Driving offence
Drug driving sentence calculator
Choose the factors in the court guideline and enter weekly net income where it applies.
Summary: The guideline combines culpability and harm. It says a drug level cannot be directly connected to harm, so the calculator does not ask for one. This is an adult magistrates' court guideline for England and Wales.
Not published
None published
Unlimited
Checked on .
- DG10 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.
- 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.
Guideline categories and sentence ranges
| Category | Starting point | Sentence range | Disqualification | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 12 weeks custody | High level community order to 26 weeks custody | 29 to 36 months | None in the ordinary guideline because disqualification is obligatory |
| Category 2 | Medium level community order | Low level to high level community order | 17 to 28 months | None in the ordinary guideline because disqualification is obligatory |
| Category 3 | Band C fine | Band B fine to low level community order | 12 to 16 months | None in the ordinary guideline because disqualification is obligatory |
Which factors does the guideline use?
- Higher culpability includes a goods vehicle or passenger service vehicle, commercial purpose, or another specified drug or alcohol in the body.
- Greater harm includes obvious impairment or an unacceptable standard of driving.
- A second relevant conviction within 10 years changes the minimum disqualification ranges.
Why is this not a sentence prediction?
- The court decides the sentence. This calculator reports the guideline and is not a prediction.
- The ordinary guideline requires disqualification for at least 12 months. A second relevant offence carries a minimum 3 year disqualification.
Common questions
- Does the drug level decide the category?
- No. The guideline says the level cannot be directly connected to the harm caused.
- Is there a fixed penalty?
- No fixed penalty is published for this offence.
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.
- 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.
- Careless driving sentence calculatorThe 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.
Sources
Guideline and penalty figures were checked against the linked official pages on 10 September 2026.
- Sentencing Council for England and Wales, Driving or attempting to drive with a specified drug above the specified limit (as of 10 September 2026)
- Sentencing Council for England and Wales, Approach to fines: fine bands (as of 10 September 2026)
- GOV.UK, Drugs and driving: the law (as of 10 September 2026)