How Much Do 3 Penalty Points Increase Car Insurance?
3 penalty points usually raise your car insurance by 5% to 25% at renewal, often less than drivers fear, depending on your offence code, age and insurer. This guide covers every conviction code, what each one adds, and how to claw the cost back by comparing the right specialist insurers.
often lower with the right insurer
most common is an SP30
cost fades before they expire
Already Know Your Offence Code?
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See Quotes With 3 Points →How Much More Will You Pay? (By Offence Code)
3 penalty points typically increase your car insurance premium by 5% to 25% at renewal, depending on your offence code, age and insurer. For the most common offence, an SP30 speeding conviction, most drivers see a rise of 5% to 15%. Higher risk offences such as CU80 mobile phone use can push it toward 25% on the same 3 points.
Over 3 million UK drivers currently hold penalty points, according to DVLA endorsement data. The table below breaks down the expected impact by offence code.
| Offence Type (3 Points) | Expected Premium Impact | Notes at Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| SP30: Speeding in a 30mph zone | +5% to +15% | Most common 3-point offence. Impact depends on age and postcode. |
| SP50: Speeding on a motorway | +3% to +10% | Milder impact. Motorway speeding usually seen as lower-risk. |
| CU80: Using mobile phone | +10% to +25% | Insurers consider this higher-risk even though it’s 3 points. |
| SP10 / SP20: Minor speeding | +5% to +12% | Impact varies by occupation, claims history and insurer. |
| General 3-point penalty | Typically +5% to +20% | Most insurers still offer standard rates with a mild increase. |
What are Penalty Points?
Penalty points, also referred to as endorsements, are marks added to your driving licence by a court when you are convicted of a motoring offence. The number of points reflects the severity of the offence, ranging from 3 points for minor violations up to 11 points for the most serious.
Each endorsement is recorded against your licence on the DVLA driver record, where it sits alongside a conviction code identifying the offence, such as SP30 for speeding or IN10 for driving without insurance. Insurers query this record when you apply, which is how a conviction feeds directly into the premium you are quoted.
Which Offences Give You 3 Penalty Points?
As mentioned, penalty points can be awarded for several different traffic violations. Three penalty points can increase the cost of your car insurance. Therefore, it’s important to know which violation can lead to your receiving these points. Some of the most common traffic violations that lead to three penalty points include:
Which Offences Give You 3 Penalty Points?
Three points are not limited to speeding. The most common offences that carry them are set out below.
| Violation | Penalty Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving your car in a dangerous position | 3 | A static offence that adds only a nominal loading to the premium. |
| Driving with defective eyesight | 3 | Must be declared to your insurer and is rated as a roadworthiness and safety risk. |
| Not complying with traffic signs | 3 | Logged as a moving endorsement and rated at the quote stage. |
| Not complying with traffic signals | 3 to 6 | Up to 6 points, with the loading escalating as the total rises. |
| Driving beyond the legal speed limit | 3 to 6 | Loading scales with the recorded speed and any prior offences on the licence. |
How long do 3 Points stay on your Licence?
The duration for which penalty points, or endorsements, stay on your driving licence varies based on the severity of the offence. This duration can be anywhere between 4 and 11 years. Three points generally stay on your driving licence for a period of four years. It’s important to know that insurance agents and employers may be able to see that you have penalty points anytime during the endorsement.
Do You Have to Declare Penalty Points After 3 Years?
Yes, you must still declare penalty points after 3 years. The 3-year mark only stops them counting toward a totting up ban. The points stay on your DVLA record for 4 years, and most insurers ask about convictions going back 5 years, the rehabilitation period set by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Declaring late, or not at all, risks voided coverage or rejected claims.
Drivers confuse three separate dates, and getting them wrong can leave you uninsured. Each one changes something different:
| Timeframe | What It Means | Do You Still Declare? |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | Points no longer count for totting up. They can no longer contribute toward a 12-point driving ban | ✅ Yes, still on your licence and visible to insurers |
| 4 years | Points are automatically removed from your DVLA driving record | ✅ Yes, most insurers ask about the last 5 years |
| 5 years | The rehabilitation period ends and the conviction becomes spent | ❌ No, you no longer need to declare, even if asked |
Once the 5-year period passes, the conviction is spent and you are not legally required to disclose it, even if asked. Insurers cannot use a spent conviction to load your premium, and the Financial Ombudsman has confirmed it will side with the customer if they do. While your points are still active, specialists offering car insurance with points on licence can often beat a mainstream renewal quote.
Can You Get 3 Penalty Points for Minor Offences?
Yes, some of the most routine vehicle defects can result in 3 penalty points per offence. A bald tyre, a faulty brake light or defective brakes can each attract 3 points under the Construction and Use Regulations, with no moving traffic offence taking place. Under Section 41A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is the driver’s legal responsibility to ensure their vehicle is roadworthy before every journey.
A single bald tyre can carry a fine of up to £2,500 on top of the 3 points, as worn tyres are treated as a direct accident risk rather than a technicality.
| Offence | Conviction Code | Penalty Points | Maximum Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defective tyres (per tyre) | CU30 | 3 | £2,500 |
| Defective brakes | CU10 | 3 | £5,000 |
| Defective lights | CU50 | 3 | £1,000 |
| Not complying with traffic signs | TS10 | 3 | £1,000 |
| Leaving vehicle in dangerous position | MS10 | 3 | £1,000 |
For minor defects, police may issue a Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (VDRS) notice instead, giving you 14 days to repair the fault and provide evidence of the fix, which avoids prosecution. This is at the officer’s discretion and is not offered for serious defects such as a tyre below the legal 1.6mm tread depth.
How can I check how many Points I have?
You can check your penalty points for free online using the DVLA’s official View Driving Licence service at GOV.UK. The check takes under 2 minutes and shows all current points, endorsement codes and their removal dates.
- National insurance number
- Driving licence number
- Your postcode
Did You Know?
You can access your driving licence record online to see all disqualifications, endorsements and penalty points.
Check Licence OnlineCan I remove Penalty Points from my driving licence?
Penalty points, once added to your driving licence, cannot be removed. However, these points do expire after a certain time duration. If you have 3 points on your driving licence, you can not remove them, but these points will expire after a period of 4 years. During the time that the points are live, you will need to find a broker that can offer car insurance with points on licence. These providers offer cover IN10 insurance, DR10 insurance and even TT99 insurance also called totting up insurance.
Why Do Insurers Charge More for Penalty Points?
Insurers charge more because penalty points are used as a measure of risk. The more points on your licence, the more likely an insurer considers you to make a claim, and the higher your premium will be.
Penalty points basically serve as a representation of your credibility as a driver. So, the more penalty points they have, the lower your credibility. Insurance premium rates are decided based on the likelihood of you actually needing the insurance. This means that if you have no penalty points on your licence, you’re a credible driver and will likely never use the insurance.
In such cases, the insurance provider may offer a premium rate that is more affordable. However, the opposite is also true. If you have some penalty points, your credibility as a driver decreases. Insurance companies see you as high-risk. This means that you’re more likely to use the insurance at some point in time. In such cases, the insurance provider may charge you a higher premium rate.
Do You Have to Tell Your Insurer About Points Straight Away?
Yes, in all cases you should tell your insurer about penalty points as soon as you receive them, not just at renewal. Most policy agreements include a clause requiring immediate notification of any new convictions, and failing to do so can invalidate your policy and result in future claims being rejected.
Most people often believe that they don’t need to inform their insurance provider about the penalty since they have already paid for the policy. However, it’s important to understand that you are liable for informing your insurance provider about penalty points you have received upon policy renewal.
In addition, some insurance providers also have a clause that requires policyholders to notify them regarding any new convictions or penalty points they receive. In either case, it’s better to keep your insurance provider updated. If you fail to update your insurance carrier, any future claims you make can be rejected, and your policy may be terminated.
How Much Do 3 Points Add to Your Premium? (By Age & Offence Code)
3 penalty points typically add 5% to 25% to your car insurance premium at renewal, depending on your offence code, age and insurer. A young driver with an SP30 conviction will generally see a larger increase than an experienced driver with the same offence, as age is a compounding risk factor for insurers.
As mentioned, premium increases resulting from penalty points depend on the severity of the event, which led to you receiving the points. Three points can stay on your driving record for four years. Three penalty points can generally lead to a 5% to 10% increase in insurance premiums. If you have received penalty points, you should inform your insurance carrier, as failure to do so may lead to the rejection of future claims or policy termination.
How to Get Cheaper Car Insurance With 3 Penalty Points
The most effective way to get cheaper car insurance with 3 penalty points is to compare quotes from specialist convicted driver insurers, as premiums vary significantly between providers and some specifically cater for drivers with points. Shopping around rather than accepting your renewal quote is the single biggest lever you have.
You cannot remove the points themselves, but you can control where you buy. Insurers set their own appetite for convictions, so the same 3 points can be priced very differently from one provider to the next, and the specialists who actively want this risk will rarely be your current insurer’s renewal figure. Beyond comparing, a higher voluntary excess, a lower annual mileage and a telematics policy can each bring the premium down further.
How many Penalty Points lead to a driving ban?
You will face a driving ban if you accumulate 12 or more penalty points within any 3-year period. The minimum ban is 6 months, rising to 12 months for a second disqualification and 2 years for a third, all within 3 years. New drivers are subject to stricter rules and will have their licence revoked with just 6 points within 2 years of passing their test.
Individuals who receive 12 penalty points during a three-year time period may experience a ban or disqualification from driving. It’s important to know that the ban will last for a minimum of six months. However, the six-month duration may increase if you have received the ban or disqualification for the second or third time in a period of three years. In addition, it’s important to note that drivers with a learner permit may be banned for having seven penalty points.
This type of penalty is referred to as a totting up ban and in this situation you will need to find TT99 insurance after the ban is lifted.
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Cover for drivers convicted of causing death by careless driving
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