How long do penalty points stay on your driving record?
People using BC’s roads want to be confident they’re safe. ICBC’s penalty points system is designed to help with that, by discouraging high-risk driving. But the points system can be confusing. Learn how penalty points work, and how they affect your insurance premiums.
What you should know
“On my commute home from work I sometimes get a little lead-footed. I’ve been ticketed for speeding twice in the past two months. Now I’ve got six penalty points on my record, and a hefty penalty premium coming my way (not to mention the steep fines!). I get the message: I’ve got to slow down.”
– Carl, Burnaby, BC
In BC, the main law that deals with traffic and driving is called the Motor Vehicle Act. If you get a ticket for violating this law — for example, for speeding or distracted driving — you typically get driver penalty points on your driver’s record.
These penalty points are in addition to any fine you have to pay for the violation.
How many points you get
The number of points you get depends on the driving violation. For example, all speeding violations are three points. Distracted driving earns you four points. Driving while prohibited gets you 10 points.
Here are more examples of driving violations and the penalty points attached to them.
| Driving violation | Penalty points |
|---|---|
| Driving without a seatbelt | 0 |
| Changing lanes without signalling | 2 |
| Running a red light at an intersection | 2 |
| Failing to yield to a pedestrian | 2 |
| Disobeying a stop sign | 3 |
| Speeding in a municipality or on a highway | 3 |
| Using an electronic device while driving | 4 |
For the full list, see ICBC’s website.
Penalty points for criminal offences
Canada’s Criminal Code also includes some driving offences. For example, dangerous driving or impaired driving. The penalty points for these offences range from six to 10. Again, these are in addition to any fine you have to pay.
Parking tickets
You don’t get any penalty points for parking tickets or other minor violations of city bylaws.
Each year, ICBC looks at your driving record for the last twelve-month period (they call this the “assessment period”). They add up the total number of penalty points you received in the assessment period. If you collected four or more points on your record, you’ll have to pay a driver penalty point premium.
Driver penalty point premiums are separate from your basic insurance premiums. (Everyone in BC who owns a vehicle must have basic vehicle insurance from ICBC.) Driver penalty points attach to your driver’s record, so you can be billed for these points even if you don’t own or insure a vehicle.
How much you may have to pay
The dollar amount of the penalty point premium depends on the number of points you received in the assessment period. If you have three or fewer, you don’t need to pay any penalty point premium.
| Number of penalty points | Penalty point premium |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | Nil |
| 4 | $214 |
| 5 | $282 |
| 6 | $367 |
| 7 | $508 |
ICBC has a full list of the penalty point premiums.
How long points stay on your driving record
The driver penalty points you accumulate stay on your driving record for five years. But you only pay the premium once. You’ll receive an invoice just prior to your assessment date, which is usually your birthday.
Premiums for optional insurance
A poor driving record can impact the premiums you pay for optional auto insurance, too. Drivers with frequent or serious driving convictions over a three-year period pay more for optional ICBC insurance coverage. See this factsheet for details.
Now, you may be thinking “Okay, I get it. Penalty points are bad. But how much will I actually end up paying if I get some points?” Let’s walk through a couple examples to illustrate this.
If you get one speeding ticket
Let’s say you get a ticket for speeding on the highway. When ICBC does their yearly review of your last 12 months of driving (your assessment period), this is the only offence that shows up. Consulting ICBC’s chart, speeding on the highway earns you three penalty points. (As well, it comes with a fine.)
As mentioned above, you don’t pay a penalty point premium if you have three or fewer points.
If you get two speeding tickets
Let’s look at a slightly different scenario. Say you get a ticket for speeding on June 1. You get a second speeding ticket two months later, on September 1. In November, ICBC does their yearly review of your driver’s record. They look back at your previous 12 months of driving, and see six penalty points (three for each speeding offence).
The penalty point premium for six points is $367. This is in addition to the fines you were assessed for the tickets.
Order a copy of your driving record
Your driving record (also called a “driver’s abstract”) is a record of your driving history. It shows any driving offences or other traffic tickets you’ve received in the past five years. You can order yours from ICBC for free.
In addition to penalty point premiums explained above, some motorists may have to pay driver risk premiums. These are extra penalties that apply to more serious driving offences. They are also in addition to your regular insurance premiums.
You’ll have to pay a driver risk premium if you have at least one of the following:
one or more driving-related Criminal Code convictions
one or more 10-point Motor Vehicle Act convictions
one or more excessive speeding convictions
two or more roadside suspensions or prohibitions
two or more convictions for using an electronic device while driving
How much you may have to pay
Each year, ICBC reviews your driving record for offences in the previous three years. The amount of the driver risk premium depends on the number and type of convictions you get. For example, the driver risk premium for one Criminal Code conviction (like impaired driving) is $1,108. For two roadside suspensions, it’s $453.
You’ll receive one driver risk premium invoice per year just prior to your assessment date, which is usually your birthday. Since the assessment period is three years, a single conviction may result in a driver risk premium bill in each of the three years.
If you have a driving conviction to which the penalty point premium and the risk premium both apply (excessive speeding, for example), you’ll only be billed for the higher premium.
Reducing your driver risk premium
There are steps you can take to lower or eliminate your driver risk premium. One is to give up your driver’s licence for your entire billing period. This eliminates your risk premium. If you hand in your licence for at least 30 days during your billing period, your premium may be reduced. Contact ICBC to discuss your options.
Racking up points can have consequences beyond penalty points and increased insurance premiums. Those who get too many points may be temporarily prohibited from driving.
A common assumption is that, for those with a class five licence (the basic licence), nine to 11 penalty points leads to a prohibition. And for those with a class seven licence (for new drivers), it’s four points. This is a good rule of thumb, but it’s not the full picture. Under the law, ICBC has a wide discretion to impose a driving prohibition. It’s the circumstances behind why you got the points that ICBC looks at.
Consider a couple examples
For example, say you’re a class five driver and you have seven penalty points. Those points came from two offences: excessive speeding and distracted driving. ICBC considers these high-risk offences, so they may issue you a driving prohibition even though you’re below the nine-point threshold. In other words, high-risk offences are more likely to get you in trouble.
ICBC also looks for patterns of conduct. A driver who keeps getting ticketed for the same offence is more likely to get a driving prohibition. The focus here is on a continuing disregard for the rules of the road, rather than the total number of points.
You can apply for a driving prohibition review
If you receive a driving prohibition, you may be able to apply for a review. This is a legal process you can use to challenge your prohibition. An adjudicator will review any evidence or statements you provide, and decide whether to revoke your prohibition. See the provincial government’s website for details.
Penalty points are added to your driver’s record if you plead guilty to a driving offence. (Or if a court convicts you of an offence.) If you pay a traffic ticket, you’re admitting you are guilty.
If you don’t agree with a ticket, you can dispute it (that is, fight it). Most tickets must be disputed within 30 days. But check the ticket carefully in case there is a shorter time limit.
For step-by-step guidance, see how to dispute a traffic ticket.
