Can I lose my driving licence over points in Luxembourg?
Yes — every licence carries a capital of 12 points, and losing them all suspends your right to drive for 12 months. The points-based licence, provided for by the amended law of 14 February 1955 on road traffic, is an administrative mechanism separate from the fine or driving ban imposed by a judge. Each offence removes 1 to 6 points under a scale (speeding, drink-driving, phone, red light). You recover points in two ways: 3 years with no new offence restore the full 12 points, or a one-day awareness course gives back 3 points, once every 3 years. At zero points, the licence is withdrawn for 12 months. The myth: "cross-border commuters and foreigners have no points in Luxembourg" — false; anyone who drives in the country is subject to the system, with non-residents holding a notional points account.
📋 The rules
- Capital of 12 points: each driver holds a capital of 12 points; the scheme derives from the amended law of 14 February 1955 on road traffic.
- 1 to 6 points removed: each offence removes 1 to 6 points under a scale (revised in 2015, which makes older figures obsolete).
- Recovery through time: 3 years with no new offence fully restore the capital of 12 points.
- Awareness course: a one-day course gives back 3 points, once every 3 years, at the Driver Training Centre in Colmar-Berg.
- Withdrawal at zero: losing all 12 points means a 12-month withdrawal of the right to drive; the licence is returned after a 5-day course.
🔓 Exceptions
- Commuters and non-residents: they are not exempt; a notional points account records offences committed in Luxembourg.
- Administrative system: the loss of points is separate from criminal penalties (fine, prison, judicial ban), which can be added on top.
- Loss after a final sanction: points are removed only once the conviction is final or the fixed fine is paid, not on the mere report.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The ultimate penalty is being left without wheels. Losing all 12 points triggers a 12-month withdrawal of the right to drive; to get the licence back you must attend a 5-day awareness course at the Driver Training Centre, at your own expense. Driving during that withdrawal is a serious offence, heavily punished. The system is also cumulative with the criminal law: a single offence can cost points, a fine and sometimes a driving ban imposed by a judge. For your wallet, a suspended licence can also mean a higher insurance premium, and work difficulties for anyone who drives for a living. Cross-border commuters are not safe either: their offences in Luxembourg feed a points account and can be reported to their country of residence. Rebuilding your points through 3 years of clean driving remains the surest and cheapest route.
📎 Official sources
- Guichet.lu · points-based licence (information and recovery) →
- Legilux · amended law of 14 February 1955 on road traffic (official journal) →
- Transports.lu · points-based licence and scale →
❓ Frequently asked
How many points does my licence have in Luxembourg?
Every driving licence carries a capital of 12 points in Luxembourg. This capital drops by 1 to 6 points per offence under a scale, and it is fully restored after 3 consecutive years with no new offence.
How can I recover lost points?
You recover all of your points after 3 consecutive years without committing a new offence. You can also recover 3 points, once every 3 years, by attending a one-day awareness course at the Driver Training Centre in Colmar-Berg.
What happens if I lose all my points?
Losing all 12 points means your right to drive is withdrawn for 12 months. To get your licence back, you must then attend a 5-day awareness course at the Driver Training Centre, at your own expense.
Do cross-border commuters also have points in Luxembourg?
Yes, anyone who drives in Luxembourg is subject to the points-based licence, including cross-border commuters and non-residents. The latter hold a notional points account that records offences committed on Luxembourg territory.
Does losing points replace the fine?
No, the points-based licence is an administrative mechanism separate from criminal penalties. A single offence can therefore lead to a loss of points, a fine and, in serious cases, a driving ban imposed by a judge.
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