Endorsements on your driving licence occur when you break the laws focused around driving in the UK, European Community or European Economic Area - and they're best to steer very clear of. Endorsements can cause a plethora of problems, ranging from higher insurance prices & renewals, inability to get insured, and even disqualification in some cases.
Endorsement Codes Explained
Each endorsement has a unique code and receives 'penalty points' on a scale from 1 to 11. More serious offenses yield higher points.
Penalty points remain on your driving record for either 4 or 11 years based on the seriousness of the offence.
"Accident offences"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 |
- All AC codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Disqualified driver"
| Code | Offence | # of Penalty Points |
| BA10 | Driving while disqualified by order of court | 6 |
| BA30 | Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court | 6 |
- Both BA codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Careless driving"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 |
| 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 |
- Codes CD10 to CD33 stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
- Codes CD40 to CD70 stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction
- Codes CD80 and CD90 stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction
"Construction and use offences"
| Code | Offence | # of Penalty Points |
| CU10 | Using a vehicle with defective brakes | 3 |
| CU20 | Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicles 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 |
- CU Codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Reckless/dangerous driving"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 |
- DD codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction
"Drink"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 |
| 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 |
- DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31 & DR61 codes stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction
- DR40, DR50, DR60 & DR70 codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence, or 4 years from the date of the conviction (where a disqualification is imposed)
"Drugs"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 |
| 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 |
- DG10, DG60 & DR80 codes stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction
- DG40, DR70 & DR90 codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence, or 4 years from the date of the conviction (where a disqualification is imposed)
"Insurance offences"
| Code | Offence | # of Penalty Points |
| IN10 | Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks | 6 to 8 |
- The IN10 code stays on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Licence offences"
| Code | Offence | # of Penalty Points |
| LC20 | Driving otherwise than in accordance with licence | 3 to 6 |
| LC30 | Driving after making a false declaration about fitness with 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 |
- LC codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Miscellaneous offences"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 |
- MS codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Motorway offences"
| Code | Offence | # of Penalty Points |
| MW10 | Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits) | 3 |
- The MW10 code stays on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Pedestrian crossings"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 |
- PC codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Speed limits"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 |
- SP codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Traffic direction and signs"
| Code | Offence | # of 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 signage (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 |
- TS codes stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Special code"
Code TT99 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the 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 | Offence | # of Penalty Points |
| UT50 | Aggravated taking of a vehicle | 3 to 11 |
- The UT50 code stays on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence
"Mutual recognition"
| 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 |
- You’ll receive 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 the conviction.
Additional, otherwise qualified offences
Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring offences
For aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring 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 causing or permitting offences, the codes are again, 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 inciting offences, the codes that usually end with the number 0 on the code end with a 6 instead.
For example, DD40 (dangerous driving) becomes DD46 on your driving record if you’ve incited someone to do this.
