Penalty Points Drive Up Insurance Costs for 16,000 Wicklow Drivers

More than 12,500 Wicklow drivers have three points, 294 have 9 points, and 41 are on 12 points, the threshold for disqualification.

New analysis shows 16,290 drivers in Wicklow now hold three or more penalty points.  Insurers are warning speeding and phone use behind the wheel are pushing up premiums, and increasing the risk of disqualification.

The new figures from OUTsurance suggest thousands of motorists in Wicklow are accelerating towards higher motor insurance premiums.

Official penalty points data for the first half of 2026 indicates 16,290 Wicklow drivers hold three or more points; a threshold insurers commonly factor into how they calculate premiums. Car insurance providers say many motorists aren't unaware that points on a licence can carry a financial cost well beyond the initial fine.

WICKLOW NUMBERS

The vast majority of Wicklow drivers with points - 12,621 - sit at three points, mirroring the national pattern. A smaller group are edging close to the road; 26 drivers are on 11 points, just one offence away from disqualification, while 41 Wicklow drivers have already reached the mandatory 12 point threshold that takes them off the road entirely.

NATIONAL RISE, DRIVEN BY SPEEDING

Nationally, the number of drivers picking up penalty points has risen by almost eight per cent over the past year, an increase of roughly 40,000 drivers. Speeding accounts for two-thirds of all penalty point offences.

"We're trying to draw attention to the need for greater care on Irish roads." says Ian Kennedy of OUTsurance.

The Chief Marketing Officer says the dangers of speeding and mobile phone use at the wheel are well known, but drivers can lose sight of them once they're on the road. He suggests awareness of the added financial cost, on top of the penalty itself, could act as a further deterrent.

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOUR PREMIUM?

Insurers weigh up a wide range of factors when setting premiums. Penalty points play a significant role. The type of offence and the category of licence held can also impact the calculation. As a general rule, the more points a driver carries, the more you're likely to pay.