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The DVLA can revoke your driving licence if you have a medical condition that affects your ability to drive safely. You must notify the DVLA of any condition that affects your driving — failure to do so is a criminal offence. You have the right to appeal a DVLA decision to revoke or refuse a licence to the Magistrates Court within 6 months.
Penalty points stay on your licence for 4 or 11 years depending on the offence. New drivers lose their licence if they accumulate 6 or more points within 2 years of passing their test. You can apply for a replacement licence if yours is lost, stolen or destroyed for a fee of £20 online.
Key rights covered: licence disputes, medical fitness to drive, penalty points, vehicle registration, SORN declarations, DVLA appeals and enforcement. Verified against GOV.UK and DVLA guidance.
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What you need to know
Penalty points (also called endorsements) are added to your driving licence when you commit certain motoring offences. Common endorsements include SP30 (speeding, 3–6 points), CU80 (tyre offence, 3 points), and IN10 (uninsured, 6–8 points). Points remain on your licence for either four or eleven years depending on the offence, though they usually only count towards disqualification for three years.
If you accumulate 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period, you face automatic disqualification — usually for six months. This is called totting up. If you have 12 or more points and appear before a court, you can argue exceptional hardship (for example, that disqualification would cause exceptional hardship to others, not just yourself) to avoid or reduce the ban.
If you gained your licence less than two years ago and accumulate six or more penalty points, your licence will be revoked. You are not automatically disqualified — instead you must retake your theory and practical tests. This is a separate system from the totting-up rules that apply to established licence holders.
You have a legal duty to tell DVLA if you have a medical condition that could affect your driving. Conditions that must be reported include epilepsy, diabetes managed by insulin, sudden attacks of dizziness, sleep apnoea, visual impairment, and heart conditions. Failure to notify DVLA is a criminal offence and could invalidate your insurance. Check GOV.UK for a full list of notifiable conditions.
If your vehicle is not being used on a public road and is not taxed, you must declare it off road using a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). A SORN is free and lasts until the vehicle is taxed, sold, or scrapped. Keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road without a SORN can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and the vehicle being clamped or impounded.
Your driving licence sets out which categories of vehicle you are entitled to drive. A standard car licence (Category B) allows you to drive vehicles up to 3,500kg. To drive larger vehicles — such as vans over 3,500kg (Category C1), lorries (Category C), or buses (Category D) — you need additional tests and qualifications. Check your photocard licence to see your current entitlements.
This guidance is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify current figures and legislation on GOV.UK or seek professional advice for your specific situation.
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