Road traffic law

Protect your licence.

Losing your licence can affect your work, your family and the people who rely on you. We’ll help you make the strongest case you properly can to keep driving.

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How you can lose your licence

You can lose your licence in several ways. Some offences, such as drink driving and dangerous driving, carry an obligatory disqualification. For others the court may disqualify at its discretion. If you reach 12 or more penalty points within three years, the court must usually disqualify you for at least six months under the totting-up rules, and for longer if you have been disqualified before.

New drivers face a stricter rule. Under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995, if you build up 6 or more penalty points within two years of passing your first driving test, the DVLA will revoke your licence. You then have to apply for a provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again.

A ban is not always inevitable. If you face a totting-up disqualification, the court can reduce or avoid it if you show that a ban would cause exceptional hardship, for example to your employer, your family or people who depend on you. In other cases, special reasons connected with the offence may allow the court not to endorse your licence or not to disqualify.

These arguments need careful preparation, evidence and, often, witnesses who can speak to the hardship. We help you gather that evidence, prepare your statement and present your case in court. If you are disqualified, we explain what happens next, including when you can apply for your licence back and what you need to do before driving again.

What we do for you

  • Totting-up disqualifications at 12 points
  • Exceptional hardship applications
  • Special reasons arguments
  • New drivers and the 6-point rule
  • Obligatory and discretionary disqualifications
  • Advice on driving while disqualified allegations

Licence matters we deal with

We advise on every route to a ban and on the arguments that may help you keep driving.

  1. Totting up

    Reaching 12 or more points within three years and facing a minimum ban.

  2. Exceptional hardship

    Showing the court that a ban would cause hardship beyond the ordinary.

  3. Special reasons

    Circumstances of the offence that may avoid points or a disqualification.

  4. New drivers

    Six or more points within two years of passing your first test.

  5. Discretionary bans

    Cases where the court is considering a ban for a single offence.

  6. Driving while disqualified

    Advice and representation if you are accused of driving during a ban.

How we help you keep driving

The earlier we start, the more time there is to prepare your evidence.

  1. Check your position

    We look at your licence record and the current charge to work out exactly what you face.

  2. Identify the arguments

    We assess whether exceptional hardship or special reasons may apply in your case.

  3. Prepare the evidence

    We help you gather documents and witness statements, and prepare you to give evidence.

  4. Present your case

    We represent you at court and put your arguments to the magistrates clearly and carefully.

Wasef Ali

Key contact

Wasef Ali

Solicitor, road traffic and criminal defence

Wasef defends road traffic and criminal cases, and provides meticulous representation and client care in the Magistrates’ and Youth Courts. He joined Liberty Law Solicitors in 2013, completed his training contract with the firm and is an accredited police station representative.

24-hour line 01582 853 783 Request a callback

What our clients say

Real feedback from the people we have represented, published on ReviewSolicitors and Google.

Craig Woods
Craig Woods
★★★★★
Contacted liberty law and from start to finish very happy with the whole process very helpful polite and easy to deal with they real do now there stuff
Karen
Karen
★★★★★
I could not recommend this firm enough. They manage to maintain complete professionalism whilst also being personable. Rasheda and Dean clearly explained every step of the process from beginning to end, with Dean taking the time to explain all of legal jargon. I really appreciated this as it made, what started as a daunting experience, so much easier to complete. I am so glad that I took the time to look around and read reviews before choosing any local firm. It really made a difference. Thank you Liberty Law.
Muhammad Khan
Muhammad Khan
★★★★★
Liberty Law took over my case at its hardest point. Dean Garrett was calm, straight-talking and on top of every detail from the first call: he strengthened my case, instructed an outstanding barrister, and his judgement was right at every turn. Rasheda kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes — calls arranged, documents where they needed to be, nothing ever too much trouble. My case concluded on day two of the final hearing, with an outcome I was very pleased with. They believed in my case when it mattered, and they delivered. Highly recommended.
Chapo
Chapo
★★★★★
I had an excellent experience. They were professional, knowledgeable, and always kept me informed throughout the process. They took the time to answer my questions, provided clear advice, and worked hard to achieve a great outcome. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for reliable and dedicated legal representation. If you are looking for professionalism and results you have come to the right place!!
Tinksy 37
Tinksy 37
★★★★★
Cannot thank the guys enough my solicitor went absolutely above and beyond
Abdul Basit
Abdul Basit
★★★★★
I contacted Liberty Law Solicitors regarding one of my legal cases. Throughout the past year, Mr. Faris Nazar handled my case with exceptional dedication, honesty, sincerity, and professionalism. Thanks to his hard work and expertise, I was ultimately successful in my case. I can confidently say that this firm is highly professional and genuinely committed to serving its clients. They have earned my trust, and I would highly recommend their services.👏
Mohammed
Mohammed
★★★★★
Where do I even start from the start to the very end they delivered I can’t thank the team and Itsam Malik enough for the results we was looking at 16-20 years and they got it down to 3 years which turned into 10 months the whole team and Itsam malik are great people!
M. T
M. T
★★★★★
I cannot thank Liberty Law Solicitors enough for the support and representation I received during a very difficult and stressful time. My solicitor Dean Garrett was honest, clear, and professional from the outset, explaining my situation and the possible outcomes without giving false reassurance. I really appreciated that level of transparency. The preparation for the hearing was thorough and made a real difference. I felt well guided throughout the process and was able to stay calm and focused because of the support I received. I am very grateful for the work carried out on my case and would highly recommend Liberty Law Solicitors to anyone in need of strong, honest, and professional legal representation.
Kamal Hussain
Kamal Hussain
★★★★★
I recently sought advice and support from Atiq at Liberty Law Solicitors regarding an employment matter. I’m genuinely grateful for the way Atiq handled everything. He made the whole process feel manageable, took the time to explain things clearly, and provided steady reassurance throughout. Knowing I had someone knowledgeable and dependable guiding me made a big difference. It’s incredibly reassuring to have Atiq and the team at Liberty Law in your corner. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
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Questions people ask

General information, not advice on your case. For that, speak to us — the first conversation costs nothing.

What is exceptional hardship?

It is an argument that a totting-up disqualification would cause hardship beyond the ordinary inconvenience of losing a licence. Hardship to other people, such as an employer, colleagues or dependent family members, is often especially relevant. The decision is for the court, and you must prove the hardship with evidence.

Can I use the same exceptional hardship argument again?

If the court has accepted exceptional hardship to avoid or reduce a totting-up ban in the last three years, it cannot take the same circumstances into account again. That is why it is important to prepare the first application carefully.

I’m a new driver with 6 points. What happens?

If you reach 6 or more points within two years of passing your first test, the DVLA will revoke your licence. You will need to reapply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests again. We can advise you before your case is decided, while there may still be options.

How long do penalty points count?

For totting-up purposes, points count if the offences were committed within three years of each other. Points stay on your driving record for a set period depending on the offence. We can check your record with you.

What happens if I drive while disqualified?

Driving while disqualified is a serious offence in its own right. It can lead to a further ban and a prison sentence. If you are accused of it, contact us as soon as possible.

Nothing on this page is legal advice, and no solicitor–client relationship is created by reading it. Every case turns on its own facts.

Tell us what has happened.

The first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Two offices, one emergency line, and a solicitor at the end of it.

Luton office

01582 853 783
43 Windmill Road
Luton LU1 3XL

9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday

London office

0208 528 1019
107–111 Fleet Street
London EC4A 2AB

9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday

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