Hello! I am Gemma, a legal assistant here at Lawyer Destroyer. I would be happy to explain what happens if your driving licence is revoked under the new driver rules in England and Wales.
The new driver rules in brief:
Under the law, you are classed as a new driver for the first two years after you pass your practical driving test. If you build up six or more penalty points on your licence during this two-year probation period, the DVLA will automatically revoke your licence.
What revocation means for you:
Revocation is not the same as a driving ban or disqualification. A ban usually means you cannot drive for a set period of time. Revocation simply means your full driving licence is cancelled and you are put back to the status of a learner driver.
When you hit six points, the courts notify the DVLA, and the DVLA will send you a notice confirming that your licence has been revoked. You must stop driving as soon as your licence is revoked. Driving without a valid licence is a serious offence and will invalidate your motor insurance.
How to get your full licence back:
Because there is no set waiting period like there is with a driving ban, you can start the process of getting your full licence back straight away. Here are the steps you will need to take:
1. Apply and pay for a new provisional driving licence from the DVLA.
2. Follow all learner driver rules when you are behind the wheel. This means you must display L plates on the car and be supervised by someone who is over 21 and has held a full driving licence for at least three years.
3. Book, pay for, and pass a new theory test.
4. Book, pay for, and pass a new practical driving test.
Once you pass your practical test again, you will be issued a new full driving licence. You do not get another two-year probation period when you pass this second time.
A quick warning about your penalty points:
It is really important to know that having your licence revoked does not wipe the penalty points away. The points that caused the revocation will carry over onto your new provisional licence, and then onto your new full driving licence once you pass. They usually stay active for three years from the date of the offence.
Because you already have at least six points on your record, you will need to be very careful when you are back on the road. If you build up twelve or more points within any three-year period, you will normally face a standard totting-up driving ban, which usually lasts for at least six months.
I hope this breaks things down clearly and helps you understand your next steps. Let me know if you need help with anything else.
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