Endorsement Codes & Penalty Points (Endorsements)

6 Sep 2013

The following guide to endorsements clarifies the type and meaning of motoring offences, along with the penalty points that apply to each offence.

You will be asked to declare any unspent convictions or endorsements on your driving licence when you apply for car insurance. If you don’t, it could invalidate your insurance policy.

Insure Your Motor is happy to receive enquiries for car insurance from motorists with convictions and penalty points on their licence.

Click for an online quote or speak to our expert team on 0800 557 1329.

A guide to endorsements and convictions

If you’re convicted of a motoring offence, the courts can fine you and “endorse” your driving licence with penalty points.

Skip to the information that most interests you.

Many endorsements stay on your licence for four years, but convictions for more serious offences remain for 11 years. If you collect 12 or more penalty points within three years, you can be disqualified from driving (though there are different rules for new drivers).

Penalty points are given on a scale between one and eleven. More serious motoring offences result in more penalty points and could also result in being disqualified from driving.

Accident Offences

Accident offences stay on your driving licence for four years.

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

Disqualified driver codes stay on your licence for four years

Code Offence Penalty Points
BA10 Driving whilst disqualified by order of court 6
BA30 Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court 6

Careless Driving

Codes CD10 to CD30, and CD80 and CD90, remain on a licence for four years, but Codes CD40 to CD70 last for 11 years.

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
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
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 & Use Offences

These codes stay on your licence for four years.

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, mobile telephone etc 3

Reckless/Dangerous Driving

Codes for reckless and dangerous driving stay on your licence for four years.

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 or Drugs

Codes DR10 to DR30 and DR80 stay on a licence for 11 years; Codes DR40 to DR70 and DR90 are valid for four years.

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
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
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
DR70 Failing to provide specimen for breath test 4
DR80 Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs 3 to 11
DR90 In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs 10

Insurance offences

There is just one code and it must stay on your licence for four years

Code Offence Penalty Points
IN10 Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks 6 to 8

Licence offences

These codes stay on your licence for four years

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 revoked or refused on medical grounds 3 to 6

Miscellaneous offences

These codes stay on your licence for four years

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

Codes for motorway offences stay on your licence for four years

Code Offence Penalty Points
MW10 Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits) 3

Offences at Pedestrian Crossings

Penalty codes for offences at pedestrian crossings stay on your licence for four years

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

Codes for speeding offences stay on your licence for four years

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 3 to 6
SP50 Exceeding speed limit on a motorway 3 to 6

Traffic Direction and Signs

These codes stay on your licence for four years

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

There is a special code, TT99, which refers to disqualification for “totting up”, where a driver accrues 12 penalty points or more within a three-year period.

It stays on a driving licence for four years.

Theft or Unauthorised Taking

This penalty codes stays on your licence for four years.

Code Offence Penalty Points
UT Aggravating taking of a vehicle 3 to 11

“Mutual Recognition” Codes

MR codes are given for driving disqualifications in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. The disqualification period also applies in Great Britain. The code stays on a driving licence for four years.

Code Offence
MR9 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

Other Driving Offences

Other driving offences relate to situations where a person may have aided, abetted, counselled, procured, caused, permitted or incited an offence.

Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring an offence

The number 0 in the original offence code changes to a 2. For example, DR80 (driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs) changes to DR82 if you have helped someone do this.

Causing or permitting offences

The 0 changes to a 4 if you’ve caused or permitted someone to commit an offence.

Inciting offences

The 0 changes to a 6 if you’ve incited (encouraged) someone to commit an offence.

If you’re a driver with motoring convictions, contact Insure Your Motor for a quote for car insurance.

Click for an online quote or speak to our expert team on 0800 557 1329.

Related articles:

Car Insurance for Convicted Drivers
Penalties for driving without insurance
A Guide to Rehabilitation Periods for Motoring Offences
Find Car Insurance for Mobile Phone Offenders
News: One in 200 Drivers on UK Roads is Uninsured
Insurance for Convicted Drink Drivers

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