If you’re disqualified for less than 56 days, the court will stamp your paper driving licence or counterpart document and give it back to you. The stamp shows the disqualification period and you don’t need to renew your licence. The licence becomes valid and you can return to driving after the disqualification ends.

If you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of three years, you’ll be liable to be disqualified under the 'totting-up' system.

Generally, you can be disqualified from driving for:

• six months if you get 12 penalty points or more within three years
• 12 months if you get a second disqualification within three years
• two years if you get a third disqualification