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Is your insurance void if you don't declare points?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 19, 2026

What are the consequences of not declaring points? If you do not declare your points to your insurance provider, it could leave your cover invalid. If you make a claim, your insurer can choose not to pay out, leaving you with some very expensive fees.

Does not declaring points invalidate insurance?

Not declaring previous convictions

Not telling your insurer about previous motoring or criminal convictions could invalidate your insurance. Similarly, extra points on your licence can lead to more expensive insurance premiums.

What happens if you don't declare driving convictions on insurance?

Consequences of not declaring a conviction to an insurer

If you have made a claim, your insurer could ask you to repay all or part of the amount you were paid out. You could be charged with insurance fraud.

Do you have to let your insurance know about points?

You probably won't be surprised to learn that you have a contractual obligation to let your insurance provider know if you receive penalty points – failing to disclose driving convictions and penalty points to your insurer could invalidate your car insurance policy.

When can I stop declaring points on my licence?

There are three set periods for which penalty points can stay “valid”: three years from the date of the offence; three years from the date of conviction; or 10 years from the date of conviction. Once the points are no longer valid, however, they stay on your driving record for a further year.

39 related questions found

Do I have to tell my insurance company about a speed awareness course?

You don't legally have to tell your insurance provider that you've been on a speed awareness course, unless they specifically ask you. You won't be asked when starting a quote with us, as it's not classed as a driving conviction.

What happens if you dont declare penalty points?

The consequences. The result of not declaring any penalty points to your insurer could see you invalidate your insurance policy. Driving an uninsured vehicle could result in prosecution and the collection of between six and eight penalty points – on top of any points you already have.

Will my insurance go up if I get 3 points for speeding?

However, bearing all that in mind, research suggests three points could raise a driver's car insurance premium by an average of 5%, while six penalty points could push the cost of insurance up by an average of 25%.

How long does 3 points last on your licence?

Most points stay on your licence for four years from the date of the offence, although they are only active for the first three. For more serious offences, such as causing death by dangerous driving or drink driving, the points will stay on your licence for 11 years.

Can you pay to remove points from driving licence UK?

There is no way to remove the points from your licence once they're marked – you'll just have to wait until the points expire (after 4 years), when the DVLA will automatically remove them at the appropriate time.

Do points affect insurance UK?

The effect on premiums and available products

The number of penalty points on your licence and the number of offences you've committed can have different financial implications. Those moving from no points to three points see a 16% average increase in the cost of car insurance premiums, equating to a £160 rise.

Can I take a speed awareness course instead of points?

Speed awareness courses are four to five-hour long education sessions for people caught speeding. They're offered as an alternative to points on your licence.

Why wasn't I offered a speed awareness course?

6. Why haven't I been offered a speed awareness course? It's entirely up to the discretion of your local police on whether or not to offer you a one of these courses. If you've already taken one within the last 3 years, or you were well above the speed limits stipulated by the police, you won't be offered one.

Can you fail a speed awareness course?

When you're considering accepting a National Speed Awareness Course offer, remember that it's not a test, so there's no passing or failing.

How many points on your licence before you lose it?

How many points does it take to get disqualified from driving? Under the 'totting-up' system, you'll be disqualified from driving if you receive at least 12 points in a period of 3 years. The length of this will vary depending on whether you've been disqualified before.

At what point are you offered a speed awareness course?

You will be able to enrol on a speed awareness course if it is your first speeding offence or if you haven't been caught in the past three years. You're only eligible for a speed awareness course if the police offer it to you as a choice.

Will I be offered a speed awareness course if I already have 9 points?

It should be noted however that if you have 9 penalty points on your driving licence and then you commit a further speeding offence you will not be offered a Speed Awareness Course, or a fixed penalty, and the matter will have to go to court.

Do I need to inform my insurance company of a speeding ticket UK?

You should inform your insurance company of any penalty points you have received. The details you provide to them form the basis for your insurance quote and subsequent insurance cover. If any of the details change or are incorrect and you do not inform your insurer, it may affect your cover.

How many mph can you go over the speed limit UK?

Most police forces have a tolerance of 10% plus 2 mph above the limit before a speed camera 'flashes'. So on a 30 mph road, a camera wouldn't normally activate unless a car drove past at 35 mph or faster. On a 70 mph stretch of motorway, the threshold would go up to 79 mph.

What happens if I get caught speeding after a speed awareness course?

Your details are kept on a database held by the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme and if you're caught speeding again within three years of taking a speed awareness course, you're quite likely to receive a fine and penalty points straightaway.

Does penalty points increase insurance?

In general, the number of penalty points, the nature of the motoring offences and the type of licence you have will determine whether or not your insurance premium is affected. Typically, though, your car insurance quote increases the more penalty points you have.

How much does 3 points increase car insurance 2022 UK?

If you have three points on your licence for an offence like speeding or not complying with traffic lights, your car insurance could increase by 5%. If you have more than 12 points on your record, the annual cost of your insurance could rise by 89%.

How long do 3 points stay on your license UK?

The courts can fine you and 'endorse' your driving record with penalty points if you're convicted of a motoring offence. Endorsements must stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence. The endorsement and penalty points are put on your driver record.

What happens if I get 12 points?

If you reach 12 points on your licence, this is classed as “totting up”. When you tot up to 12 or more points on your licence, you automatically fall to be disqualified for 6 months. You will have to go to court for this offence.

How long do you have to declare SP30 to insurance?

How long do I need to declare an SP30 to insurers? You must declare your SP30 speeding endorsement to insurers for a period of 5 years beginning from the date the speeding offence was committed.