Drivers planning a road trip this bank holiday weekend are being warned that even minor motoring offences could have a lasting impact on their finances – with new research revealing penalty points can push car insurance premiums by up as much as 26%.
With a surge in traffic levels expected across Northern Ireland, car insurance experts have urged motorists to take extra care on the roads, as common driving mistakes could not only lead to points on a licence, but significantly higher insurance costs.
The reminder comes as PSNI figures show more than 2,000 motoring offences were detected over the summer bank holiday weekend last year, including speeding, using a mobile phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt.*
New data from CompareNI.com shows that motorists with three points on their licence pay around 15% more for their annual car insurance than those with a clean record.
The increase becomes even steeper for those with six points, with average premiums rising by 26%. If the average car insurance premium in the UK is currently £607, that’s an increase of £158.
Penalty points can have an even greater impact on younger motorists, as they already typically face the highest insurance prices. Looking at specific age groups, drivers aged 17-24 see their premiums rise by 7% on average after receiving three points, while six points increases costs by around 9% – meaning a young driver with six penalty points could be paying an average of £1839.
But the stakes are even higher because of the rules surrounding newly qualified motorists.
Drivers who accumulate more than six points within their first two years of passing their test can automatically lose their licence, forcing them to retake both their theory and practical driving tests.*
For older drivers aged 45-64, the penalties could have a more dramatic impact, with a 25% increase for three penalty points and a 29% increase for drivers with six penalty points, seeing average premiums increase from around £555 for those with a clean licence, to almost £900 for those carrying six points.
| Average Annual Car Insurance Premiums |
| AGE VS PENALTY POINTS0 points3 points% Change6 points% Change17-241574.291687.817%1838.709%25-341057.611196.2013%1497.5625%35-44849.01880.484%1269.1244%45-64555.11694.7925%897.9029%65+527.84668.5727%834.5825%AVERAGE15%26%CompareNI.com data based on 500,000 quotes from November 2025 – January 2026. |
Penalty points are issued for a wide range of offences, but many motorists pick them up for everyday driving mistakes as well as more serious incidents – from driving through a red light to not wearing a seatbelt or minor speeding offences. If drivers accumulate 12 penalty points within three years, they will likely be banned from driving.
This is despite 42% of drivers saying they don’t think penalty points should affect insurance premiums, according to a new CompareNI.com survey.
The poll also reveals some confusion around insurance rules, as 7% know someone who has forgotten or lied about points to their insurer, while 23% didn’t realise they must inform their insurer of new points gained after taking out the policy.
Drivers are being warned that failing to declare points to car insurers could lead to policies being invalidated or claims getting rejected.
Ian Wilson, car insurance expert and Managing Director at CompareNI.com said: “Being honest about the number of penalty points on your licence is crucial to make sure you are properly protected on the road. If you fail to disclose your points, even unintentionally, your policy could be invalidated, and the insurer may refuse to pay out in the event of a claim.
“Insurers calculate risk based on the information you provide, looking at things such as age, postcode, type of car and driving history – with penalty points being a key factor.
“Points indicate you are at greater risk of having an incident on the road than someone with a clean licence, meaning normally, your premiums will increase. Our data shows this rise could be as much as 29% if you have six points, meaning you could potentially face higher insurance costs for years to come.
“It’s important to note that all providers weigh up risk slightly differently so it’s worth shopping around for competitive quotes or trying a convicted driver policy.”
As a price comparison site, CompareNI.com helps drivers compare and find savings on all sorts of motoring products, such as van, fleet and car insurance.
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