What do you mean hand it in?
You don't need to hand it in, only not drive. Trust me I’ve done this many times. I only had to hand mine in cos I went to court and had a court ordered suspension. Every other time I just held on to it till was able to drive again.
In January I lost all my points and opted 4 3months suspension. Rather than 1 year good behaviour. And I was still driving around and giving my licence to the cops when they ask for it, until the day they actually looked up my profile with it and then made me go to court.