Police Scotland
Driving Licence Rules
What Police Scotland asks of your driving licence: a manual licence, the DVLA group 2 medical standards, no more than 6 points and no drink or drug driving. Every common situation answered from Police Scotland's own pages, with what it does not publish.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated
To join as a police officer you must hold a manual driving licence and meet the DVLA's group 2 medical driving licence standards. Your application is rejected if you have more than 6 points on your licence. Drink or drug driving, including failing to provide a specimen, is an automatic rejection. Special constables do not need a licence.
The rules in brief
Police Scotland sets out its driving rules in two places. Its police officer page lists the licence you must hold. Its page of offences that mean you will be rejected covers penalty points and drink or drug driving. Put together, they look like this:
| Rule | What Police Scotland says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Licence type | You must "hold a manual driving license" to apply as a police officer. | Police Scotland officer page |
| Medical standard for driving | You must meet the DVLA's group 2 medical driving licence standards, so you can drive police vehicles. | Police Scotland officer page |
| Penalty points | Your application is rejected if you "have more than 6 points on your driving licence". | Offences that mean you'll be rejected |
| Drink or drug driving | Automatic rejection, including failing to provide a specimen. | Offences that mean you'll be rejected |
| Causing death by driving | On the list of offences causing death or serious injury that mean rejection. | Offences that mean you'll be rejected |
| Prison sentence as an adult | Any offence as an adult resulting in a prison sentence means rejection, which would include a driving offence that led to prison. | Offences that mean you'll be rejected |
| Other convictions | Must be declared. Each case is considered on its own merits and checked by the vetting unit before appointment. | Our recruitment process |
| Special constables | No driving licence is needed. | Police Scotland Special Constable page |
| Rejoiners | A manual licence is listed among the rejoiner criteria. | Police Scotland Rejoiners page |
That is the whole of what Police Scotland publishes on driving. It is short and fairly firm. The rest of this page explains what each rule means in practice, works through the situations people ask about most and is clear about the questions the published pages leave open.
The licence is one of several hard rules. Our free Police Scotland eligibility checker runs through age, residence, immigration status, licence, points and the finance rules in about two minutes. Nothing you enter is stored.
Why Police Scotland asks for a manual licence
Police Scotland's officer page lists holding a manual driving licence among the things you need to apply. It ties the licence to the job: officers need to be able to drive police vehicles in different conditions. Police Scotland covers the whole country, from city centres to remote rural and island areas, so driving is part of ordinary policing for most officers once they are out of training.
The practical consequence is simple. If you hold an automatic-only licence, the published rule is not met. Police Scotland does not publish an exception, a grace period or a promise of help to convert an automatic licence. The safe plan is to pass a manual test before you start the application.
If you are still learning
Police Scotland's published pages do not say whether a provisional licence or a booked test is accepted at the point of application. The rule as written is to hold a manual licence. Two sensible approaches:
- Pass first, then apply. The Police Officer vacancy on Police Scotland's portal had a closing date of 31 March 2027 when we checked, which leaves time to pass a test and still apply in this window.
- Ask before you apply. If timing matters to you, put the question to the recruitment team in writing and keep their reply.
Use the waiting time well. Fitness is the stage Police Scotland says more people fail than any other and the entrance test needs practice. Neither depends on your licence.
The DVLA group 2 medical standard
The second half of the licence rule is medical. Police Scotland says officers must meet the DVLA's group 2 medical driving licence standards. We have not summarised the DVLA's group 2 standards on this page, because they are not part of the facts we verified from Police Scotland's pages.
What we can say from Police Scotland's own pages:
- The final stage medical is with Police Scotland's healthcare provider, Optima Health. It includes a confidential health questionnaire and an examination that checks hearing, eyesight, urine, blood pressure, height and weight and breathing efficiency.
- The officer eyesight standard is separate and set out in Annex 1. It includes corrected distance acuity of 6/12 in either eye and 6/6 or better with both eyes together, uncorrected vision of 6/36 or better with both eyes and a field of vision of at least 120 degrees horizontally by 100 degrees vertically.
- The law requires every candidate to be certified by an approved doctor as fit, physically and mentally, to perform the duties of a constable (regulation 6 of the Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013).
Check the DVLA's own guidance for group 2 and your condition before you invest months in preparation, then raise it with Police Scotland early. If you need reasonable adjustments in the process, the eligibility assessment is where you ask for them.
The penalty point rule: more than 6 means rejection
Police Scotland's page of offences that mean rejection says your application will be rejected if you "have more than 6 points on your driving licence". Read that carefully:
- 7 points or more: rejection under the published rule.
- Exactly 6 points: not caught by the rule as written. It is not "6 or more".
- Fewer than 6 points: not a bar on its own.
Points that do not breach the limit still come with the offences behind them. Police Scotland asks you to declare criminal convictions and says each case is considered on its own merits, with checks made by the vetting unit at the pre-appointment stage. A clean record is better than a record with points, but 3 points for a single speeding offence is a very different picture from the same 3 points with a pattern of other matters.
The published rule is about the number of points. It does not say how Police Scotland weighs the offences behind them. It does not publish how long points count for its purposes. Treat 6 as a hard ceiling and any points as something you will need to explain honestly.
Counting your points before you apply
Before you start the form, work out the exact number of points on your licence today. Do not rely on memory. Your licence record will show the offences and points recorded against you.
- List every endorsement on your licence record, with the date and the offence.
- Add up the points currently shown.
- Compare with the rule. More than 6 means rejection on Police Scotland's published rule.
- Note anything pending. An offence you are awaiting a decision on could change the total during your application.
- Keep the record so your declaration on the form matches it exactly.
Police Scotland does not publish how it treats points that are about to expire or offences that are no longer shown, so we do not try to calculate that for you. If your total is close to the limit or about to change, ask the recruitment team how it will be read at the date you apply.
A worked example
Sam has two speeding endorsements of 3 points each, so 6 points in total. Sam has no other convictions.
- Under Police Scotland's published rule Sam is not rejected for points, because 6 is not more than 6.
- Sam declares both offences accurately on the form.
- Any further endorsement during the application would take Sam over the limit, so Sam should drive with real care until the start date.
Jordan has 9 points. Jordan is over the limit under the published rule and should wait until the total on the licence is 6 or fewer before applying.
Points timelines: three invented applicants
Points can change while an application runs. These timelines are invented. They show how the published rule (more than 6 points means rejection) reads at each point in the process. They do not show how long points stay on a licence, which Police Scotland does not publish for its purposes.
Applicant A: steady at 3 points
| When | Points on licence | Against the published rule | What A does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before applying | 3 | Not over the limit | Lists the offence with its date to declare. |
| Eligibility assessment | 3 | Not over the limit | Answers the licence questions accurately. |
| Main form | 3 | Not over the limit | Declares the offence as recorded. |
| Final vetting | 3 | Not over the limit | Nothing new to report. |
Applicant B: a new offence mid-process
| When | Points on licence | Against the published rule | What B does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before applying | 3 | Not over the limit | Declares the offence. |
| After the PSET | 6 (new speeding offence) | Not over the limit: 6 is not more than 6 | Emails the recruitment team so the declaration is corrected. |
| Before the assessment day | 6 | Not over the limit | Drives with real care: one more offence would take B over. |
| Final vetting | 6 | Not over the limit | The record matches the corrected declaration. |
Applicant C: over the limit, then waiting
| When | Points on licence | Against the published rule | What C does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 9 | Over the limit: rejection | Does not apply yet. Checks the licence record for the dates that matter. |
| While waiting | 9 | Over the limit | Trains for the 5.4 fitness test and practises the PSET. |
| When the record shows 6 or fewer | 6 or fewer | Not over the limit | Applies, declaring every offence still to be declared. |
The lesson is the same in each case: know your exact total, declare accurately, correct the record if anything changes and do not assume a pending matter will go away.
Drink and drug driving: an automatic rejection
Police Scotland's rejection list includes drink or drug driving. It names failing to provide a specimen alongside them. These sit on the same list as the most serious offences: offences causing death or serious injury, sexual offences, domestic abuse and serious dishonesty.
Three points about this rule:
- No time limit is published. The page does not say that an old drink driving conviction stops counting after a number of years. Do not assume it does.
- Failing to provide a specimen is treated the same. It is named in the same line of the rejection list.
- Being under investigation counts too. Police Scotland's rejection list applies if you have been convicted of, or are under investigation for, a listed offence.
Leaving a conviction off the form does not make it go away. Police Scotland says the information you supply is all confirmed at the vetting stage. An inaccurate declaration raises honesty questions on top of the conviction itself. If you think your circumstances are unusual, ask the recruitment team before applying.
Other motoring offences
Most motoring offences are not on Police Scotland's automatic rejection list. Two that are, because of their seriousness, are causing death by driving (on the list of offences causing death or serious injury) and any offence as an adult that resulted in a prison sentence.
Everything else falls into the general rule. Police Scotland asks you to declare criminal convictions and says each case is considered on its own merits. So for offences such as careless driving, driving without insurance or using a mobile phone while driving, the published answer is: declare it. It will then be considered with everything else. Police Scotland does not publish a list of how it weighs each offence.
| Type of matter | Automatic rejection on the published list? | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Drink or drug driving | Yes | Rejection |
| Failing to provide a specimen | Yes | Rejection |
| Causing death by driving | Yes | Rejection |
| Any adult offence with a prison sentence | Yes | Rejection |
| More than 6 points in total | Yes | Rejection |
| Other endorsable offences, 6 points or fewer in total | No | Declared and considered on the merits |
| Other convictions | No | Declared and considered on the merits |
Your licence alongside the other eligibility rules
The licence rule is one line in a longer list. Police Scotland's officer page and its rejection page together set these hard rules for new police officers:
| Rule | Published requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or over. No upper age limit is published. |
| Residence | Lived in the UK for at least three years. |
| Nationality and right to work | If you are not a UK or EEA national, indefinite leave to remain or equivalent when you apply. Time-limited visas do not meet the requirement. |
| Driving licence | A manual licence and the DVLA group 2 medical standards. |
| Penalty points | Not more than 6. |
| Eyesight | The national standard in Annex 1. |
| Fitness | Physically fit; level 5.4 on the 15-metre bleep test. |
| Qualifications | None needed. Every new officer applicant sits the PSET instead. |
| Convictions | The rejection list, including drink or drug driving; everything else declared and judged on its merits. |
| Finances | Not in a trust deed or within 12 months of discharge; not sequestrated or bankrupt within 3 years; no defaulted accounts totalling £1,000 or more. |
Our eligibility requirements guide explains each one. The finance and debt rules guide works through the dates for trust deeds and sequestration.
Your situation, answered
These are the situations people ask about most. Each answer uses only what Police Scotland publishes. Where it does not say, we tell you that and suggest asking.
| Your situation | What the published rules say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Full manual UK licence, no points | Meets the licence rule. | Keep it clean until you start. Note the DVLA group 2 medical standard as well. |
| Automatic only licence | Does not meet the rule: Police Scotland lists a manual licence. | Pass a manual test before you apply. Police Scotland does not publish an exception. |
| Provisional licence, test not yet passed | Not addressed on the published pages. The rule as written is to hold a manual licence. | Ask the recruitment team before applying. Do not assume a booked test is enough. |
| Manual test booked for next month | Not addressed on the published pages. | Ask the recruitment team, or wait until you have passed and apply then. |
| 3 points for speeding | Not a bar on its own: the published rule is more than 6 points. | Declare it accurately. It is checked at vetting. |
| Exactly 6 points | Not a bar on its own: the published rule is more than 6 points. | Declare it. One more offence would take you over the limit, so drive carefully while your application runs. |
| 9 points | More than 6 points: rejection under the published rule. | Wait until your points total is 6 or fewer before applying. |
| Drink driving conviction, any age, any date | Drink or drug driving is on the automatic rejection list. Police Scotland does not publish a time limit for it. | Do not apply expecting the conviction to be overlooked. Ask the recruitment team if you think your case is different. |
| Failed to provide a specimen | Treated the same as drink or drug driving: automatic rejection. | As above. |
| Careless driving conviction | Not on the automatic list. It counts towards points and must be declared. | Declare it. Expect it to be considered with everything else. |
| Past driving ban, now ended | Not addressed directly. A ban for drink or drug driving would fall under the automatic rejection. | Declare it. For other bans, ask the recruitment team. |
| Licence from outside the UK | Not addressed on the published pages. | Ask the recruitment team which licences they accept. |
| Medical condition that affects driving | You must meet DVLA group 2 medical standards and pass the Police Scotland medical. | Check the DVLA standards for your condition and raise it early. |
| Applying to be a special constable | No driving licence is needed. | You can apply as a special without a licence if you meet the other rules. |
When your licence is looked at
Your licence comes up more than once. This is where it appears in the process Police Scotland describes:
| When | What happens to your licence information |
|---|---|
| Eligibility assessment (part 1 of the form) | Screening questions include your driving licence. If you do not meet the criteria you cannot reach the main form. |
| Main application form | Declarations: convictions must be declared. Police Scotland says it is all confirmed at the vetting stage. |
| Final stage medical | The medical with Police Scotland's healthcare provider checks eyesight, hearing, blood pressure and more. Meeting DVLA group 2 medical standards is part of the eligibility rule. |
| Final stage vetting | Full vetting checks confirm what you declared. Inaccurate answers are a problem in themselves. |
| Initial training and after | Police Scotland's officer page says the licence is needed so you can drive police vehicles in different conditions. Police driving courses are not described on the recruitment pages. |
Because the licence question is in the eligibility assessment, a licence problem usually shows at the very start, before you spend time on the main form. Points and offences that are within the rules then travel with your application to the final vetting stage.
How to declare motoring matters well
Police Scotland says it is important to be accurate because "it's all confirmed at the vetting stage". If you answered a pre-screening question wrongly, it asks you to email the recruitment team so it can be corrected. Some practical points (our advice, not an official checklist):
- Match your record. Use the dates and offences exactly as they appear on your licence record or court papers.
- Be complete. If you are unsure whether something counts, include it. An extra line costs nothing; an omission can cost the application.
- Be brief and factual. State what happened, the outcome and the date. Save reflection for when you are asked.
- Show what changed. If you are asked about it, explain what you learned and how your driving has been since.
- Keep copies of what you declared so later answers stay consistent.
Our Police Scotland vetting guide explains what the final checks confirm and the application form guide walks through the declarations section.
Special constables, rejoiners and transferees
Special constables. Police Scotland's special constable page says no driving licence is needed. Specials must be 18 or over, physically fit, have lived in the UK for at least three years and meet the national eyesight standard. They give a minimum of 96 hours a year. If the licence rule is the only thing stopping you applying as an officer, volunteering as a special is a way to get experience while you learn. See our special constable guide.
Rejoiners. Rejoining is open only to former Police Scotland officers who completed probation. A manual licence is among the rejoiner criteria.
Transferees. Serving officers transferring in follow their own process, described in our transferees and rejoiners guide.
Licence rules by route into Police Scotland
| Route | Licence rule we verified | Other notes |
|---|---|---|
| New police officer | Manual licence and DVLA group 2 medical standards; not more than 6 points | Drink or drug driving is an automatic rejection |
| Special constable | No driving licence needed | 18 or over, three years in the UK, eyesight standard, 96 hours a year |
| Rejoiner | Manual licence listed among the criteria | Only former Police Scotland officers who completed probation |
| Transferee | Not listed in the transferee facts we verified | Serving officers with at least three years' service in a recognised force |
If you are a transferee, ask the recruitment team about licence requirements directly, because the transferee page we checked does not set out a licence rule.
How this compares with England and Wales
In England and Wales licence rules vary from force to force. Police Scotland is one force with one rule: a manual licence for police officer applicants. Our UK driving licence guide covers the England and Wales picture and Police Scotland vs England and Wales sets out the wider differences in the two processes.
Worked scenarios
Four invented applicants, each run against Police Scotland's published rules. They show how the rules combine with each other and with the rest of the eligibility list.
Aisha, 24: automatic licence
Aisha learned to drive in an automatic and passed her test two years ago. She has no points and meets every other rule. Police Scotland lists a manual licence as a requirement, so on the published rules she cannot apply as a police officer yet. Her plan: book manual lessons and a test, start PSET practice and fitness training now and apply once she holds the manual licence. In the meantime she could apply as a special constable, which needs no licence.
Callum, 31: 6 points and a pending speeding offence
Callum has 6 points from two speeding offences and is waiting to hear about a third. Today he is not over the limit, because the rule is more than 6 points. But a third endorsement would take him over. He should not assume the pending matter will go away. The honest approach is to declare what is on his licence, tell the recruitment team about the pending matter and wait for the outcome before he spends months preparing.
Morag, 42: drink driving conviction at 21
Morag was convicted of drink driving more than twenty years ago and has driven without incident since. Police Scotland's rejection list includes drink or drug driving and publishes no time limit for it. On the published rules her application would be rejected. If she believes her case is different, she should ask the recruitment team before applying rather than leave it off the form.
Ravi, 27: diabetes managed with insulin
Ravi holds a full manual licence with no points. His question is the DVLA group 2 medical standard, which Police Scotland says officers must meet. We have not summarised the DVLA's group 2 rules for his condition, so his first step is the DVLA's own guidance, then a conversation with Police Scotland's recruitment team. Police Scotland says it can accept candidates with many common health conditions and assesses each person individually at the medical.
The people above are invented. Only Police Scotland can decide an application. The scenarios show how the published rules read; they are not legal or medical advice.
Common mistakes with the licence rules
| Mistake | Why it matters | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Reading "more than 6" as "6 or more" | Some people with exactly 6 points never apply when the published rule does not bar them. | Read the rule as written: 7 or more is the published bar. |
| Reading "more than 6" as a safe zone | Points sit alongside the offences behind them, which are declared and checked. | Treat any points as something to declare and explain honestly. |
| Assuming an old drink driving conviction has expired | No time limit is published for the drink or drug driving rejection. | Ask the recruitment team before you invest months of preparation. |
| Leaving a minor offence off the form | Police Scotland says everything is confirmed at the vetting stage. | Declare it. Accuracy matters more than a minor offence. |
| Applying with an automatic licence and hoping | The rule is a manual licence, asked in the eligibility screening. | Pass a manual test first, or ask the team in writing. |
| Forgetting the medical side | The licence rule includes the DVLA group 2 medical standards. | Check the DVLA standards if you have a relevant condition. |
| Picking up points during the application | A new endorsement can change your total before the final checks. | Drive carefully until your start date and tell the team if anything changes. |
If the licence rules rule you out today
Most licence problems are temporary. Here is how to use the time well, depending on what is stopping you:
| What is stopping you | Can it change? | What to do now |
|---|---|---|
| No licence, or automatic only | Yes, when you pass a manual test | Book manual lessons. Start PSET practice and fitness training at the same time. |
| More than 6 points | Yes, when your total is 6 or fewer | Check your licence record for the dates that matter and plan your application around them. |
| A pending motoring matter | Depends on the outcome | Wait for the outcome, then declare it accurately. |
| Drink or drug driving, or failing to provide a specimen | No time limit is published | Ask the recruitment team directly before planning an application. |
| A condition affecting the group 2 standard | Depends on the condition | Check the DVLA guidance and speak to the recruitment team. |
While you wait, the stages that take longest to prepare for do not depend on your licence at all. Police Scotland says more people fail the fitness test than any other stage. The PSET needs timed practice in all three elements. Volunteering as a special constable, which needs no licence, is another way to gain experience while you sort out the licence.
Questions to put to the recruitment team
If your situation is not covered by the published rules, ask before you apply. Useful questions, worded so the answer is clear:
- "I hold a provisional licence and my manual test is booked for [date]. Can I submit my application before I pass?"
- "I hold a full licence issued outside the UK. Does it meet the manual licence requirement?"
- "I have 6 points and a pending matter that may add more. How will this be treated if the outcome comes during my application?"
- "I have [condition]. Is there anything I should know about the DVLA group 2 medical standard before I apply?"
- "I have a conviction for [offence] from [year]. Is it one that would mean rejection?"
Keep the replies. If your application is reviewed later, a written answer from the team is far more useful than a memory of a conversation.
Prepare this now: what to have ready
Gather these before you start the eligibility assessment. Each one is something the form, the medical or vetting will touch.
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Your licence and a check of your licence record | To confirm a full manual licence and count your points accurately. |
| A list of every endorsement with dates and outcomes | So your declarations match the record exactly. |
| Court or fixed penalty paperwork for any offence | To state outcomes and dates correctly. |
| Details of any pending motoring matter | So you can tell the recruitment team if the outcome comes mid-process. |
| Notes on any condition that affects driving | For the DVLA group 2 standard and the medical. |
| Your optician's details and any recent prescription | For the eyesight standard checked at the medical. |
| Written replies from the recruitment team | If you asked about anything the published rules do not cover. |
Before you apply: a licence checklist
- Confirm you hold a full manual licence. If it is automatic only, pass a manual test first.
- Count your points today from your licence record. More than 6 means waiting.
- Check the rejection list for drink or drug driving, failing to provide a specimen and causing death by driving.
- List every conviction to declare, with dates and outcomes.
- Check the DVLA group 2 medical standards if you have any condition that affects driving. Read the eyesight annex too.
- Drive carefully from now until your start date: a new endorsement could change your total during the process.
- Run the rest of the eligibility rules through our free eligibility checker, then plan your preparation with the timeline to 31 March 2027.
What we could not verify
Police Scotland's published pages do not answer these, so we have not guessed. Ask the recruitment team and keep their answer in writing:
- Whether a provisional licence or a booked manual test is accepted at the point of application.
- Which non-UK licences, if any, are accepted.
- How long points count for Police Scotland's purposes and how points about to expire are treated.
- Whether any drink or drug driving conviction ever stops counting after a period of time.
- How individual motoring offences under the 6-point limit are weighed at vetting.
- When and how the licence itself is checked during the process.
- The content of the DVLA group 2 medical standards, which we have not summarised here.
- Whether police driving courses form part of initial training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a driving licence to join Police Scotland?
Yes, as a police officer. Police Scotland's officer page lists holding a manual driving licence as a requirement and says you must meet the DVLA's group 2 medical driving licence standards so you can drive police vehicles. Special constables do not need a driving licence.
Can I join Police Scotland with an automatic licence?
Not on the published rules. Police Scotland asks for a manual driving licence and does not publish an exception for automatic-only licences. If you only hold an automatic licence, pass a manual test before you apply or ask the recruitment team directly.
How many penalty points can you have to join Police Scotland?
Police Scotland rejects applicants who have more than 6 points on their driving licence. So 6 points or fewer is not an automatic bar on its own, although any motoring offence is still declared and checked at vetting.
Can I join Police Scotland with 6 points?
The published rejection rule is more than 6 points, so exactly 6 is not an automatic rejection under that rule. Declare the offences accurately and drive carefully while your application runs, because one further offence could take you over the limit.
Can I join Police Scotland with a drink driving conviction?
No, on the published rules. Police Scotland's list of offences that mean rejection includes drink or drug driving, including failing to provide a specimen. The page does not give a time after which this stops applying.
Is failing to provide a specimen treated like drink driving?
Yes. Police Scotland's rejection list names drink or drug driving including failing to provide a specimen.
Can I apply with a provisional licence if my test is booked?
Police Scotland's published pages do not say. The rule as written is that you hold a manual driving licence. Ask the recruitment team before you apply rather than assuming a booked test is enough.
What are the DVLA group 2 medical standards?
They are the medical standards the DVLA applies to group 2 licences. Police Scotland says officers must meet them so they can drive police vehicles. We have not summarised the DVLA standards here; check the DVLA's own guidance if you have a condition that affects driving and raise it with Police Scotland early.
Do special constables in Scotland need a driving licence?
No. Police Scotland's special constable page says no driving licence is needed, which makes the special route open to people who cannot yet meet the officer licence rule.
Do I have to declare a speeding fine?
Police Scotland asks you to declare criminal convictions and says everything you supply is confirmed at the vetting stage. If you are unsure whether a motoring matter needs to be declared, declare it or ask the recruitment team. Accuracy matters more than any single minor offence.
Does Police Scotland check my licence?
Police Scotland says vetting checks are carried out once you have completed the application process and that the information you give is confirmed at the vetting stage. It does not publish exactly how or when the licence itself is checked.
Does the 6-point rule apply to special constables?
Police Scotland's special constable page says no driving licence is needed for specials. The 6-point rule we verified is on the police officer rejection page. Ask the recruitment team how motoring matters are treated for specials.
What if I get points after I apply?
Police Scotland does not publish a specific rule for this. Its rejection rule is more than 6 points and vetting confirms your information at the final stage. If your total changes, tell the recruitment team. Police Scotland asks applicants to email the team if any information needs correcting.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 22 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police Scotland: Apply to become a police officer : manual driving licence and DVLA group 2 medical driving licence standards as eligibility rules (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Offences that mean you'll be rejected : more than 6 points; drink or drug driving including failing to provide a specimen; causing death by driving; any adult prison sentence (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Our recruitment process (police officer) : declare criminal convictions; each case on its merits; checks by the vetting unit at the pre-appointment stage (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer application example : the eligibility assessment asks about your driving licence (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer selection process : the medical and vetting are final-stage checks (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer reasonable adjustments and support : what the medical with Optima Health checks (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Special Constable : special constables need no driving licence (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Rejoiners : manual licence among the rejoiner criteria (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Annex 1, eyesight standards for police recruitment (PDF) : the eyesight standard, a separate eligibility rule (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013, regulation 6 (qualifications for appointment) : qualifications for appointment, including the medical (accessed 22 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
More for applicants and Scottish officers
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority or the College of Policing. It does not recruit, test or assess applicants. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not official Police Scotland questions. Police Scotland sets and changes its own selection process, so check its recruitment pages and your candidate account before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 22 October 2026.