Your Guide to Endorsement Codes in the UK

Your Guide to Endorsement Codes in the UK

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.