Motorists across the UK have been warned that having a few points on their driving licence could push up the cost of car insurance by hundreds of pounds.
New research from comparison site Quotezone suggested premiums can rise by as much as 26 per cent for drivers with endorsements.
It comes as new figures show that 4.8 million penalty points were issued to British drivers last year. This highlights just how common driving offences remain. Experts explained that even minor mistakes such as speeding slightly over the limit or using a mobile phone behind the wheel can have long-term financial consequences. According to the data drivers with just three points on their licence typically pay around 15 per cent more for insurance than those with a clean record.
That increase becomes much steeper for motorists with six points who face an average rise of 26 per cent on their premiums. With the average cost of car insurance in the UK currently sitting at £607 that could mean an extra £158 a year.
Specialists said the costs can quickly add up since penalty points usually stay on a licence for four years. Insurers also often ask about convictions going back five years so drivers can be affected for longer than they might expect. Young motorists are among the hardest hit. Drivers aged 17 to 24 already pay some of the highest premiums & the research shows their costs rise even further once points are added.
For this group three points can increase premiums by around seven per cent while six points push costs up by roughly nine per cent. On average a young driver with six points could be paying as much as £1839 a year for cover. There are also serious consequences beyond the financial impact.
New drivers who build up more than six points within their first two years of passing their test face an automatic driving ban. They must then retake both their theory and practical tests before getting back on the road.
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Despite this many motorists appear unconvinced that penalty points should affect insurance prices at all. A survey by Quotezone found that 42 per cent of drivers do not believe endorsements should have any impact on premiums.
There is also confusion around the rules with nearly a quarter of drivers saying they did not realise they must inform their insurer if they receive penalty points after taking out a policy. More worryingly seven per cent admitted they knew someone who had either forgotten or deliberately failed to tell their insurer about points on their licence.
Insurance experts warn this could backfire badly. Failing to declare penalty points could result in a policy being cancelled or a claim being refused. Insurers can check records directly with the DVLA so it is difficult to hide endorsements. Greg Wilson who is chief executive of Quotezone said even a single minor offence can lead to penalty points that push insurance costs higher potentially for years to come.
The insurance provider uses risk analysis to calculate each individual premium cost per driver by looking at key factors such as age and postcode & type of car and driving history. If a driver has penalty points it shows they are at greater risk of having an incident on the road than someone with a clean licence so their premiums will normally increase.
He advised drivers to shop around for the best deal since insurers assess risk differently. Motorists are also being urged to take simple steps to avoid picking up points in the first place such as sticking to speed limits and keeping mobile phones out of reach while driving.
