New Drivers

The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 introduced a two year probationary period for newly qualified drivers. This only applies if you passed your first driving test on or after 1 June 1997. In the UK, you earn your driving licence after passing a compulsory driving test: the licence initially has no penalty points. Penalty points are gained if you commit a driving offence.

If within the probationary period you gain six or more penalty points, your driving licence is revoked. This includes any penalty points you may have received before passing your driving test. Once your driving licence is annulled, you will have to reapply as a learner driver, and retake both the theory and practical driving tests before you can drive again.

Taking, and passing the driving test afterwards does not remove the penalty points and the points will remain valid for the usual period (currently four or eleven years depending on the offence). For further details see Penalty Points.

New drivers already pay high car insurance premiums. If your licence is endorsed with penalty points, you will see a large increase in your premiums when you come to renew your policy. It is not uncommon for premiums to rise by hundreds of pounds after you gain just a few penalty points; this is especially true for drivers in the probationary period.