How many drivers in Ireland have penalty points right now?

Penalty Points are Exploding…

According to the Department of Transport’s latest statistics (June 2026), 554,412 drivers currently have penalty points on their licence.

That’s up from 514,355 drivers in June 2025.

"In 12 months, the number of drivers with penalty points grew by 40,000"

Of that 554,412 number, 387,028 have 3 points, 55,038 have 6 points and 936 are teetering on the brink of a 6-month ban with 11 points.

1,069 are on 12 points and are currently serving that ban.

Penalty points stay on your licence for 3 years.

If you hit 12 points in a 3-year period you will be disqualified from driving for 6 months.

If you’re a novice or learner driver, you’ll be disqualified for 6 months if you hit 7 points in 3 years.

In 12 months, the number of drivers with penalty points grew by 40,000.

Penalty point enforcement is accelerating.

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This is the first in a series of short articles on penalty point offences in Ireland.