Top 5 Motoring Offences & Costs Explained

Learning to drive is exciting — but the rules that come with it are strict, especially in your first couple of years on the road. The fine you pay for a motoring offence is often the smallest part of the bill. Penalty points, a possible ban and a rise in your insurance premium can all follow, and for young drivers the consequences tend to hit harder and faster than for anyone else.

Here is a clear, jargon-free look at five of the most significant motoring offences, what they can mean for your record and why a single mistake can be especially serious if you have recently passed your test.

Why offences cost new drivers more

The penalty points system is the link between an offence and your insurance. The DVLA records offence codes on the drivers’ database so that third parties — including insurance companies and the police — can view the information online. In short, insurers can see your record.

Because insurers can view your endorsements, a motoring conviction can affect the premium you are quoted. For young drivers, whose premiums already reflect a higher risk profile, any increase can be substantial. How much it changes will depend on your individual circumstances and is subject to eligibility and underwriting.

There is also a rule unique to recent test-passers. If you get 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your test, your licence is cancelled (revoked). You would then have to reapply for a provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again. Penalty points picked up on your provisional licence carry over to your full licence too — so the clock effectively starts earlier than you might think.

1. Speeding — the most common offence by far

Speeding dominates the figures. Of the 2,934,790 motoring offences recorded by police in England and Wales in 2024 (excluding the Metropolitan Police Service), 86% — some 2,536,194 — were speed limit offences, according to the Home Office. That was the highest number recorded since the comparable series began in 2011.

For a new driver, the maths is unforgiving. Two speeding offences — or a single higher-level one — can reach the 6-point threshold and trigger a licence revocation.

2. Using a handheld mobile phone

Using a mobile phone while driving is treated as a breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle (code CU80), which carries 3 to 6 penalty points, according to the DVLA’s endorsement code list. Even at the lower end, that puts a new driver halfway to the 6-point revocation threshold.

It is a point worth pausing on: a single lapse of concentration can move you a long way towards losing your licence in your first two years.

3. Drink-driving

Drink-driving sits among the most serious offences, both for safety and for its long-term consequences. The Highway Code notes that Parliament sets the maximum penalties for road traffic offences, and that it is for the courts to decide what sentence to impose according to the circumstances of each case.

The insurance impact lasts far longer than for most offences. Drink-drive endorsement codes DR10 to DR61 must stay on your driving record for 11 years from the date of conviction, according to the DVLA — nearly three times the standard 4-year period for many offences. Since insurers can see these endorsements, the effect on premiums can be felt for years.

The government is currently consulting on further measures for novice drivers, including seeking views on a lower blood alcohol limit for new drivers in England and Wales. This is a consultation proposal rather than law, but it signals the direction of travel for young-driver safety.

4. Driving without insurance

You must have motor insurance to drive your vehicle on UK roads, according to gov.uk. Third party insurance is the legal minimum — it covers damage or injury you cause to other people, vehicles, animals or property, but not repairs to your own vehicle.

Driving uninsured (code IN10) carries 6 to 8 penalty points, according to the DVLA’s endorsement list, and the code stays on your record for 4 years from the date of the offence. Because the minimum is 6 points, this offence alone can revoke a new driver’s licence — and it is an easy trap to fall into if you assume you are covered to drive a friend’s or parent’s car when you are not.

For young drivers the lesson is simple: always check that you are a named driver or have your own valid policy before turning the key. Driving someone else’s car without cover is still driving without insurance.

5. Careless driving

Careless driving — driving without due care and attention (code CD10) or without reasonable consideration for other road users (code CD20) — carries 3 to 9 penalty points, according to the DVLA. These codes stay on your driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

The wide points range reflects how much circumstances vary, but even a lower-end result puts a new driver halfway to the 6-point revocation threshold. Combined with the way insurers can view endorsements, careless driving is a reminder that everyday lapses in concentration carry real, lasting costs.

Always declare your convictions

Whatever the offence, honesty matters. It is important to disclose your motoring history accurately when applying for insurance. Because insurers can already view your endorsements, failing to declare a conviction risks your policy being invalidated — leaving you uninsured when you most need cover. If you are unsure what to declare, speak to a specialist broker for guidance based on your individual circumstances.

A motoring conviction need not be the end of the road for cover. Many drivers with points or convictions are still able to find insurance, though premiums may vary and any quote is subject to eligibility and underwriting. Being upfront about your history is the surest way to keep your cover valid.

Sources and Further Reading

• Home Office — Police powers and procedures: roads policing, to December 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-roads-policing-to-december-2024/police-powers-and-procedures-roads-policing-to-december-2024
• gov.uk — Penalty points (endorsements): https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements
• gov.uk — Speeding penalties: https://www.gov.uk/speeding-penalties
• gov.uk — Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving: https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
• gov.uk — Drink-driving penalties: https://www.gov.uk/drink-driving-penalties
• gov.uk — Vehicle insurance: https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance
• DVLA — Endorsement codes and penalty points: https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/endorsement-codes-and-penalty-points
• The Highway Code — Annex 5: Penalties: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-5-penalties
• New drivers — Penalty points and disqualification: https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/new-drivers

About this guide: written by the myFirst.com editorial team, who specialise in helping young and newly qualified drivers understand cover and the rules of the road. The guidance draws on current gov.uk, DVLA, Home Office and Highway Code sources.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Insurance premiums and eligibility depend on your individual circumstances and are subject to underwriting. Always check current gov.uk guidance and speak to a qualified professional or specialist broker for advice tailored to your situation.