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.

CodeOffencePenalty points
AC10Failing to stop after an accident5 to 10
AC20Failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours5 to 10
AC30Undefined accident offences4 to 9

Disqualified driver

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
BA10Driving while disqualified by order of court6
BA30Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court6

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
BA40Causing death by driving while disqualified3 to 11
BA60Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified3 to 11

Careless driving

Codes CD10 to CD33 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

CodeOffencePenalty points
CD10Driving without due care and attention3 to 9
CD20Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users3 to 9
CD30Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users3 to 9
CD33Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving3 to 9

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
CD40Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink3 to 11
CD50Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs3 to 11
CD60Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit3 to 11
CD70Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcohol analysis3 to 11

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
CD80Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving3 to 11
CD90Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers3 to 11

Construction and use offences

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
CU10Using a vehicle with defective brakes3
CU20Causing 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 condition3
CU30Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s)3
CU40Using a vehicle with defective steering3
CU50Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers3
CU80Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone3 to 6

Reckless/dangerous driving

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
DD10Causing serious injury by dangerous driving3 to 11
DD40Dangerous driving3 to 11
DD60Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle3 to 11
DD80Causing death by dangerous driving3 to 11
DD90Furious driving3 to 9

Drink & Drink Driving

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
DR10Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit3 to 11
DR20Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink3 to 11
DR30Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis3 to 11
DR31Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity3 to 11
DR61Refusing 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 drive10

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.

CodeOffencePenalty points
DR40In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit10
DR50In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink10
DR60Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive10
DR70Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test4

Drugs & Drug Driving

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
DG10Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit3 to 11
DG60Causing death by careless driving with drug level above the limit3 to 11
DR80Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs3 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.

CodeOffencePenalty points
DG40In charge of a vehicle while drug level above specified limit10
DR70Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test4
DR90In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs10

Insurance offences

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
IN10Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks6 to 8

Licence offences

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
LC20Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence3 to 6
LC30Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence3 to 6
LC40Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a disability3 to 6
LC50Driving after a licence has been cancelled (revoked) or refused on medical grounds3 to 6

Miscellaneous offences

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
MS10Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position3
MS20Unlawful pillion riding3
MS30Play street offences2
MS50Motor racing on the highway3 to 11
MS60Offences not covered by other codes (including offences relating to breach of requirements as to control of vehicle)3
MS70Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight3
MS80Refusing to submit to an eyesight test3
MS90Failure to give information as to identity of driver etc6

Motorway offences

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
MW10Contravention 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.

CodeOffencePenalty points
PC10Undefined contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations3
PC20Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with moving vehicle3
PC30Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with stationary vehicle3

Speed limits

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
SP10Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits3 to 6
SP20Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles)3 to 6
SP30Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road3 to 6
SP40Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit3 to 6
SP50Exceeding speed limit on a motorway3 to 6

Traffic direction and signs

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

CodeOffencePenalty points
TS10Failing to comply with traffic light signals3
TS20Failing to comply with double white lines3
TS30Failing to comply with ‘stop’ sign3
TS40Failing to comply with direction of a constable/warden3
TS50Failing to comply with traffic sign (excluding ‘stop’ signs, traffic lights or double white lines)3
TS60Failing to comply with a school crossing patrol sign3
TS70Undefined failure to comply with a traffic direction sign3

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.

CodeOffencePenalty points
UT50Aggravated taking of a vehicle3 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.

CodeOffence
MR09Reckless or dangerous driving (whether or not resulting in death, injury or serious risk)
MR19Wilful failure to carry out the obligation placed on driver after being involved in a road accident (hit or run)
MR29Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other substance affecting or diminishing the mental and physical abilities of a driver
MR39Driving a vehicle faster than the permitted speed
MR49Driving a vehicle whilst disqualified
MR59Other 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.

OffenceMaximum penaltyPenalty points
Causing death by dangerous drivingLife imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory – 5 years minimum3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified)
Dangerous driving2 years’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified)
Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugsLife imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory – 5 years minimum3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified)
Careless and inconsiderate drivingUnlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification3 to 9
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs or with excess alcohol: or failing to provide a specimen for analysis6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified)
Failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification5 to 10
Driving while disqualified6 months’ imprisonment (12 months in Scotland) / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification6
Driving after refusal or revocation of licence on medical grounds6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification3 to 6
Driving without insuranceUnlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification6 to 8
Using a vehicle in a dangerous conditionLGV 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 discretionary3 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 disqualification3
Using a hand-held mobile phone when driving£1,000 fine (£2,500 for PCV or goods vehicle) / Discretionary disqualification6
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence£1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification3 to 6
Speeding£1,000 fine (£2,500 for motorway offences) / Discretionary disqualification3 to 6, or 3 (fixed penalty)
Traffic light offences£1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification3
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 disqualification6

*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.