CQC and KB points: when does a deduction affect the professional qualification?

If an offence occurs while you are carrying out a professional service that requires a CQC or CAP KB, points are deducted from that qualification, not from your driving licence. If you are driving privately or a vehicle that does not require the qualification, the deduction applies to your driving licence.

Points are not all part of one balance

A driving licence has its own points system. Specific rules also apply to the CQC and KB in some circumstances. The Ministry explains that a deduction from a professional qualification must be assessed in relation to the offence and whether it was committed while working. Simply holding a CQC does not mean every offence automatically affects that qualification; nor can you assume the opposite without checking the rule.

If you receive a penalty notice, identify the alleged offence, the vehicle, the driver and whether you were carrying out a professional service. The outcome depends on the facts and the applicable wording of the Highway Code. For an individual case, comply with the deadlines in the notice and seek qualified advice; a general guide cannot assess whether a penalty notice is lawful. The MIT publishes information on CQC and KB points, and the Portale dell’Automobilista provides services relating to your balance.

The CQC, KB and driving licence each start with 20 points. A training course can restore up to 9 points on a CQC or KB, provided the balance has not reached zero. If a professional qualification loses all its points, it is subject to a separate review; the outcome concerns that qualification and not the driving licence, unless the licence itself has a zero balance or a separate measure applies.

• Check which qualification and offence are named in the notice.
• Check whether the conduct occurred while carrying out professional activity.
• Check your balances through official channels and observe appeal deadlines.

How to document the situation

Keep a copy of the notice, work shift details, vehicle documents and any communication from your employer. This information may help determine which qualification the deduction applies to. Do not ignore the notice while waiting for the balance to update: administrative deadlines run as stated in the notification. If the system shows inconsistent information, contact the official service and ask how to submit a challenge or correction.

Your driving licence may have consequences separate from those affecting the CQC or KB; suspension or loss of a requirement may affect your ability to work. Professional drivers should therefore check each qualification regularly and speak to their employer's manager if they receive a notice.

Prevention and study

A request for clarification should state whether the offence was reported against the driver or vehicle owner, and whether the driver was on duty. These facts may matter for the points notification and any later procedure. Do not pay or appeal based only on an online summary: read the full notice and, if necessary, seek legal assistance within the deadline. Keep the reference number for any request to correct the balance submitted to the official service.

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