Safety and rules
How does the safe-driving points bonus work?
The points system awards credits for driving without offences that deduct points. Here are the general rules and where to check your balance.
A driving licence starts with 20 points. If you have at least 20 and incur no deductions, you gain 2 points every two years, up to 30. New drivers may gain 1 point for each of their first three years without an offence that deducts points.
Credits reward time without point deductions
The penalty-points system starts with an initial balance and may award credits if the licence holder commits no offences that deduct points during the relevant period. The general rule is in Article 126-bis of the Highway Code: bonus points accrue over time but cannot exceed the prescribed maximum. The MIT also specifies how new drivers are treated; separate conditions apply to their annual credits during the first years.
Do not confuse the safe-driving bonus with points recovered through a course. The bonus depends on completing the period without an offence that deducts points; recovery requires an authorised course and is subject to category limits. Check your balance through the Motorist’s Portal, the official record of deductions and credits. A fine does not always mean points are deducted: the notice must state the offence and deduction.
If your balance has fallen below 20 but remains above zero, two years without deductions restore it to 20. Only then can you earn further two-year bonuses, up to 30. New drivers may gain up to three points through annual credits during their first three years.
- Check your balance through official channels, rather than by informal calculation.
- Check whether you are still in the new-driver period.
- Distinguish automatic credits from points recovered through a course.
What can interrupt the process
An offence carrying a points deduction can affect the credit award. Read the notice and current rules: the offence date, identification of the driver and recording of the balance may happen at different times. If the system does not match the notices received, contact the official service or relevant office; do not assume a credit has been awarded before the record is updated.
The system sets maximums and different rules for certain circumstances. If your licence has been suspended, sent for review or reclassified, check your full record. If all points are lost, the driver may be required by law to undergo a licence review; follow the instructions in the notice you receive.
Use your balance as a reminder
Bonus points are credited under the applicable rules and data in the National Register of Authorised Drivers; you do not need to apply for each period of safe driving. If your balance does not show the expected credit, first check that the update period has passed and that no points were deducted. New drivers should consult the MIT’s dedicated guidance: the initial annual-credit system is separate from the standard two-year bonus.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps you revise the rules with chapter-based study, timed quizzes and review of mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you gain for driving without offences?
Two points every two years if you start with at least 20, up to 30. If your balance is below 20 but above zero, two years without deductions restore it to 20. New drivers may gain one point a year for their first three years.
Can the bonus exceed the prescribed maximum?
No. The Highway Code sets a maximum and specific rules for some driver categories.