Penalty points stay on your licence record for three years. Reach 12 in that time and you are automatically disqualified for six months. Learners and newly qualified drivers are disqualified at 7.
Disqualification thresholds
| Driver | Points that trigger a 6-month ban |
|---|---|
| Full licence holder | 12 points within 3 years |
| Learner (first permit on or after 1 August 2014) and first 2 years of a full licence | 7 points |
| Learner permit before 1 August 2014, full licence after | 12 points in 3 years, or 7 new points after 1 August 2014, whichever comes first, until the licence is 2 years old |
How points get onto your record
- You pay a fixed charge notice for an offence that carries points, or
- You are convicted in court. If a fixed charge is not paid, it goes to court and more points apply.
Drivers on a foreign licence get an Irish record created and the points are recorded there.
How to check your penalty points
- Go to the contact form on ndls.ie and choose the Penalty Point Query section.
- Enter your name, date of birth and driver number or PPSN exactly as they appear on your licence or permit.
- Give your own email address. The NDLS will not send the result to a third party.
- The reply comes to that email address or to the postal address on your driver record.
You can also request a free driver statement using the NDLS Driver Statement Form. Your driver number is at field 4d on your card.
If you are disqualified
You must surrender your licence, Irish or foreign, to the NDLS within 14 days of the disqualification starting. Not surrendering it, and driving while disqualified, are both offences.
Where to go
Popular centres: Santry, Leopardstown, Citywest, Clarehall, Cork City, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone, Sligo, Letterkenny, Drogheda, Tralee. All 34 centres.
Frequently asked questions
How many penalty points before a ban in Ireland?
12 points within three years for a full licence holder, 7 for learners and drivers in their first two years.
How long do penalty points last in Ireland?
They count towards disqualification over a three-year period.
How do I check my penalty points?
Use the Penalty Point Query section of the NDLS contact form with your name, date of birth and driver number or PPSN.
Do I have to hand in my licence if I am banned?
Yes, to the NDLS within 14 days of the disqualification starting.
Official source: www.ndls.ie/about/penalty-points.html. Fees and rules checked 2 October 2026. If anything differs, the NDLS website takes priority.