New data reveals that Halifax, Huddersfield and Plymouth have the highest share of drivers in the UK with penalty points on their licences, and it’s not just a small number.
According to the latest DVLA records (as of May 2025), around 1 in 10 drivers in these towns have at least one point on their licence. On average, they’ve got four points each.
The research, carried out by Regtransfers, looked into the DVLA database to find out where the UK’s worst driving records are clustered, and some of the results might surprise you.
Across the country, drivers currently have a huge 12 million active penalty points. On average, if you’ve got points on your licence, you’re likely carrying around four.
But in some places, the numbers are higher.
Halifax tops the list, where 10.1% of local drivers have points. That means for every 10 drivers on the road, at least one has a recent driving offence on record.
Close behind are Huddersfield, Plymouth and Truro, where around 9% of drivers have points.
Where are drivers clocking up the most points?
While the number of drivers with points is highest in the towns above, Oxford drivers have the highest average per person with five points each. That’s dangerously close to the six-point limit that can get new drivers automatically banned.
If you passed your test less than two years ago, just six points is enough to lose your licence. For everyone else, it takes 12 points at one time to trigger a ban.
Interestingly, Oxford doesn’t appear in the top 10 list for total drivers with points, but when someone there gets penalised, they’re racking up more per offence.
Top 10 Areas for Drivers with Penalty Points (May 2025)
| Town/City | Licence holders (full & provisional) | Licences with points | Total points | % of licences with points | Avg points per licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | 128,642 | 13,032 | 53,045 | 10.1 | 4 |
| Huddersfield | 212,189 | 19,479 | 79,148 | 9.2 | 4 |
| Plymouth | 457,398 | 41,239 | 165,915 | 9 | 4 |
| Truro | 263,286 | 23,661 | 93,845 | 9 | 4 |
| Leeds | 625,967 | 53,016 | 216,524 | 8.5 | 4 |
| Telford | 192,025 | 15,383 | 59,719 | 8 | 4 |
| Bradford | 456,659 | 36,192 | 152,612 | 7.9 | 4 |
| Exeter | 489,330 | 38,700 | 150,497 | 7.9 | 4 |
| Wakefield | 422,266 | 32,983 | 135,104 | 7.8 | 4 |
| Torquay | 246,618 | 19,178 | 74,806 | 7.8 | 4 |
London has the most penalty points overall with 1.76 million of them. That’s more than three times as many as Birmingham, the next highest city, and over 14% of all points in the UK.
Per capita, it’s not much better with 212 points per 1,000 licences, which is double the national town average.
What does it all mean?
Mark Trimbee, CEO of Regtransfers, says the findings show just how many people are carrying points on their licence and that it’s not just a big city problem.
"It’s easy to assume poor driving habits are confined to big cities or motorways, but the data tells a different story, and it’s interesting to see Halifax, Huddersfield and Plymouth at the top of our data," he said.
One important note: Points aren’t always added where you live. They can be from anywhere in the UK, depending on where you were caught.
So if you're behind the wheel, especially as a newer driver, keep your record clean. Six points can come quicker than you think.
