Although driving without a licence is a serious offence, it’s not as serious as many might think. Driving without a licence penalty can be 3 to 6 penalty points endorsements and up to £1000 fine.
The amount of fine and penalty points depends on your circumstances (whether you had some form of sufficient reason for driving without a licence) and how harsh the judge is.
Since various parts of The Road safety Act 2006 were enacted in 2009, to facilitate graduated fixed penalties and roadside deposits, there has been a facility for the DVLA to create a record if a person does not have a licence. For example a foreign driver could accumulate points even though he/she does not have a UK licence.
If you have had your driving licence revoked and are serving a driving ban, getting caught in these circumstances is taken much more seriously as you are directly ignoring a court order.
A typical example of an individual driving without a licence is if an individual has not passed the practical driving test and are driving without the entitlement to do so. Certain versions of this offence carry no penalty points at all and if so, are likely to lead to an increased fine.
If driving unsupervised on a provisional driving licence however, 3 to 6 penalty points will be added to your licence up to a maximum of 6 permitted. Equally, driving with the incorrect licence type for example a driver who has a fully category B driving licence is driving a vehicle between the weight of 3.5 tonnes and 7.5 tonnes must hold a category C1 licence.
Driving without a licence penalty
Other than the 3 to 6 points and a fine of up to £1000, the police may also state that your car insurance is invalid if you have any. This however is not necessarily true and is not the decision of the police or judge to make. Your car insurance company is likely to invalidate your car insurance if you do not have a valid licence to drive the vehicle it is insured for, although it is possible the insurance policy may remain valid, especially if they are spoken to by a solicitor.
If your car insurance is in fact deemed invalid, this will result in an extra 6 to 8 penalty points placed on your licence (on top of the 3 to 6 for driving without a licence) plus an increased fine.
Getting caught driving without a licence
The chances of getting caught driving without a licence depends on the area you drive in and the legality of the vehicle you are driving. Police cars are mostly fitted with automatic number plate recognition ANPR) systems which tell if a vehicle is insured, taxed and if it holds a current MOT (if older than 3 years of age). If your vehicle does not meet these legal requirements to be driven on public roads, the chances of being stopped by the police is high, especially in a city area.
Many static cameras are also fitted with number plate recognition that ultimately relay information to the police. Many of these ANPR cameras are located on motorways, main roads and city centres.
Consequences of driving without a licence
Of course there is the penalty points and the fine, which is the minimum to get away with if lucky. Problems really begin to arise if you’re involved in an accident, especially if it is the driver with no licence or valid licence. Even if you have insurance for your car, it is highly likely the insurance will be invalid due to a lack of a drivers licence.
The owner of the damaged vehicle in most cases will pursue this through the court where the unlicensed driver will be ordered to pay repair costs, solicitors and court costs. If the innocent driver or any passengers were injured, the potential costs can be huge.
Driving without a licence code
Driving without a licence or the correct term used by the police ‘ Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence’ is offence code LC20.
Information related to driving offences
- Driving offences
- Driving without insurance
- Driving without tax
- Driving without an MOT
- Running a red light
- Driving without a wing mirror
Other than an accident how would the dvla know you dont have a license
Hi Ron,
If your car insurance or tax doesn’t check with an ANPR camera you could get pulled by the police – but that’s vehicle dependent and not driver. If you’re caught speeding, it’ll likely make it’s way back to you. Cameras are getting increasingly smarter where some can now take high res photos of the driver, even to the extent where trials are being used for AI to detect illegal phone use. So mainly camera based (related to other issues) that might catch you out or being randomly stopped by the police.
Hi
What happens if you get caught by the police if you have no driving license and not insured prior to your practical driving test. Can you still take the driving practical test ?
Hi Niki,
If you get caught driving without a licence and with no car insurance and you haven’t passed the driving test as of yet, you’ll likely have sufficient penalty points to receive a driving ban. You would have to apply for your licence when the ban expires. Technically if you have a provisional, you have a test booked and have committed the driving offences prior to taking the test, you could still take the practical test. You would then have to stop driving once you receive the driving ban.
I know someone who has had his license taken away but now got someone else to insure him to ride a motorcycle instead is this still illegal
Hello Dianne. Yes it is illegal. If the individual has had their licence revoked, it means they’re not permitted to drive or ride any motor vehicle on public roads.
Hello I got pulled for driving a car it wasn’t my car it was my uncles all insured and taxed I’ve got a provisional and he was in the car with me while driving but then got out and went too his house quick I drove around the block and got stopped I did not know I wasn’t allowed too still drive if he wants in the car I’m literally ready too pass my test am I in big trouble? Thank you
Hi Cain.
Are you in big trouble? Your driving licence might be, yes. Driving without a full licence comes with 3 to 6 penalty points and a fine of up to £1000. The problem is not your provisional licence; you can have up to 12 points on that, but as soon as you pass the test, you’ll have a full licence. Once you get your full licence, you’ll have a 2 year probationary period where you’ll only be entitled to a maximum of 6 penalty points.
If you get handed 6 points, you may still be able to keep your licence, but anymore points and it’ll be revoked. You may get 3 points and a higher fine. If it goes to court, don’t tell the judge that you didn’t know you weren’t allowed to drive without a qualified supervising passenger – they wont buy it. Rather, tell them you acted stupidly and it’ll never happen again.
Are you aware of the shambles that is going on at the Dvla at the moment ? Nobody can get a license , do you have any advice ?
Hello Paul,
Yes, I’m aware. It’s chaos. There’s clearly a high level of mismanagement at the DVLA offices.
Hi,
My car was parked in a car parked just round the corner and police came and take my car because my neighbour reported to them that am driving without full licence which is true. For the first time ever, I drove the car to the hospital due to my partner being admitted critically in the hospital. The police took the car and told me to pick with up by my partner being the owner of the car. My name is on the car insurance too. They said the Court will get in touch 6months time. I just have 1 week for my driving test. What will happen next please
Hello Funke,
You can still learn to drive (legally of course) and take your driving test just as planned. For driving unaccompanied by a supervising passenger, you’ll likely receive penalty points and a fine. Upon sentencing, you’ll need to declare this to the insurance provider. If at this time you still have your provisional driving licence, any points (a maximum of 11) will be transferred to your full licence. Though generally you will lose a full licence if you receive 6 or more penalty points within the first 2 years of passing your test, you’ll still be able to continue driving even if 6 or more points are transferred over. If you receive any more points however, your licence will be revoked.
If you pass the test before your court date and attend with a full licence, ‘driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence’ is 3 to 6 penalty points. Because the offence occurred as a provisional licence holder, it doesn’t mean that you’ll lose your licence even if you get issued 6 penalty points. But again, as with the penalty points being transferred from the provisional, if you receive any more points within the first 2 years, your licence will be revoked.
Hi
I bought a car today which i should collect on tuesday a few hundred miles away. I’ve just been organizing my things and seen that my license finished today! I’ve quickly applied for the replacement but i see that it might take 2 weeks to arrive. I really want this car but can i drive it home before my new license arrives? cheeers
Hi Ian,
Generally you can yes, but of course you need to look into the details of your own situation. Section 88 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 states that you can continue driving if you have applied to the DVLA to renew your driving licence and your current licence has expired while the DVLA is processing your application. This is based on the following criteria:
1. A doctor has told you that you’re fit to drive.
2. You meet any conditions that were specified on your previous driving licence and that still apply.
3. Your licence renewal application was sent to the DVLA within the last 12 months.
4. A course has not disqualified you from driving.
Hi,
I have recently had my license revoked for reasons I am challenging. It is taxed and insured will the cameras see that I have no license or will it just see that it it taxed and insured ?
Hi Michael,
No, ANPR cameras cannot see if the driver has a licence as the camera does not know who’s driving.
Hi,
Can ANPR see that I have a learner’s insurance on my car
Hi Stefhine,
Yes, it’ll generally show the type of insurance and who’s insured to drive it.
Hi
I fled a scene of a minor accident that was my fault after pulling out on a roundabout, I have been banned several times now and still banned too…the car was insured and tax but wasn’t mine, the persons car it was got a letter in post about the accident and want the named driver who was driving the vehicle at the time, what will the punishment be do you think after I send the letter back with my details on as the driver at the time of the offence?
Hi Mark,
I really wouldn’t like to say. Obviously your historical offences will be taken into consideration along with the reason of why you were behind the wheel again most recently. In other words, was it exceptional circumstances that were due to you driving while disqualified. If it wasn’t and taking into account that being disqualified is in itself not preventing you from driving and the fact that you were the cause of a (minor) accident, the court will look to other measures into preventing you from driving.
The options could be location / curfew electronic tags, community service and fines. Depending on your history off driving offences, a suspended prison sentence may be imposed. This could be for the duration of your ban. So you wouldn’t have to go to prison provided that you complied with the requirements outlined by the court. If you were caught driving during this time, it would result in being sent to prison.
Ultimately, if the court is running out of options and historically you’ve not adhered to previous court orders, an actual custodial sentence may be imposed. A custodial sentence for driving whilst disqualified would usually start from 6 months.
So it’s about the historical offences, along with the severity of the current offence and what options remain in place for the court to take.
What if you’re license is revoked because you couldn’t make the deadline for a medical review,due to the fact that every doctor who could do the medical,was off sick or on holiday, how long will your license get revoked for
Hi Scarlett,
You can reapply for your driving licence once your doctor says that you meet the medical standards for driving. You may need to send evidence of your fitness to drive. The letter from DVLA will tell you if this is the case. If the DVLA sent you a letter, it might of said about a period of time you’ll have to wait before you can reapply. If not, you can reapply once you have the letter from your doctor.
Hi
I have been caught by the police driving with professional license and without supervision, and my name is in the insurance. The reason I was going on the opposite way road which I was not aware of.
What will be the possibilities fine to have ?
Thanks
Hi MY,
If you’re caught driving unsupervised on a provisional licence, there’ll be a maximum of £1000 fine and up to 6 penalty points. This comes under the offence of Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. Even though you were driving unsupervised, you will likely have still been insured, but due to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, the insurance will have only covered you for third party.
Any penalty points received while in possession of a provisional licence will be automatically passed onto your full licence once you’ve passed the test (unless the points have expired). Six or more penalty points on a full licence means it’ll be revoked within the first 2 years of having the licence. This doesn’t mean that your full licence will automatically be revoked if you receive 6 points and pass them over to your full licence, but it means that if you get anymore points, you’ll receive a driving ban.
Caught driving on a provisional licence unsupervised for speeding at 47 for a 40mph road
I have been sent an NIP
What May come of it
Hi Tina
You’ll probably need to attend court (rather than a fixed penalty notice) and you’ll receive penalty points and a fine. Driving alone, unsupervised on a provisional licence falls under ‘driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence’ and ranges from 3 to 6 penalty points. The speeding will likely be an additional 3 penalty points and a fine. Penalty points for both offences will remain on your licence for 4 years. 12 or more penalty points on a provisional licence means it’ll be revoked. If you pass your driving test within the 4 years, they will be transferred to your full licence.
On your new, full licence, it’ll be revoked if you receive 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing the test. This means that the penalty points transferred over to your new licence may be 6 or greater, but does not mean your licence will automatically be revoked. But it does mean that if you receive any more penalty points within that two year probationary period, your licence will be revoked. All of the above is of course an estimation and if you do need to attend court, it’ll be for the judge to decide.
Hi my friend had a rental car at 1am his leg cramped up and he told me to drive up the road park the car and let’s take cab a van came into the car and hit the panels the police reported me for driving with out licence and insurance but the van damages are going through the insurance the rental car is insured with I paid damages for the rental car too all now I’m worried about is what will happen to me in court this is my first ever offence I haven’t even been arrested before I was trying to help my friend out because he wasn’t fit to drive hence we wanted to take cab what do you think my consequences will be
Hi Tariq,
Both driving without a licence and valid insurance have a maximum of 6 penalty points each, but it’s unlikely you will receive the maximum of 12. In terms of a provisional licence, you can receive up to 11 points and still learn to drive and take the driving test. 12 or more and it’ll be revoked. Once the test is passed any points on your provisional licence will be transferred to you full licence.
With a new driving licence, 6 or more penalty points means your licence is revoked within 2 years of passing the test. However, even if 6 or more penalty points are transferred to your new full licence, you’ll still keep it, but anymore points and it’ll be revoked.
In terms of fines, technically when they go to court, they’re ‘unlimited’, but judges do of course take your personal financial situation into account and the reasons why the offence occurred. If your reasons for driving the vehicle are genuine, you should explain this, but now understand that do so was wrong and that you take full responsibility. An accident did occur which will certainly not go in your favour. If you’re lucky, you might be handed 6 penalty points and a few hundred pounds fine. Obviously I don’t know the specifics, so it could be harsher.
Hi thank you for your reply and also I didn’t get arrested the office wasn’t open to check my details so they didn’t take me station they just took down my details that’s about it but no officer said to me what I do say may be used in court I’m 19 with no first offences haven’t even been arrested before i got my practical in 2 weeks and I really don’t wanna loose my licence like this i was talking to my friend about it and he said I might get 6 points and a fine or a 6 month ban what do you think
I’m also not sure if I’m going to go to court they only took my personal details down and said a letter will come to my address what does this mean
Hi Tariq,
The letter probably means a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP). These can be issued verbally at the scene, if not, it’s their legal duty to ensure you receive a written NIP within 2 weeks of the offence. Even if you do receive a NIP, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll go to court, it may still result in a fixed penalty notice (FPN). As I said previously, if I were to guess, I would go with 6 penalty points and a fine – probably in the form of a FPN. But you previously said something about a collision with another vehicle. Being unaware of the specifics on that (and the fact that I’m not legal representative), I really wouldn’t like to say.
Hi the collision with the vehicle does not have anything to do with me anymore due to the fact that my friend who’s insured in the car is taking it on his insurance the van will be doing a claim on him so the collision won’t be coming to court
Ok, so I’d think 6 points and a fine.
Hi,
I was driving my partners car, got caught speeding. Unfortunately I’ve just found out I didn’t renew my license when looking for my driving number. What will happen? I’m devastated!!
Hi Natalie,
Not sure what will happen in regards to your speeding. If it wasn’t too much over the limit, you may be offered a speed awareness course. Otherwise, it’ll be fine and penalty points, usually in the form of a fixed penalty of £100 and 3 points. If significantly over the limit, it may involve court. In terms of the licence, you’re still licensed to drive; as in, your licence hasn’t been revoked, it’s just that your photocard has expired. Chances are, you’ll not receive a fine at all for the licence, but obviously get it renewed right away. That is of course just an opinion as we are not a licensing authority.
I received a letter about me driving without a license and insurance (which I was convinced I had) however they found that out when the car broke down and went into flames which had my anxiety through the roof which made it hard for me to speak thoroughly about my situation. This is all happened at the 11th of November 2022, they sent out the letter on the 20th of April 2023 which is unfair because I got my license a month ago and my baby boy is due. I’m looking to fight my case in hopes that the punishment they’ll give me is light. Do you think I’d have a chance fighting this case?
Hi David.
Do you have a full licence now or a provisional?
There’s a 2 year probationary period in which if you receive 6 or more penalty points, your full licence is automatically revoked. But any penalty point placed on your provisional (12 or more and it’s revoked) get transferred to your full licence if the points haven’t expired. That doesn’t mean to say that your full licence will be revoked, just that if you receive any more points, it will be.
If involved in a collision, driving without insurance can be catastrophic for all involved, so they tend not to go too easy on this. If you have a genuine reason as to why you were driving without a licence and insurance, the judge may use their discretion to go a little easier on you. But they will have heard every story going, so I would only fight your case if there are mitigating circumstances that are genuine, truthful and relevant.
Hi I got pulled over for driving without a licence 3 months ago no letter still has come it has been a total of 13 weeks why is it taking so long no police letter or court letter has come
Hi Malik,
If the police issued you with a verbal notice of intended prosecution at the scene of the offence, it can take up to 6 months to receive a letter. It may be a fixed penalty rather than court.
Hi the police officer told me an NIP will come to my house in 4 weeks and nothing still has came I’m not sure why
Hello,
I got caught by a speed camera in Scotland, the car is taxed and insured and registered in my name so no problem there, and I have a full UK license, I also have an overseas license, if I send back the FPN notice with my overseas license number, and not my UK one, will they know I have a UK license? I don’t mind the fine, just trying to avoid the points.
Thanks.
Hi Peter,
The DVLA will likely link your foreign licence to your UK licence, but even in the event of you not having a UK licence, the DVLA would make a driver’s record, or ‘ghost’ licence in which your penalty points would be stored. You can’t really avoid the points. You’d also need to be careful trying to avoid the points as it may render insurance void if you failed to inform your insurance providers.
Hello, I was stopped by a police patrol and I was only with a provisional license. And I was not included in the insurance. And the policeman told me that 6 points and a fine of up to 300 pounds will be assigned. But it’s been 2 months but I can’t find how to pay and the police and Dvla don’t know anything about it?
And can i still learn and go to pass official Theory test or that’s it i can’t?
Hi Ben,
No idea why the police and DVLA know nothing about the offence. Did you not receive any paperwork at the scene? Who knows, you might get lucky…..
If the fine and points do catch up with you, you can continue to learn to drive, take the theory test and driving test. You can receive up to 11 points on your provisional before it’s revoked. Obviously you’ll not want to get caught without insurance again, so ensure you’re properly insured and you’ll need to tell your insurer about the penalty points (if you get them).