What Driving Offences Are Most Commonly Penalised in 2025?

With the government reviewing the effectiveness of current driving enforcement to improve road safety, leading car insurance experts investigated which driving offences resulted in the most penalty points in 2025 and surveyed UK motorists to determine the impact of enforcement on their driving behaviour.

Top Driving Offences of 2025 

A total of 4,839,104 penalty points were issued for driving offences in the calendar year 2025. Over three-quarters (78%) of these were for speeding-related offences. 

Only Half of Motorists Think Penalty Points Improve Road Safety 

With the government proposing changes to penalties for motoring offences, Uswitch data uncovered that only half of drivers surveyed (51%) agree that the points are effective at reducing dangerous driving.

The survey, however, suggests they deter repeat offences, as among respondents who currently have one or more points on their record, over four in five (82%) changed their driving behaviour after receiving the first point(s) to avoid accumulating more. 

Motorists Carry Out Vehicle and Insurance Checks to Avoid Points

The research also revealed that the threat of enforcement influences drivers’ behaviour, regardless of whether they currently have points on their record, with almost 6 in 10 (59%) taking specific actions to avoid penalty points.

Top Actions Are: 

• Checking their car insurance is valid and up-to-date (33%)

• Carrying out vehicle checks to ensure their car is roadworthy (33%)

• Putting their phone on do not disturb while driving (17%)

• Using cruise control to stay within the speed limit (17%)

• Avoiding unfamiliar roads or routes (13%).

Uswitch insurance expert, Leoni Moninska, comments on the impact of penalty points and how to avoid them: 

“Penalty points can remain on your driving record for either 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence, and can increase your car insurance costs. For example, between August 2025 and January 2026, drivers with one conviction were quoted on average 21% more than those with none.

Disclosing your points is a legal obligation, and insurers have access to your DVLA records, so it’s important that you do. Over half (52%) of the drivers Uswitch surveyed don’t know how to check how many penalty points are on their licence – you can view your record at any time on the government website.

Driving laws and enforcement are designed to protect you and other road users. The best way to avoid penalty points, retain your driving rights and keep insurance costs down is to drive cautiously, attentively and follow the regulations. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with endorsable driving offences, so you can take behavioural measures accordingly.”