Penalty points (endorsements)

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Penalty points (endorsements)

1. Overview

The courts can fine you and ‘endorse’ your driving record with penalty points if you’re convicted of a

motoring offence.

Endorsements must stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence.

The endorsement and penalty points are put on your driver record. View your driving licence record

(https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence) to see what penalty points you have and when they’ll be removed.

You can be disqualified from driving (https://www.gov.uk/driving-disqualifications) if you build up 12 or more

penalty points within a period of 3 years. There are different rules for new drivers

(https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/new-drivers).

Endorsement codes and processes in Northern Ireland (http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-

services/motoring/driver-licensing/endorsements-and-disqualifications.htm) are different.

2. Endorsement codes and penalty points

Each endorsement has a special code and is given ‘penalty points’ on a scale from 1 to 11. You get

more points for more serious offences.

The table shows the offence codes that can be put on your driving record. It also shows how many

penalty points you can get for them. Some offences may also involve a disqualification.

Offence codes and penalty points must stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years depending on the

offence.

Accident offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence Penalty points

AC10 Failing to stop after an accident 5 to 10

AC20 Failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours 5 to 10

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Code Offence Penalty points

AC30 Undefined accident offences 4 to 9

Disqualified driver

Codes BA10 and BA30 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence Penalty points

BA10 Driving while disqualified by order of court 6

BA30 Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court 6

Codes BA40 and BA60 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code Offence Penalty points

BA40 Causing death by driving while disqualified 3 to 11

BA60 Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified 3 to 11

Careless driving

Codes CD10 to CD30 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence

Penalty

points

CD10 Driving without due care and attention 3 to 9

CD20 Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users 3 to 9

CD30

Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other

road users

3 to 9

Codes CD40 to CD70 must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code Offence

Penalty

points

CD40 Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink 3 to 11

CD50 Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs 3 to 11

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Code Offence

Penalty

points

CD60 Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit 3 to 11

CD70

Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcohol

analysis

3 to 11

Codes CD80 and CD90 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code Offence Penalty points

CD80 Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving 3 to 11

CD90 Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers 3 to 11

Construction and use offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence

Penalty

points

CU10 Using a vehicle with defective brakes 3

CU20

Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle

with parts or accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition

CU30 Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s) 3

CU40 Using a vehicle with defective steering 3

CU50 Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers 3

CU80 Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone 3 to 6

Reckless/dangerous driving

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code Offence Penalty points

DD10 Causing serious injury by dangerous driving 3 to 11

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Code Offence Penalty points

DD40 Dangerous driving 3 to 11

DD60 Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle 3 to 11

DD80 Causing death by dangerous driving 3 to 11

DD90 Furious driving 3 to 9

Drink

Codes DR10 to DR61 must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code Offence

Penalty

points

DR10 Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit 3 to 11

DR20 Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink 3 to 11

DR30 Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis 3 to 11

DR31

Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood

sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity

3 to 11

DR61

Refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent

due to incapacity in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive

Codes DR40 to DR70 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence or 4 years

from date of conviction where a disqualification is imposed.

Code Offence

Penalty

points

DR40 In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit 10

DR50 In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink 10

DR60

Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or

attempting to drive

DR70 Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test 4

Drugs

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These codes must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code Offence Penalty points

DG10 Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit 3 to 11

DG60 Causing death by careless driving with drug level above the limit 3 to 11

DR80 Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs 3 to 11

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence or 4 years from date

of conviction where a disqualification is imposed.

Code Offence Penalty points

DG40 In charge of a vehicle while drug level above specified limit 10

DR70 Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test 4

DR90 In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs 10

Insurance offences

Code IN10 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence Penalty points

IN10 Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks 6 to 8

Licence offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence Penalty points

LC20 Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence 3 to 6

LC30 Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence 3 to 6

LC40 Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a disability 3 to 6

LC50

Driving after a licence has been cancelled (revoked) or refused on medical

grounds

3 to 6

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Miscellaneous offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence

Penalty

points

MS10 Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position 3

MS20 Unlawful pillion riding 3

MS30 Play street offences 2

MS50 Motor racing on the highway 3 to 11

MS60

Offences not covered by other codes (including offences relating to breach of

requirements as to control of vehicle)

MS70 Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight 3

MS80 Refusing to submit to an eyesight test 3

MS90 Failure to give information as to identity of driver etc 6

Motorway offences

Code MW10 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence Penalty points

MW10 Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits) 3

Pedestrian crossings

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence Penalty points

PC10 Undefined contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations 3

PC20 Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with moving vehicle 3

PC30 Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with stationary vehicle 3

Speed limits

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These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence Penalty points

SP10 Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits 3 to 6

SP20 Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles) 3 to 6

SP30 Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road 3 to 6

SP40 Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit 3 to 6

SP50 Exceeding speed limit on a motorway 3 to 6

Traffic direction and signs

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code Offence

Penalty

points

TS10 Failing to comply with traffic light signals 3

TS20 Failing to comply with double white lines 3

TS30 Failing to comply with ‘stop’ sign 3

TS40 Failing to comply with direction of a constable/warden 3

TS50

Failing to comply with traffic sign (excluding ‘stop’ signs, traffic lights or double white

lines)

TS60 Failing to comply with a school crossing patrol sign 3

TS70 Undefined failure to comply with a traffic direction sign 3

Special code

Code TT99 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of conviction.

It shows disqualification under ‘totting-up’ - if the total of penalty points reaches 12 or more within 3

years, the driver can be disqualified.

Theft or unauthorised taking

Code UT50 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

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Code Offence Penalty points

UT50 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 3 to 11

‘Mutual recognition’ codes

You’ll get an ‘MR’ code on your driving record if you’re disqualified while driving in Northern Ireland or

the Isle of Man. Your disqualification period will also be valid in GB and will stay on your record for 4

years from the date of conviction.

Code Offence

MR09 Reckless or dangerous driving (whether or not resulting in death, injury or serious risk)

MR19

Wilful failure to carry out the obligation placed on driver after being involved in a road accident (hit or

run)

MR29

Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other substance affecting or diminishing the

mental and physical abilities of a driver

MR39 Driving a vehicle faster than the permitted speed

MR49 Driving a vehicle whilst disqualified

MR59

Other conduct constituting an offence for which a driving disqualification has been imposed by the

State of Offence

Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring offences

For these offences, the codes are similar, but with the number 0 on the code changed to 2.

For example, code LC20 (driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence) becomes code LC22 on

your driving record if you have helped someone to do this.

Causing or permitting offences

For these offences, the codes are similar, but with the number 0 on the code changed to 4.

For example, LC20 (driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence) becomes LC24 on your licence

if you’ve caused or permitted someone to do this.

Inciting offences

For these offences, the codes are similar, but with the number 0 on the code changed to 6.

For example, DD40 (dangerous driving) becomes DD46 on your driving record if you’ve incited someone

to do this.

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3. How long endorsements stay on your driving record

Endorsements stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years depending on the offence. This can start

from either the date you’re convicted or the date of your offence.

The endorsement is ‘valid’ for the first:

3 years, for a 4-year endorsement

10 years, for an 11-year endorsement

A court can take your endorsement into account if both:

you commit another offence while it’s valid

the endorsement is still on your driving record when the court considers your case

Other people, like insurers and employers, may be able to find out that you have the endorsement:

any time during a 4-year endorsement

during the first 5 years of an 11-year endorsement, or the first 30 months if you’re under 18

4 years from date of conviction

An endorsement will stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of conviction if the offence:

is for reckless/dangerous driving - shown on the driving record as DD40, DD60 and DD80

results in disqualification

Example

Date of conviction 28 May 2011 - the endorsement must stay on the driving record until 28 May 2015.

4 years from the date of offence

In all other cases endorsements stay on your driving record for 4 years from the date of offence.

Example

Date of offence 10 June 2012 - the endorsement must stay on the driving record until 10 June 2016.

11 years from date of conviction

If the offence is:

drink driving or drug driving - shown on the driving record as DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31, DR61 and

DR80

causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs – shown on the driving

record as CD40, CD50 and CD60

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causing death by careless driving, then failing to provide a specimen for analysis – shown on the

driving record as CD70

Example

Date of conviction 3 December 2009 - the endorsement must stay on the driving record until 3

December 2020.

4. New drivers

Your licence will be cancelled (revoked) if you get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test.

Points on your provisional licence

Any penalty points on your provisional licence that have not expired will be carried over to your full

licence when you pass your test. However, your licence will be cancelled if you get any further penalty

points that take you up to a total of 6 or more within 2 years of passing your driving test.

If your licence is cancelled within 2 years

You’ll have to apply and pay for a new provisional licence and pass both theory and practical parts of the

driving or riding test again to get a full licence.

If you have not sent off for your full licence

You must retake both parts of your driving test if your licence has been cancelled after you’ve passed

your test, but you have not sent off for your full licence yet. You can use your current provisional licence

to take the tests.

Who’s covered by the rules

These rules apply to all new drivers who passed their first driving test in:

Great Britain

Northern Ireland

Isle of Man

Channel Islands

Gibraltar

the European Community (EC) and European Economic Area (EEA)

The EC/EEA countries are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,

France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,

Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

There is not another 2 year period if you pass a test for another category of vehicle, for example to drive

a heavy goods vehicle.

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Foreign licences

The rules also apply if you exchange a foreign driving licence for a British licence

(https://www.gov.uk/exchange-a-foreign-driving-licence) and then pass a further driving test in Great Britain.

5. Handing over your driving licence for endorsement

If you get an endorsement you’ll need to hand over your licence to either the police, a fixed penalty office

(FPO) or when you appear in court.

Your fixed penalty notice will tell you how to find your local FPO.

You’ll need to get a replacement (https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-to-replace-a-driving-licence) if you’ve lost

your licence.

If your driving licence is not returned to you, contact the FPO or court you sent it to, unless your licence

has been sent to DVLA.

When your licence is sent to DVLA

The FPO or court will send your driving licence to DVLA if:

the licence has been cancelled (‘revoked’) by a court

you’re a new driver and you’ve been given more than 6 penalty points

the licence you gave the court is invalid

you’ve let DVLA know that you’ve changed your address (https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-changed-address)

If your licence is sent to DVLA because you’ve changed your address, it’ll be returned to you within 3

weeks.

6. Removing expired endorsements from your driving record

Most expired endorsements will automatically be removed from your driving record when they’re no

longer valid.

The length of time they stay on your record (https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/how-long-

endorsements-stay-on-your-driving-licence) depends on how serious the offence was.

7. How to check your endorsement details

View your driving licence record (https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence) to see what penalty points you

have and when they’ll be removed.

You can also contact DVLA (https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla/y/driver-licensing).

Incorrect endorsement details on your licence

Contact the court that convicted if your endorsement details are shown incorrectly on your driving

licence.