founder of CrashLaw24, explains: “Points are not just a number on your licence – they are stepping stones towards a ban. Drivers must take every notice or summons seriously and seek early legal advice.”

While insurers may increase premiums, penalty points do not affect your credit score. If disqualification would cause severe hardship to you or others, you may be able to argue “Exceptional Hardship” in court, but this requires careful evidence and legal preparation. The safest step is to stay within the law and, if points start adding up, get expert advice before you reach the threshold.