Totting up driving ban/12 penalty points

Totting up disqualifications can be imposed when a driver reaches 12 or more penalty points through the culmination of one or more offences in any 3 year period.

The recommended mandatory period of disqualification for a totting up ban is 6 months. Some courts do exercise discretion but in theory, if you reach 12 points and cannot convince the court that you should be allowed to keep your licence, you are off the road for 6 months.

What are the rules for new drivers?

Although you would still be subject to a totting up ban when reaching 12 points, your licence is also revoked for reaching 6 penalty points within the first 2 years of passing your first full driving test. Consequently, in extreme circumstances, a new driver could both be banned under the totting up system and have their licence revoked, meaning that once the ban is served, they would still have to take their test again.