The penalty table indicates some of the main offences, and the associated penalties. There is a wide range of other more specific offences which, for the sake of simplicity, are not shown here. The penalty points and disqualification system is described below.

Accident offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Offence Maximum Penalty Penalty Points
*Causing death by dangerous driving 14 years’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification (minimum 2 years) 3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified)
*Dangerous driving 2 years’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification 3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified)
*Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs 14 years’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification (minimum 2 years) 3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified)
Careless and inconsiderate driving Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification 3 to 9
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs or with excess alcohol: or failing to provide a specimen for analysis 6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification 3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified)
Failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident 6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification 5 to 10
Driving while disqualified 6 months’ imprisonment (12 months in Scotland) / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification 6
Driving after refusal or revocation of licence on medical grounds 6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification 3 to 6
Driving without insurance Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification 6 to 8
Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition LGV or PCV unlimited, other vehicles £2,500/ Obligatory disqualification if offence committed within 3 years of a previous conviction for a similar offence – 6 months min. Otherwise discretionary 3 in each case
Failure to have proper control of vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead, or using a hand-held mobile phone when driving £1,000 fine (£2,500 for PCV or goods vehicle) / Discretionary disqualification 3
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence £1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification 3 to 6
Speeding £1,000 fine (£2,500 for motorway offences) / Discretionary disqualification 3 to 6, or 3 (fixed penalty)
Traffic light offences £1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification 3
No MOT certificate £1,000 fine -
Seat belt offences £500 fine -
Dangerous cycling £1,000 fine -
Careless cycling £1,000 fine -
Cycling on pavement £500 fine -
Failing to identify driver of vehicle £1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification 6
*Where a court disqualifies a person on conviction for one of these offences, it must order an extended retest. The courts also have discretion to order a retest for any other offence which carries penalty points, an extended retest where disqualification is obligatory, and an ordinary test where disqualification is not obligatory.
Crown Copyright. The content have been sourced from the 2016 edition of The Official Highway Code, and reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence.