Reducing Your Driving Disqualification

Q: Do I need to go to court to make an application to reduce my disqualification from driving?

Yes, you'll need to go to court. We'll submit your application to the court and the court will then give you a hearing date. At this hearing, we’ll organise for you to be represented by a barrister and they’ll submit your application to court on your behalf.

Q: Is it worth applying to reduce my disqualification?

Applying to the court to reduce your disqualification period means you could be driving again in a shorter space of time than originally sentenced. This can be invaluable if you rely on driving for your family or job. Our lawyers can advise and assist you in preparing an application that stands the best chance of reducing your disqualification period. Get in touch with us to discuss your options.

A driving disqualification can cause significant disruption to your everyday life. If you depend on driving for work, caring responsibilities, medical appointments, or supporting loved ones, being disqualified can have serious personal and financial consequences.

Our experienced motoring law solicitors can help you make an application to the court for the early removal of your driving disqualification, allowing you to get back on the road sooner.

We can guide you through the process and give you the best chance of success.

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Can you apply to reduce your driving disqualification period?

Yes. Under the law, if you have been disqualified from driving for a set period, you may apply to the court for the early removal of your disqualification after serving a minimum portion of the ban.

The eligibility rules depend on the length of the original disqualification:

Disqualification less than 4 years:
You may apply after 2 years have passed.
Disqualification between 4 and 10 years:
You may apply after half the disqualification period.
Disqualification of 10 years or more:
You may apply after 5 years

It’s important to understand that the court has complete discretion when deciding whether to remove your disqualification early. This means there is no guarantee that your application will succeed, but a strong application significantly increases your chances.

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Why apply for early removal?

There are many valid reasons why a court may consider ending a driving disqualification early, including:

You need to drive for work or risk losing your employment
You need a licence to care for children or dependants
You must drive to attend essential medical appointments
Your personal circumstances have changed significantly since the ban began

We will help you identify the strongest grounds for your application and prepare the appropriate supporting evidence.

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How we help with an application to reduce your driving disqualification

Our role is to guide you through the process from start to finish. We will:

1. Take your instructions and review your case

We will gather all relevant documents, review the circumstances of your original offence, and explore how the disqualification has affected your life and the reasons why you need your licence back earlier.

2. Prepare your application and supporting evidence

This may include:

Letters from employers
Medical evidence
Statements from family members
Proof of training, rehabilitation, or positive conduct since disqualification

3. Submit your application to the court

We lodge the application with the court that imposed your original disqualification and request a hearing date at the earliest opportunity.

4. Represent you at the court hearing

We instruct a specialist motoring law barrister to present your application. The court will then decide whether your disqualification should be removed early or remain in place.

If the application is successful, you will need to apply to the DVLA for the reinstatement of your licence.

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Speak to our expert

We have the largest private client team in the UK, our team of experts are here to provide discreet legal advice to support you and your family.

Loren Hills

Associate Chartered Legal Executive

Find out more

Meet our experts

Loren Hills

Associate Chartered Legal Executive

Find out more

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my driving disqualification reduced?

It isn’t guaranteed that your disqualification will be reduced. However, certain factors can make it more likely. You must have a good reason to justify to the court why your disqualification should be reduced.

Reasons could include:

You need to be able to drive to do your job
Not being able to drive impacts your employment opportunities
You need to drive to be able to see and look after your children
You need to drive yourself or a loved one to medical appointments.

If my first application for an early removal of a driving ban is unsuccessful, can I reapply?

Yes, you can make another application to get your disqualification reduced if your first one isn’t successful.

However, you can only make another application after three months of the last one being rejected.

The court will take various factors into consideration when deciding on if your disqualification should be reduced.

They’ll consider all relevant information, which includes:

Your conduct during your disqualification period
The case for which you were originally disqualified from driving
Any job offers you’ve had that depend on you being able to drive
Any valid needs that you have to drive, such as medical problems.

Do I need to go to court to make an application to reduce my disqualification from driving?

Is it worth applying to reduce my disqualification?

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