Car Insurance News from Be Wiser

The effect of penalty points on your licence

As you probably know, car insurance is calculated on risk. The provider assess what chances you pose of incurring damage or injury and charges you taking a number of factors such as your age and driving experience into consideration.

However, the UK operates a strict system whereby you can be given penalty points if convicted of a motoring offence. The points stay on your licence for either four or 11 years, depending on what they were for.

An example is drink-driving - if convicted, the points will stay with you for 11 years from the date of conviction. Each type of offence is labelled with a code and points remain on a record accordingly.

Within three years, you must not obtain 12 or more. If you do, you are very likely to be disqualified for six months. Courts can decide to extend this should you be banned again within the same three years.

However, under the New Drivers Act, those who are within two years after passing their driving test will only need six points to receive a disqualification.

And the effect on your car insurance? According to various organisations, it can vary. But expect to pay more. Some providers will even refuse to insure you.

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