Penalty points guidance

This is a guide to the penalty points a court may impose. It doesn't reflect the fact that some offences may incur a disqualification. The offence code and penalty points will be shown on your driving licence and must stay there for four or 11 years depending on the offence.

Accident offences

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from the date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 028	Failing to stop-injury accident	5 to 10
50 08 031	Failing to give particulars-damage only accident	5 to 10
50 08 032	Failing to stop-injury accident	5 to 10
50 08 035	Failing to give particulars-damage only accident	5 to 10

Disqualified driver

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from the date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 312	Driving while disqualified	Six

Careless driving

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 202	Driving without due care and attention	Three to nine
50 08 203	Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users	Three to nine

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for 11 years from date of conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 204	Causing death through driving carelessly when unfit	3 to 11
50 08 208	Causing death through driving carelessly with excess alcohol	3 to 11
50 08 212	Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen	3 to 11

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
41 04 001	Causing death by reckless driving	3 to 11
41 04 002	Causing death by dangerous driving	3 to 11

Construction and use offences

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 13 022	Using a vehicle with defective brakes	Three
50 13 156	Using a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition	Three
50 13 049	Defective tyre	Three
50 13 050	Defective tyres	Three
50 13 025	Defective steering	Three
50 13 265	Using a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle	Six

Reckless/ dangerous driving

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 201	Dangerous driving	3 to 11
41 04 002	Causing death by dangerous driving	3 to 11
50 08 018	Furious driving	Three to nine

Drink or drugs

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for 11 years from date of conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 126	Driving with excess alcohol in breath	3 to 11
50 08 127	Attempting to drive with excess alcohol in breath	3 to 11
50 08 129	Driving with excess alcohol in blood	3 to 11
50 08 130	Attempting to drive with excess alcohol in blood	3 to 11
50 08 132	Driving with excess alcohol in urine	3 to 11
50 08 133	Attempting to drive with excess alcohol in urine	3 to 11
50 08 123	Driving while unfit through drink/ drugs	3 to 11
50 08 124	Attempting to drive while unfit through drink/ drugs	3 to 11
50 08 142	Failing to provide a specimen when attempting to drive with excess alcohol	3 to 11
50 08 125	In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink/ drugs	10
50 08 139	Failure to provide a specimen when attempting to drive unfit	3 to 11
50 08 136	Failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis	3 to 11

Insurance offences

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 019	No insurance	Six to eight

Licence offences

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 10 003	Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a disability	Three to six

Miscellaneous offences

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 231	Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position	Three
50 08 237	Carrying unauthorised passenger on a motorcycle	Three
50 08 121	Refusing to submit to an eyesight test	Three
50 08 040	Failure to give information regarding driver	Three

Speed limits

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 013	Excess speed	Three to six
50 08 291	Excess speed for vehicle classification	Three to six

Traffic direction and signs

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 268	Breach of a traffic sign	Three
50 08 007	Fail to obey signal given by constable	Three

Special code

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of conviction.

Code	Offence
Tot up	To signify a disqualification under 'totting up' procedure. If the total of penalty points reaches 12 or more within three years, the driver is liable to be disqualified

Theft or unauthorised taking

The following offence codes must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
50 08 295	Aggravated vehicle taking causing damage	3 to 11
50 08 290	Aggravated vehicle taking causing injury	3 to 11

False declarations and telling DVA about medical conditions

You can see details on offences about false declarations and telling DVA about medical conditions at the following link.

Driving licence application DL2 - guidance notes

Alcohol limits

Find out how many units of alcohol are in your favourite tipple, how to enjoy drink responsibly and more information on alcohol limits and unit guidelines.

Alcohol units

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?

report a problem

leave feedback

ask a question

Report a problem

Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

A link, button or video is not working

There is a spelling mistake

Information is missing, outdated or wrong

I can't find what I'm looking for

Another issue

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

Tell us more about the problem you're having with the nidirect website.

Enter your feedback

What is your question about?

Choose a topic for your question:

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about your GRONI account, email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

Extra comments (optional)

Translation help

Select a language

Penalty points guidance

Accident offences

Disqualified driver

Careless driving

Construction and use offences

Reckless/ dangerous driving

Drink or drugs

Insurance offences

Licence offences

Miscellaneous offences

Speed limits

Traffic direction and signs

Special code

Theft or unauthorised taking

False declarations and telling DVA about medical conditions

Alcohol limits

Help improve this page - send your feedback

Messages

What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment