More than 10,000 drivers hit with penalty points last year for driving cars ‘unfit for the roads’
More than 10,000 drivers got behind the wheel of unroadworthy vehicles in Britain last year, prompting the RAC to issue a stark warning that “too many vehicles are not roadworthy”.
Figures obtained by the motoring organization from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) reveal that 10,054 drivers will receive penalty points in 2025 for problems such as faulty brakes, tires or steering.
This marked a decrease of 3,055 on the previous year, although the RAC expressed uncertainty, saying it was “difficult to know” whether this drop was due to better vehicle maintenance or fewer traffic officers on the roads.
The region in Britain where drivers of unroadworthy vehicles were caught most in 2025 was Scotland, with 1,244.
This was followed by London (1,182), Yorkshire and the Humber (995) and the West Midlands (969).
Most cases of driving an unroadworthy vehicle result in three penalty points on a driving licence, valid for four years.
RAC mechanic of the year Jack Halstead said: “Too many vehicles are unfit for the roads and pose a danger not only to the driver but also to other road users.
“Having bald tires significantly reduces grip, greatly increases stopping distance and increases the risk of blowouts.
“But every mechanical component in the vehicle, whether it’s tires, brakes, steering or anything else, plays a critical role.
“And that’s probably just the tip of the iceberg; with police traffic units decreasing, more criminals are likely to be evading police officers and putting themselves and others at risk.”
An investigation in early June found more than 4,000 motorists were allowed onto the road despite at least 12 speeding hotspots.
The RAC, which carried out the investigation, called on the Government to force repeat and speeders to fit devices to their vehicles to prevent future crime.
DVLA figures show 4,154 people in Britain are legally allowed to drive, even if they are over the threshold of losing their license after being caught speeding.
Drivers will be given between three and six penalty points for excessive speed, depending on the severity of the incident.
Points are also given for other offenses such as careless and careless driving, drunk driving and cell phone use.
Under the collection process, if drivers receive 12 or more points over a three-year period, they are generally banned for six months unless they can convince the court that this would cause extraordinary hardship, which may relate to their ability to work or care for their family.
DVLA figures show 117 license holders collected more than 20 points for speeding; one of them received 45 points.
