Drink Driving Penalty Calculator UK
Estimate your potential fine, driving ban length, and penalty band based on your breath alcohol reading and offence history under UK sentencing guidelines.
Offence Details
Enter the breath alcohol reading and offence circumstances
UK legal limit is 35µg/100ml. Enter the reading from the police breathalyser.
Penalty Estimation
Based on Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines
Enter the breath alcohol reading and offence details above, then click Estimate Penalty.
Alcohol Limits & Penalty Bands
The legal alcohol limits for driving in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the corresponding sentencing bands for excess alcohol offences.
| Measurement | Legal Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Breath | 35 µg/100ml | Standard police breathalyser test |
| Blood | 80 mg/100ml | Taken at a police station or hospital |
| Urine | 107 mg/100ml | Used if blood/breath tests cannot be provided |
| Band (Breath Reading) | Disqualification | Other Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| Band A (36 – 59 µg) | 12 – 29 months | Band B Fine (~50% weekly income) |
| Band B (60 – 89 µg) | 29 – 36 months | Band B/C Fine or Community Order |
| Band C (90 – 119 µg) | 36 – 44 months | Community Order or up to 12 weeks custody |
| Band C (120+ µg) | 36 – 60 months | Community Order or up to 26 weeks custody |
Drink Driving Law FAQ
Critical information about UK drink driving laws, penalties, and what to expect if you are charged.
The legal limit in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood, and 107 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of urine. Scotland has a lower limit of 22 microgrammes in breath.
For driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol, the minimum ban is 12 months for a first offence. Higher readings or previous convictions can result in bans of 29 to 60 months depending on the sentencing band.
Yes, if you are banned for 12 months or more, the court may offer you a place on a Drink Driving Rehabilitation Course (DDRC). Successfully completing the course can reduce your disqualification period by up to 25%.
Refusing to provide a specimen (breath, blood, or urine) without a reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The penalty is similar to high-level drink driving: a mandatory ban of at least 12 months, an unlimited fine, and potentially up to 6 months in custody.
A drink driving conviction (DR10) stays on your driving licence for 11 years from the date of conviction. However, under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, it becomes ‘spent’ after 5 years for fines and community orders, meaning you don’t have to declare it for most jobs. Custodial sentences are never spent.