Driving bans and disqualifications are the same thing: if you’re banned from driving, your licence is disqualified straight away.
It can get confusing because different places will use these words interchangeably.
Different types of driving ban
There are three different types of ban: a totting up ban, an obligatory ban and a discretionary ban.
Whichever type of ban you get, you’ll receive a summons in the post telling you when you need to go to court. The court will then decide how long your ban will last.
Typical lengths of bans include:
Six months, if you get 12 or more penalty points within three years
12 months, if you get a second disqualification within three years
Two years, if you get a third disqualification within three years
What a driving ban means
When your licence is disqualified, you’re not allowed to drive, take control of, or supervise the driving of any type of motor vehicle on any road or public place for the duration of the ban.
This includes motorcycles and mopeds, even if your ban was for a car.
If your ban is shorter than 56 days, you’ll be able to keep your driving licence. It will be automatically reinstated after the ban is served.
If your ban is longer than 56 days, your licence will be revoked. Either the court will keep it or the DVLA will ask you to post it back to them. Towards the end of the ban, you’ll need to apply for the licence to be reissued, which includes paying a fee to the DVLA.
You can check how long is left on your driving ban by viewing your driving licence record online.