NORTHERN IRELAND MOTORING GUIDE

Penalty points, driving offences & bans in Northern Ireland.

Understand what happens when penalty points are added to your Northern Ireland driving record, how long endorsements remain, when drivers can be disqualified and the special rules that apply to newly qualified drivers.

HOW IT WORKS

Penalty points are added to your driver record.

Motoring offences can result in penalty points, a fine, disqualification or a combination of penalties.

Each endorsable offence has an offence code and a fixed number or range of points. The seriousness of the offence determines the potential penalty.

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Points do not simply disappear after three years.

Three years is important for the totting-up calculation, but an endorsement can remain on your driving record for four or 11 years depending on the offence.

START HERE

What do you need to know?

Choose a topic to understand the rules that apply in Northern Ireland.

NI DRIVING OFFENCE CHECKER

Check an offence or penalty.

Search by offence, penalty or offence code.

Failing to stop – injury accident 50 08 028
5–10 points
Failing to give particulars – damage-only accident 50 08 031
5–10 points
Failing to stop – injury accident 50 08 032
5–10 points
Failing to give particulars – damage-only accident 50 08 035
5–10 points
Driving while disqualified 50 08 312
6 points
Driving without due care and attention 50 08 202
3–9 points
Driving without reasonable consideration 50 08 203
3–9 points
Causing death by careless driving when unfit 50 08 204
3–11 points
Causing death by careless driving with excess alcohol 50 08 208
3–11 points
Causing death by careless driving then failing to provide specimen 50 08 212
3–11 points
Causing death by reckless driving 41 04 001
3–11 points
Causing death by dangerous driving 41 04 002
3–11 points
Using vehicle with defective brakes 50 13 022
3 points
Using vehicle in dangerous condition 50 13 156
3 points
Defective tyre 50 13 049
3 points
Defective tyres 50 13 050
3 points
Defective steering 50 13 025
3 points
Using hand-held mobile phone while driving 50 13 265
6 points
Dangerous driving 50 08 201
3–11 points
Furious driving 50 08 018
3–9 points
Excess alcohol in breath 50 08 126
3–11 points
Attempting to drive with excess alcohol in breath 50 08 127
3–11 points
Excess alcohol in blood 50 08 129
3–11 points
Attempting to drive with excess alcohol in blood 50 08 130
3–11 points
Excess alcohol in urine 50 08 132
3–11 points
Attempting to drive with excess alcohol in urine 50 08 133
3–11 points
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs 50 08 123
3–11 points
Attempting to drive while unfit through drink or drugs 50 08 124
3–11 points
Failing to provide specimen when attempting to drive with excess alcohol 50 08 142
3–11 points
In charge of vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs 50 08 125
10 points
Failing to provide specimen when attempting to drive unfit 50 08 139
3–11 points
Failing to provide breath specimen for analysis 50 08 136
3–11 points
Driving without insurance 50 08 019
6–8 points
Driving after failing to notify a disability 50 10 003
3–6 points
Leaving vehicle in dangerous position 50 08 231
3 points
Carrying unauthorised passenger on motorcycle 50 08 237
3 points
Refusing to submit to eyesight test 50 08 121
3 points
Failure to give driver information 50 08 040
6 points
Excess speed 50 08 013
3–6 points
Excess speed for vehicle classification 50 08 291
3–6 points
Breach of traffic sign 50 08 268
3 points
Failing to obey signal given by constable 50 08 007
3 points
Aggravated vehicle taking causing damage 50 08 295
3–11 points
Aggravated vehicle taking causing injury 50 08 290
3–11 points
Totting-up disqualification TOT UP
12+ points in 3 years
Failing to report an accident NI main offence
5–10 points
Failure to have proper control or full view NI main offence
3 points
Red light / traffic light offence NI main offence
3 points
No MOT certificate NI main offence
No points listed
Driver not wearing seat belt Seat belt offence
3 points
Child under 14 without correct restraint Child restraint offence
3 points
Passenger aged 14+ not wearing seat belt Passenger seat belt offence
2 points possible
Dangerous cycling NI main offence
No licence points listed
Careless cycling NI main offence
No licence points listed
Driving without a valid licence Licence offence
Depends on offence
Failing to display required R plate GDL offence
3 points
New driver carrying unauthorised passenger GDL offence
3 points
Failure to give identification information for GDL offence GDL offence
3 points
Failure to notify DVA of relevant disability Article 11(3)
3–6 points
Driving after false medical declaration Article 9(13)
3–6 points
Driving after licence refusal or revocation Article 11A
3–6 points
Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight Article 154(1)
3 points
False statements or withholding information to DVA Article 174(1)
3–11 points
Commercial vehicle overloading DVA roadside offence
Usually non-endorsable
Drivers' hours / record-keeping offence DVA roadside offence
3–6 if endorsable
Freight or bus mechanical defect DVA roadside offence
3–6 if endorsable
Taxi mechanical defect DVA taxi offence
3–6 if endorsable
Failing to wear taxi driver's badge DVA taxi offence
Penalty varies
Failing to display taxi plates DVA taxi offence
Penalty varies
No taxi roof sign DVA taxi offence
Penalty varies
Contravening a temporary speed restriction Road Traffic Order 2007
3–6 points
Using speed-assessment equipment detection device Road Traffic Order
3–6 points
Causing or permitting hand-held phone use while driving Mobile phone offence
6 points
No matching offence yet. More Northern Ireland offences are being added.
QUICK GUIDE

Three rules worth understanding.

01 Totting up

Reaching 12 or more penalty points within three years can result in disqualification.

02 New drivers

Six or more points during the two-year probationary period can cause your licence to be revoked.

03 Endorsement period

Depending on the offence, an endorsement generally remains on the driver record for four or 11 years.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Penalty points are only part of the penalty.

Can I be banned with fewer than 12 points?

Yes. Courts can impose disqualification for individual offences where the law allows or requires it. Twelve points is specifically important to the totting-up system.

Do provisional drivers get points?

Yes. Penalty points can be recorded before you pass your driving test and can later affect the new-driver rules.

Do expired endorsements disappear automatically?

Expired endorsements can be removed when you renew or update the licence, or by applying for a replacement.

Is revocation the same as a driving ban?

No. New-driver revocation and court-imposed disqualification are different processes with different requirements.

Independent Northern Ireland motoring guidance. PureCar is not PSNI, DVA or nidirect. Penalties depend on the offence and circumstances; check current official guidance.
Official NI guidance →

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