Totting Up Bans – Covent Garden Driving Offence Solicitors

A totting up ban occurs when a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period. Importantly, this three-year window is calculated from the dates of the offences, not the dates of conviction or sentencing.

Once you reach 12 points, the court is required to impose a minimum six-month driving disqualification. For many drivers, this can have devastating consequences, particularly if you rely on your licence for work, family commitments or everyday responsibilities.

Can a Totting Up Ban Be Avoided?

Fortunately, there are legal arguments that may allow you to avoid or reduce a disqualification. These include:

• Exceptional Hardship – demonstrating to the court that a ban would cause disproportionate hardship to you or others (for example, loss of employment, impact on dependants or vulnerable family members).

• Defending the Latest Offence – if there are grounds to challenge the most recent allegation, successfully defending it may prevent you from reaching 12 points.

• Special Reasons Argument – in certain cases, it may be possible to argue that penalty points should not be imposed for the most recent offence, meaning your points total stays below 12.

Why Legal Representation Matters

Courts take totting up bans seriously, but with skilled legal representation, it is often possible to keep your licence. Our specialist driving offence solicitors in Covent Garden understand that a driving disqualification can have severe personal and financial consequences, and we know how to build strong, persuasive arguments to protect your future.

📞 If you are facing a totting up ban or have received a court summons, contact our Covent Garden solicitors today. We will act quickly to review your case, advise on possible defences, and fight to help you keep your licence.