Number of drivers with penalty points on the rise
Wed, 22 Oct 2025
A Freedom of Information request has revealed British drivers received 12% more penalty points in 2024, continuing an alarming trend seen in recent years.
Speeding is the most common reason or receiving penalty points on a driving licence, according to the analysis by Co-op Insurance.
Surprisingly, the next most common reason for picking up penalty points last year was driving an uninsured vehicle. Points on your licence can see the cost of your car insurance increase by a quarter.
Belying the myth that it’s younger drivers who are speeding on UK roads, drivers aged 35-44 received the most penalty points, just ahead of those aged 45-54.
Drivers aged 65 and over received the fewest points – with motorists aged 17-24 also sitting well clear at the foot of the rankings.
It’s drivers in the South West of England that are picking up points at the highest rate. The region’s drivers now have 51 points per 1000 people.
That’s ahead of the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, Wales and the West Midlands.
Notably, London sits 10th and last in the ranking, with its drivers holding 35.2 penalty points per 1000 people.
"Our findings indicate that there has been an increase in the number of driving offences committed, shown by a rise in the number of licence points issued to motorists on Britain’s roads," says head of Co-op Insurance Paul Evans.
Accumulating points for both speeding and driving without insurance can lead to higher premiums, he adds.
Points remain on a UK driving licence for four to 11 years, depending on the type of offence.
Speeding carries the risk of three to six points and a £100 fine, unless a driver is given the option of a speed awareness course.
"If an individual pleads not guilty to receipt of a fixed penalty notice and the court finds against them, they’ll receive a fine of up to £1000 if the offence took place on a public road and up to £2500 if it took place on a motorway."
Co-op Insurance says there has been a rising trend in the number of penalty points issued since 2021, which it says indicates a potentially significant uptick in the amount of driving offences committed.
Of course, it could also point to the growing plethora of speed cameras, along with initiatives like Wales’ controversial 20mph zones…
