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 |
| 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 CD33 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 |
| CD33 | Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving | 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 |
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 |
| 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 & Drink Driving
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 | 10 |
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 | 10 |
| DR70 | Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test | 4 |
Drugs & Drug Driving
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 |
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) | 3 |
| 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
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) | 3 |
| 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.
| Code | Offence | Penalty points |
| UT50 | Aggravated taking of a vehicle | 3 to 11 |
‘Mutual recognition’ codes
You will get an ‘MR’ code on your driving record if you are 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 have 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.
Highway Code
During the course of 2022, some of the offences recorded above had the penalties amended to reflect the seriousness of the offence in question. Some of those offences are detailed below, with the maximum penalty noted alongside.
| Offence | Maximum penalty | Penalty points |
| Causing death by dangerous driving | Life imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory – 5 years minimum | 3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) |
| Dangerous driving | 2 years’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification | 3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) |
| Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs | Life imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory – 5 years minimum | 3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) |
| Careless and inconsiderate driving | Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification | 3 to 9 |
| Driving while unfit through drink or drugs or with excess alcohol: or failing to provide a specimen for analysis | 6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification | 3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) |
| Failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident | 6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification | 5 to 10 |
| Driving while disqualified | 6 months’ imprisonment (12 months in Scotland) / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification | 6 |
| Driving after refusal or revocation of licence on medical grounds | 6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification | 3 to 6 |
| Driving without insurance | Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification | 6 to 8 |
| Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition | LGV or PCV unlimited, other vehicles £2,500/ Obligatory disqualification if offence committed within 3 years of a previous conviction for a similar offence – 6 months min. Otherwise discretionary | 3 in each case |
| Failure to have proper control of vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead | £1,000 fine (£2,500 for PCV or goods vehicle) / Discretionary disqualification | 3 |
| Using a hand-held mobile phone when driving | £1,000 fine (£2,500 for PCV or goods vehicle) / Discretionary disqualification | 6 |
| Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence | £1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification | 3 to 6 |
| Speeding | £1,000 fine (£2,500 for motorway offences) / Discretionary disqualification | 3 to 6, or 3 (fixed penalty) |
| Traffic light offences | £1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification | 3 |
| No MOT certificate | £1,000 fine | – |
| Seat belt offences | £500 fine | – |
| Dangerous cycling | £2,500 fine | – |
| Careless cycling | £1,000 fine | – |
| Cycling on pavement | £500 fine | – |
| Failing to identify driver of vehicle | £1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification | 6 |
*Where a court disqualifies a person on conviction for one of these offences, it must order an extended retest. The courts also have discretion to order a retest for any other offence, which carries penalty points, an extended retest where disqualification is obligatory, and an ordinary test where disqualification is not obligatory.
Furthermore, in some serious cases, the court MUST, (in addition to imposing a fixed period of disqualification), order the offender to be disqualified until they pass a driving test. In other cases, the court has a discretionary power to order such disqualification. The test may be an ordinary length test or an extended test according to the nature of the offence.
