Can my friend's points be deducted if he violates traffic rules while driving my car?
3 Answers
If a friend violates traffic rules while driving your car, his points can be deducted. Have your friend take the traffic violation notice and his driver's license to the traffic management office to accept the penalty, and his points will be deducted. However, you also need to go as the owner of the vehicle, as a power of attorney signature is required. On-the-spot ticket: If a traffic violation results in an on-the-spot penalty decision issued by the traffic police, you must go to the local traffic police branch or team to handle the violation. In this case, the violation must be handled at the location where it occurred; it cannot be processed back in your home jurisdiction. Electronic monitoring ticket: If the violation is captured by electronic monitoring without an on-the-spot ticket, after checking the violation record on the traffic management bureau's website, if it falls under the general simplified procedure category, it can be handled in a different location.
This issue is quite common, and I've encountered similar situations a few times. Legally speaking, the driver who commits the traffic violation should be the one to receive the penalty points, and these cannot be transferred to someone else. For example, traffic regulations stipulate that when handling a vehicle violation, information about the actual driver must be provided. If your friend was caught driving, you, as the vehicle owner, can first take the fine notice to the traffic police station to prove that he was the one driving, so the points will be deducted from his license. If no explanation is given and the matter is handled directly, the points may be deducted from the vehicle owner's record or the default driver, especially when the violation is captured by an electronic camera and the driver is not clearly visible. To avoid complications, it's advisable to contact your friend immediately and handle the situation together to prevent it from affecting your own driving record. Additionally, not clearing the violation record in time may affect the annual inspection or lead to higher insurance premiums. Safety first—don't delay.
From a practical standpoint, I advise friends borrowing cars to clarify responsibility allocation in advance. For instance, if a traffic violation occurs, you as the vehicle owner can accompany your friend to the traffic authorities with the vehicle documents to verify identities—once their driver's license is scanned, the penalty points will be deducted from their record, not yours. Of course, electronic violations can sometimes be unclear, requiring dashcam footage or eyewitness testimony to confirm who was driving. If your friend refuses to cooperate, you'll have to bear the penalty points and fines yourself, which could affect your personal credit and lead to higher car insurance premiums in the future. To avoid such situations, consider signing a simple agreement before lending your car or using a mobile app to share and document the trip. Unresolved violations accumulate over time, doubling fines or even resulting in vehicle impoundment, so don't procrastinate—handle them promptly.
