Drivers would consider swapping penalty points

Up to one in ten drivers would consider paying or asking someone to take their penalty points if it meant losing their licence or the possibility of large hikes in their insurance premiums, according to research by Confused.com.

On average a driver with three points will see premiums leap 7%, rising to 25% for six points and a jaw dropping 50% for nine points. Worse still, the number of insurers willing to insure a driver with nine points can halve.

The research revealed that drivers wishing to pass on their points will, on average, need to shell out £100 per penalty point, although a quarter of those willing to take points said they would charge up to £500 per point.

Finding a willing 'points' recipient appears to be the biggest challenge for drivers as 96% of people claimed they would not take another person's points for cash. It is perhaps for this reason that the vast majority of drivers would turn to friends or family to take their points.

Partners topped the list of people drivers would approach to take their points, accounting for 62 per cent of those polled followed by friends at 14 per cent, then work colleagues (3 per cent) and offspring (2 per cent). Surprisingly, 10 per cent of people would consider approaching a complete stranger to offload their points.

Commenting on the findings, Debra Williams, Managing Director, Confused.com said: "Speed cameras don't always capture an accurate picture of the person driving. Shadows or sunlight reflecting off the glass can obscure a person's face resulting in a lucrative black market for point swappers."

Debra added: "However, this is a dangerous lottery to play. The consequences of selling or buying points could be a criminal record and a spell at 'Her Majesty's pleasure'. Our advice is to ease off the gas, drive more responsibly and avoid the ultimate penalty!"

While some drivers may be tempted not to inform their insurer of points, Confused.com warns strongly against this. "Providing false information can invalidate a policy and prevent a claims payout. This could not only see motorists severely out of pocket, but could result in them being listed as fraudulent on the insurance industry's central fraud database. This could not only affect an individual's future credit eligibility, but significantly increase insurance premiums and dramatically reduce the number of insurers willing to provide cover" , stressed Debra.

Confused.com has developed a series of tips for drivers with points on their license to help lower premiums; a practical alternative to lying about points or getting someone to take points.

Useful tips to help drivers reduce premiums:

Shop around. Every insurer prices differently because they rate risk according to their own individual claims experience, hence it's essential to shop around regularly.

Slow down - points for speeding offences significantly increase insurance premiums. If you keep on speeding, fewer insurers will want to take on your risk.

Add an experienced driver who has a full clean driving license and a good no-claims history to your insurance.

Increase your voluntary excess. Choose how much to pay upfront should you have an accident. The higher your excess the less your annual policy will cost - however, if you have a high excess, make sure you can afford it should the worst happen.

Avoid cars with large engines or modifications. The message is simple, if you want cheaper insurance don't buy a modified car or make any modifications yourself.

Build up your no claims bonus. This is one of the most significant ways of securing cheap insurance long-term. Consider opting for an Accelerator policy that gives you 1 years' no claims bonus in 10 months.

Pay in one lump sum rather than by installments.

Car security. If your car is not fitted with an alarm or immobiliser, buy a steering lock. If insurers know that your car is protected from possible theft, this can reduce your premiums.

Make sure you use any off-road parking available, or a garage if you have one to park in overnight.

Don't 'guesstimate' your annual mileage. Make a more accurate calculation by comparing your MOT certificates.