Fines for using a mobile phone while driving

The fine for using a mobile phone while driving is six points and a fine of £200 (up from 3 points and £100).

Learner drivers: The law is especially tough on new drivers. Drivers must not amass more than six points in their first two years of driving, otherwise their driving licence is revoked, and that means having to sit the theory and practical test again, as well as apply and pay for a new provisional licence.

 

Fully licenced drivers: they can amass 11 points before they lose their licence. The twelfth point means having to take the tests again. That means two mobile phone offences within three years will cause a disqualification.

These rules apply to all new drivers who passed their first driving test in:

• Great Britain
• Northern Ireland
• Isle of Man
• Channel Islands
• Gibraltar
• the European Community (EC) and European Economic Area (EEA)

The EC/EEA countries are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

There isn’t another 2 year period if you pass a test for another category of vehicle, for example to drive a heavy goods vehicle.

Any endorsements stay on your licence between 4 and 11 years (depending on the severity) and automatically expire.