The DVLA has released research which shows drivers recorded the equivalent to more than 15,000 points every day last year, which is a sharp rise from the total of 5.4m in 202417:24, 27 May 2026Motorists notched up a record 5.6million penalty points on their driving licences last year amid a surge in road offences, exclusive figures reveal.‌The figure, equivalent to more than 15,000 points every day, is the highest annual total on record and up from 5.4m in 2024, 4.86m in 2023 and 4.5m in 2022. It is estimated the penalty points would have cost drivers close to £200million in fines last year alone.‌Official figures also show 1.53m occasions when motorists received endorsements in 2025, compared to 1.32m two years earlier. The figures, released by the DVLA under Freedom of Information laws, cover drivers receiving between one and 11 points.‌Motorists committed offences ranging from speeding and mobile phone use to insurance and careless driving breaches. Speeding offences, where the vast majority are caught using speed camera technology, were by far the biggest contributor to the soaring totals.Drivers caught exceeding speed limits on public roads accrued three million penalty points. Another 730,000 points were issued for motorway speeding offences, while motorists driving without insurance racked up another 475,000 points.‌Drivers failing to give information relating to the identification of a driver alleged to have committed an offence accounted for 350,000 points. Meanwhile using a phone while in control of a vehicle generated a further 230,000 points.Together, those five offence categories accounted for almost five million penalty points in a single year. Motoring experts said the increase may partly reflect the growing use of speed cameras and automated traffic enforcement technology, as well as heavier congestion on Britain’s roads.‌Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA, said: "The advancement of camera technology is helping police forces catch people breaking the law. Be it speed cameras, or new AI cameras that can detect people not wearing their seatbelt or using a hand-held mobile phone, drivers should remember there is a chance they'll be caught."Sadly, some drivers feel they can get away with certain offences such as driving without insurance, but these figures show that plenty are being prosecuted. More cops in cars would deliver a visible presence on the roads which would help with compliance, but ultimately, drivers need to remember their responsibilities when they get behind the wheel.”The data shows three-point endorsements remained by far the most common punishment, accounting for 1.33 separate offences last year and more than 4.27m penalty points overall. That was up from 1.1 traffic law breaches and 3.5m points in 2023.Article continues belowThe rise was driven largely by the increase in lower-level endorsements, particularly speeding offences detected through cameras and automated enforcement systems. But thousands of motorists were still hit with severe penalties, including more than 14,000 drivers handed eight points in a single case and 2,273 who received 10-point endorsements.Drivers who accumulate 12 or more points within a three-year period can face disqualification from driving under the totting-up system. Across all categories, the number of penalty points issued has risen by around 15 per cent in just two years, climbing from 4.86m in 2023 to 5.59m in 2025.