Driving offence
Careless driving sentence calculator
Choose the factors in the court guideline and enter weekly net income where it applies.
Summary: The guideline has three culpability levels and two harm levels. Their combination selects a fine from Band A to Band D and the points or possible ban. This is an adult magistrates' court guideline for England and Wales.
£100
3
Unlimited
Checked on .
- CD10 endorsementPoints, retention and declaration rules.
- All driving offencesCompare eight common offence guidelines.
- Drink driving sentence calculatorThe alcohol reading selects the guideline row. A court must disqualify for at least 12 months and decides the final sentence after all case factors.
- Drug driving sentence calculatorThe guideline combines culpability and harm. It says a drug level cannot be directly connected to harm, so the calculator does not ask for one.
Guideline categories and sentence ranges
| Category | Starting point | Sentence range | Disqualification | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culpability A, harm 1 | Band D fine | Band D fine | Consider disqualification | 7 to 9 points if not disqualified |
| Culpability A, harm 2 | Band C fine | Band C fine | Consider disqualification | 7 to 9 points if not disqualified |
| Culpability B, harm 1 | Band C fine | Band C fine | Consider up to 56 days | 5 to 6 points if not disqualified |
| Culpability B, harm 2 | Band B fine | Band B fine | Consider up to 56 days | 5 to 6 points if not disqualified |
| Culpability C, harm 1 | Band B fine | Band B fine | No numerical range published | 3 to 4 points |
| Culpability C, harm 2 | Band A fine | Band A fine | No numerical range published | 3 to 4 points |
Which factors does the guideline use?
- Culpability A is driving close to the dangerous driving threshold or an extreme culpability B factor.
- Harm 1 means injury or damage to property or a vehicle.
Why is this not a sentence prediction?
- The court decides the sentence. This calculator reports the guideline and is not a prediction.
- The points or disqualification choice follows culpability, while the fine band also uses harm.
Common questions
- What is the fixed penalty for careless driving?
- The published out of court disposal is £100 and 3 points.
- Can careless driving lead to a ban?
- Yes. The guideline tells the court to consider disqualification in culpability A and B cases.
Related pages
- Drink driving sentence calculatorThe alcohol reading selects the guideline row. A court must disqualify for at least 12 months and decides the final sentence after all case factors.
- Drug driving sentence calculatorThe guideline combines culpability and harm. It says a drug level cannot be directly connected to harm, so the calculator does not ask for one.
- Mobile phone driving offence sentenceThe fixed penalty is £200 and 6 points. In court the ordinary starting point is a Band B fine, raised to Band C for the factors stated in the guideline.
- Driving without insurance sentence calculatorThe fixed penalty is £300 and 6 points. A court uses culpability and harm to select one of three categories and can impose an unlimited fine or disqualification.
Sources
Guideline and penalty figures were checked against the linked official pages on 10 September 2026.
- Sentencing Council for England and Wales, Careless Driving (drive without due care and attention) (as of 10 September 2026)
- Sentencing Council for England and Wales, Approach to fines: fine bands (as of 10 September 2026)
- Sentencing Council for England and Wales, Out of court disposals (as of 10 September 2026)
- GOV.UK, New penalties for careless driving come into force (as of 10 September 2026)