New research published by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and MoneySuperMarket.com has revealed the extent to which penalty points could be pushing up premiums for road users across the UK.

Overall, the study examined the financial implications of drivers having one to three, four to six, seven to nine, 10 to 11 and 12 or more points on their licence, with the resulting cumulative costs in terms of higher insurance premiums coming to a staggering £132 million per year for UK motorists.

Kevin Pratt, insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "When it comes to driving offences, points definitely don't mean prizes. In fact, points on your driving licence mean pounds – extra pounds payable on your car insurance.

"Insurers want to know about your motoring offences so they can build up a picture of what kind of driver you are. The more points they see for offences such as speeding and careless driving, the higher your premium will be."

Responding to the research, IAM chief executive Sarah Sillars added that while some road users may not recognise the risks they are taking by carrying out these offences, they will certainly understand the hit to their wallets that these behaviours undoubtedly bring.

Individuals that drive as part of their job should also be aware that amassing penalty points on their licence could also impact their livelihood.

A driving conviction can have far-reaching implications for people in many professions and it therefore pays for all road users to do everything they can to stay on the right side of the law at all times.