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You can be offered a rehabilitation course to reduce your driving ban if:

• you’re found guilty of a drink-drive offence
• your ban is for 12 months or more

You have to pay to take the course. It can cost up to £250.

Reducing the length of your ban

Your ban will be reduced if you complete the course within a certain time. The ban is usually reduced by a quarter.

Deciding to take a course

You have to decide in court if you want to take a course or not. You cannot change your mind later.

Before you go to court, that you want to take if you’re found guilty and offered a course.

The court will send your details to the course provider. They’ll then send you details of:

• the available course dates
• when you must complete your course by

Changing courses

You can change to another course with a different provider at any point before you book. It’s free to change your course.

Ask the provider of the course you’d originally chosen to arrange this.

The course aims to stop you from drink-driving again. They:

• are either delivered face-to-face or remotely
• take place over 16 hours (usually run on 3 days spread over 3 weeks)
• will have other drink-drive offenders at them

After the course

You’ll get a ‘certificate of course completion’ from the course provider when you complete the course.

They’ll tell HM Courts and Tribunals Service and DVLA that you have completed the course so that your driving ban is reduced.

If you’re a ‘high risk offender’

You need to reapply for a driving licence and take a medical if you’re classified as a ‘high risk offender’. Check with your course provider if you’re not sure if you are.

Complain to the course provider if you’re not happy with the course.

Contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency if you cannot sort out the problem with the course provider.