Information on the Penalty Point Threshold for Learner and Novice Driver Licences

New legislation introduced on 1 August 2014, as part of the Road Traffic Act 2014, created the concept of a novice driver and changed the penalty point disqualification threshold for learner and novice drivers. Instead of the standard 12 points disqualification threshold, this was changed to a 7 point threshold for “..a person who at the time such points are endorsed is a learner driver or a novice driver”.

The interpretation by the Department of Transport, based on legal advice received at the time, was that this new threshold should be applied only to people who entered the driver licensing system on or after that date. As a result of further, revised, legal advice, the Department is applying the 7-point threshold to Learner and Novice Drivers who were in the system before that date.

All drivers affected will be contacted directly by the Department of Transport, to notify them on the impact of these changes.

For more information on the Penalty Point Threshold for Learner and Novice Driver Licences see FAQ - Penalty Point Threshold for Learner and Novice Driver Licences.