Penalty points and fines
When are penalty points restored for good driving?
Automatic restoration depends on how long you go without an offence that incurs points and on your current balance. Check the latest position on the Portale.
The Highway Code provides for automatic restoration to the starting balance after the prescribed period without offences that incur penalty points, provided your balance is above zero. Drivers who already have at least 20 points may receive additional credits, up to the statutory maximum.
The rule depends on your starting balance
Article 126-bis distinguishes two situations. If a driver has fewer than 20 points but more than zero, two years without offences that incur points restore the balance to its starting level. If the driver has at least 20 points, the same period may add credit, up to the limit set by law.
Do not calculate the period from the date you read the penalty notice. MIT explains that points are deducted after the alleged offence becomes final; appeals, payments and notifications by the authority affect when the change is recorded. For your individual calculation, check the Portale and the dates on your notices.
Newly qualified drivers
MIT also describes a specific bonus for newly qualified drivers during their first years: points are awarded for each year that passes without an offence resulting in a deduction. Do not apply this rule to all licence holders or later periods; this bonus has its own conditions and limit.
If you have recently passed your test, check which offences incur points and make a note of any notices you receive. An offence that does not incur points does not stop the period in the rule from running, but if a notice is contested or still pending, ask the relevant service how that affects the start date.
Check your actual balance
Check your balance through the official Portale dell’Automobilista service and note the date. If the automatic credit does not appear when expected, check for intervening deductions or cases that have not yet been resolved, then contact the enforcement authority for clarification.
Restoration for good driving is separate from approved courses: a course may restore points under MIT rules before the automatic period has elapsed, provided your balance has not reached zero. Do not rely on your own estimate when deciding whether to drive; the official decision and recorded balance are authoritative.
To review road traffic rules, you can use Quiz Patente Ufficiale which offers chapters, exam-style quizzes and a review of mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
Are two points always added every two years?
No. The rule depends on your balance: below 20 but above zero, the starting balance is restored; at 20 points or more, credit is added up to the statutory limit. Check the relevant MIT guidance.
Does the new-driver bonus apply for the whole life of the licence?
No. MIT describes it for the first three years after passing, with annual awards conditional on avoiding offences that incur points. Check the current rules for your circumstances.