NEW DRIVER RULES
Six points in your first two years: will your licence be revoked?
The new driver rule is separate from the usual 12 point totting up process and can have an immediate effect on a recently qualified driver.
Checked against primary legal sources for England and Wales · Updated 26 July 2026 · How we review content
If 6 or more relevant penalty points are accumulated within the first 2 years after passing the first driving test, DVLA will normally revoke the licence. The driver must return to provisional status and pass the required tests again.
What is the new driver six point rule?
The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 provides for revocation where the statutory threshold is reached during the probationary period. Revocation is an administrative consequence, not a discretionary sentence that a court can simply waive.
Do points from before passing count?
Points imposed for an offence committed before passing can count if they remain current and bring the total to the statutory threshold during the probationary period. Check the offence and endorsement dates carefully.
Is this the same as a driving ban?
No. Revocation returns the driver to provisional status. To regain a full licence, the driver normally needs to apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests again.
Can mitigation stop revocation?
The court deals with the offence and sentence. DVLA applies the revocation rule if its conditions are met. Anyone considering a plea or arguing that points should not be imposed needs individual legal advice before acting.
What should I check now?
- Date the first test was passed
- Date of the alleged offence
- Current endorsement record
- Number of points alleged or offered
- Any court or fixed penalty deadline
What if the six points are MS90?
MS90 carries six points and can therefore engage the new-driver revocation rule in one endorsement. It can also affect insurance questions. If the conviction was entered without your knowledge, check the court route urgently rather than assuming the driving record cannot be corrected.
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