Totting Up

If you have accumulated 12 or more penalty points on your licence within a period of three years, you may be worried about what happens next.

As a Motoring Law Solicitor, I am here to provide you with the professional legal advice and representation you will need to help avoid disqualification.

I have a significant amount of experience saving client’s driving licences, even in the most complex and challenging of circumstances.

Free Initial Telephone Discussion

I understand that you will want to talk to me to find out how I can be of assistance and so I offer a free initial telephone consultation. Please call me on 07710 484 508 or email imogen@thedefencesolicitor.co.uk

What is ‘Totting up’?

When a driver accumulates 12 or more points on their driving licence within a period of three years, this is referred to as ‘totting up’.

At this point, a court will decide whether to impose a disqualification from driving, which can last for a minimum period of six months.

If you find yourself being banned from driving, you will not be allowed to drive any type of motor vehicle until your ban has been lifted.

After your ban has been served, all previous penalty points will be removed, and your licence will be returned to you.

I have 9 points on my licence, will I be banned at 12?

If you have 9 points on your driving licence, you will need to be very careful. Once you reach 12 you will have to go to court and face the possibility of losing your licence.

A driver with 9 penalty points can also expect to be classified as a high-risk potential client by insurance providers.

This means that motorists with unspent convictions for driving offences will likely experience difficulty in securing similar car insurance premiums as would typically be offered if there were not any active convictions on the applicant’s licence.

Penalty points will remain on a driving licence for a period of 3 years from the date of the offence, for totting up purposes. However, points will be no longer be visible on a driver record after 4 years but will be declarable to insurance companies for 5 years.

I have 12 points on my licence – what does that mean?

When you have gained 12 points on your licence, you will have no choice other than to prepare for attending court.

In certain circumstances, we may be able to argue your case for a disqualification rather than a revocation, which will ban you for a certain period of time instead of taking away your licence completely.

How can I keep my licence?

If you have received 12 penalty points, we may be able to submit an ‘Exceptional Hardship’ defence, which if granted, will allow you to keep your licence.

‘Exceptional hardship’ can be argued in court in certain circumstances. The rules around these are complex and so you should get in contact to discuss these matters further.

Often senior professionals and owners of businesses will be concerned about losing their licence and the effect that will have on their livelihood. To discuss matters, please call me as soon as possible.

Applications for exceptional hardship can be denied, however, you will never be penalised for applying. I specialise in these matters and can assist wherever you are based.

Special Reasons

If there were specific reasons why you committed a driving offence, such as an emergency, the courts may allow for the points to be waived. Again the rules around what constitutes a valid reason are complex.

Whatever your circumstances, I will work with you to decide which course of action is the most appropriate, to enable you to have the greatest chance of keeping your licence or reducing any penalty that is imposed.

New drivers with 6 or more points

Within the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of new drivers totting up penalty points soon after passing their driving test.

Under the New Drivers Act, drivers who receive six or more penalty points within the first two years of receiving their full licence will have their licence revoked.

If you are a new driver who has found yourself in this position it can bring many repercussions and you will need to resit both your theory and practical test again, in order to be allowed to drive.

It is advised that you seek expert legal advice as early as possible to build the strongest possible defence.

How to Get in Contact

Contact me today to find out how I can help you defend your licence on 07710 484 508 or email imogen@thedefencesolicitor.co.uk