June 2025
How Penalty Points Affect Your Car Insurance
Penalty points can affect your car insurance in different ways. Having points on your licence can increase your insurance premium and, in some cases, make it harder for you to get cover. Therefore, to make it as easy as possible to get a car insurance quote, it's important to keep your driving record as clean as possible.
Got endorsements on your licence? Here’s how penalty points affect your car insurance premium and what you should do if you receive penalty points on your licence.
What are penalty points?
In Ireland, penalty points are used to enforce the rules of the road and improve road safety and driver behaviour.
Penalty points range from one to five points depending on the motoring offence committed. For example, you will receive one penalty point for driving on a cycle track and three penalty points for speeding.
The most common penalty point notices are for the following offences:
- Speeding - 3 penalty points
- Driving without a seatbelt – 3 penalty points
- Driving a vehicle while holding a mobile phone - 3 penalty points
- Using a vehicle on a public road without a valid NCT certificate - 3 penalty points
- Driving without reasonable consideration - 2 penalty points
- No insurance - mandatory court appearance and 5 penalty points on conviction
Penalty points don't physically appear on your licence. They are recorded on your driving record on the National Vehicle and Driver File. They remain on your driving record for three years.
Do penalty points affect insurance?
The answer is, it depends. Having less than two penalty points usually doesn’t affect your car insurance, but each insurance company in Ireland has different policies.
However, if you've had fixed penalty points applied to your licence, you must tell your insurance company. If you don't, this could affect your ability to make a claim, which can leave you seriously out of pocket.
At Allianz, we use your driver number and date of birth to verify your penalty points when you wish to take out a car insurance policy or renewing a policy with us.
If you are unsure if you have penalty points or how many you have, you can contact the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS).
Will penalty points increase my insurance premium?
Insurers base quotes on several risk factors. 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.
Will a driving ban affect my car insurance?
If within three years you accumulate 12 penalty points (7 for learner drivers), you'll be automatically disqualified from driving for six months. Once you have a driving ban, your premium will increase. This is because your risk factor increases. You might also find it harder to get insurance cover, especially from a new provider.
If your driving ban lasts more than two years, you'll lose your no-claims bonus (NCB). This also increases the cost of your car insurance.
Can I get insurance cover if I have penalty points?
Motorists are legally obliged to have car insurance. If you are caught driving without insurance it is a mandatory court appearance and 5 penalty points on conviction. This will make it much harder for you to get insurance down the line.
If you have penalty points or a driving ban, and you are worried about getting car insurance, just be honest and upfront with your insurance provider. This will enable them to give you the best car insurance quote for your circumstances.
FAQs on penalty points in Ireland
How do I check if I have penalty points?
You will need to complete the Driver's Statement Form on the NDLS website to find out if you have any penalty points on your driving licence record. You will be required to include your name, driver number, date of birth, and PPSN. You can choose to receive the statement either via email or post. There is no fee attached to it.
How long will penalty points stay on my licence?
Penalty points will remain on your driving licence for three years from the date they are added. However, it is to be noted that any period where your licence is out of date or you are serving a court disqualification won't be counted as part of the three-year period.
Can I appeal my penalty points?
You can apply to the Gardaí to have the points cancelled. However, you must demonstrate strong procedural or exceptional grounds to support your request.
What is the new change that closed loophole on short driving bans and penalty points?
The government has amended the Road Traffic Act 2002 to close a loophole that allowed drivers due for a six-month disqualification (after accumulating penalty points) to instead receive a shorter ‘ancillary’ disqualification. The new provisions have been in force since 31 March 2025.
This guidance is for general information purposes only. Allianz accepts no responsibility or liability for any losses that may arise from any reliance upon the information contained in this guidance.
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