Guide for New Drivers

The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 affects you if you first passed a driving test on or after 1 June 1997 when it came into force.

If you reach 6 or more penalty points on your driving licence within 2 years of passing your first driving test, ie during the probationary period, your driving licence will be automatically revoked. There is no right of appeal against revocation and the Court cannot Order that revocation not take place.

All valid penalty points are taken into account when deciding whether 6 or more points have been accumulated in the 2-year probationary period. Penalty points gained prior to the first driving test, which are within the 3-year validity period, will also be taken into account if you incur further penalty points during the probationary period. Also, penalty points incurred after the probationary period has expired will be taken into account if the offence was committed during the probationary period.

To regain your licence you would have to obtain a provisional licence again and pass the relevant driving test, which only reinstates the licence for the class of test passed.