Penalty Points in Ireland: An Explainer

Whether a first-time driver or a long-time motorist, there’s one thing we all dread: the arrival of a penalty points notice in the post. 

Most of us try to drive carefully, but life isn’t perfect, and neither are we. That’s why understanding the penalty points system isn’t just for young drivers — it’s essential knowledge for anyone who wants to avoid expensive fines and stay behind the wheel. 

As a trusted car insurance company in Ireland, we can see first-hand how easy it is to accumulate points and put your licence at risk. That’s why we put together this simple guide to penalty points, explaining what they are, why they exist, and most importantly, how best to protect yourself from getting them.

How do penalty points work?

Administered by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), the penalty point system is a scheme designed to encourage safe driving. If you commit certain offences — like speeding or driving without motor insurance — you may receive penalty points. 

These points don’t appear on your physical driving licence, but they are recorded on your driving-licence record, which is stored and managed by the NDLS. They will usually stay on your record for three years (subject to renewal and disqualification rules), after which time they’ll “fall off” or expire. 

If you accumulate a certain number of points, you could receive an automatic six-month ban from driving, putting you off the road for half a year. We’ll dig deeper into the limits later in this blog post.

How many penalty points could I get?

The short answer is that it depends on the motoring offence you committed. The RSA has a very useful list of the various offences incurring penalty points  and fixed charges, including the number of points allocated and the cost of the fine being levied. Below is a brief extract, showing some of the common offences Irish drivers can incur today.

As you can see, driving without valid motor insurance is a serious offence, resulting in a mandatory court appearance. That means that you must appear in court if charged with this offence. If convicted, five penalty points will be applied to your licence.

As for the fine? That’s up to the judge to decide. It could be as much as €5,000 — and you could even go to prison for up to six months too.

What are the most common reasons for getting penalty points?

The RSA compiles information on penalty point statistics every year. Their most recent update lists these most common penalty point offences:

• Speeding
• Holding a mobile phone while driving
• Failure to obey traffic lights
• Driving without reasonable consideration
• Driving without a valid NCT
• Unaccompanied learner drivers

The last offence is particularly relevant for young drivers in Ireland, as under the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)  system, a learner permit holder can only drive alongside someone who holds a full, valid driving licence in the same category for at least two years. Failure to do so can incur four penalty points, a fine of €160, and the impounding of your car.  

What happens if I get too many penalty points?

If you accumulate a certain number of penalty points, you will lose your licence. The threshold depends on the type of licence you hold. For example: 

• If you have a full driver’s licence and get 12 penalty points within three years, you’ll receive an automatic six-month driving ban.
• If you’re a learner driving on a learner permit or a novice driver in your first two years with a full driving licence and you get seven penalty points— you’ll receive an automatic six-month driving ban.

The NDLS states that you must surrender your licence within 14 days of disqualification, but disqualification takes effect immediately.

It’s easier than you think to get to the maximum number of penalty points. For example, if you’re caught speeding while holding a phone, and with an out-of-date NCT, you could get nine points in one sitting.

For most of us, losing a driving licence is something to be avoided at all costs, as we use our cars to get to college, work, and family events. The best way to protect yourself is to drive responsibly and safely.

Do penalty points affect my insurance?

Yes, your motor insurance policy — and its cost — may be impacted if you get penalty points.

It very much depends on your insurer and policy type, but some providers require the licence holder to have no penalty points at all, while others will allow up to six, provided they’re not court-awarded.

For more information on this, read your car insurance policy booklet or get in touch with us here at An Post Insurance. If you’re unsure how penalty points could affect your policy, or you’d like to discuss your insurer’s limits, our team is always ready to help. We support safe driving, helping you enjoy the flexibility, freedom, and fun of the open road.

If you drive and haven’t done it already, get a quote for car insurance now.