New Drivers Act
The New Drivers Act says that if a new driver gets 6 points on their driving licence during the first two years after passing their test then their driving licence will be revoked. They can only get their licence back after passing both the Theory test and the Driving test all over again.
According to DVLA statistics, many people lose their licence in this way and then do not bother to regain it. Two speeding offences would be enough to take the driver to 6 points but if you look at the list below you will see that there are a large number of offences which carry penalty points.
When endorsements and penalty points can be removed from a driving licence
The following is a guide to the number of penalty points a court may impose, it does not reflect the fact that some offences may incur a disqualification. The offence code and penalty points will be shown on your driving licence and must stay there for four or eleven years depending on the offence.
Check the codes on your driving licence against the list below.
Accident offences
Offence codes AC10 to AC30 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
AC10 | Failing to stop after an accident | 5-10 |
AC20 | Failing to give particulars or to report an accident within 24 hours | 5-10 |
AC30 | Undefined accident offences | 4-9 |
Disqualified driver
Offence codes BA10 and BA30 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of 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 |
Careless driving
Offence codes CD10 to CD30 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
CD10 | Driving without due care and attention | 3-9 |
CD20 | Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users | 3-9 |
CD30 | Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users | 3-9 |
Offence codes CD40 to CD70 must stay on a driving licence for eleven years from date of conviction.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
CD40 | Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink | 3-11 |
CD50 | Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs | 3-11 |
CD60 | Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit | 3-11 |
CD70 | Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for | 3-11 |
Offence codes CD80 and CD90 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of conviction.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
CD80 | Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving | 3-11 |
CD90 | Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers | 3-11 |
Construction and use offences
Offence codes CU10 to CU80 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of 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 | Using a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle | 3 |
Reckless/dangerous driving
Offence codes DD40 to DD80 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of conviction.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DD40 | Dangerous driving | 3-11 |
DD60 | Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle | 3-11 |
DD80 | Causing death by dangerous driving | 3-11 |
DD90 | Furious driving | 3-9 |
Drink or drugs
Offence codes DR10 to DR30 must stay on a driving licence for eleven years from date of conviction.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DR10 | Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit | 3-11 |
DR20 | Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink | 3-11 |
DR30 | Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis | 3-11 |
Offence codes DR40 to DR70 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
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 provide specimen for breath test | 4 |
Offence code DR80 must stay on a driving licence for eleven years from date of conviction.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DR80 | Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs | 3-11 |
Offence code DR90 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DR90 | In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs | 10 |
Insurance offences
Offence code IN10 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
IN10 | Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks. | 6-8 |
Licence offences
Offence codes LC20 to LC50 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
LC20 | Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence | 3-6 |
LC30 | Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence | 3-6 |
LC40 | Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a disability | 3-6 |
LC50 | Driving after a licence has been revoked or refused on medical grounds | 3-6 |
Miscellaneous offences
Offence codes MS10 to MS90 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of 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 | 3-11 |
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
Offence code MW10 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
MW10 | Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits) | 3 |
Pedestrian crossings
Offence codes PC10 to PC30 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of 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
Offence codes SP10 to SP50 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
SP10 | Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits | 3-6 |
SP20 | Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles) | 3-6 |
SP30 | Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road | 3-6 |
SP40 | Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit | 3-6 |
SP50 | Exceeding speed limit on a motorway | 3-6 |
Traffic direction and signs
Offence codes TS10 to TS70 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of 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
Offence code TT99 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of conviction.
Code | Offence |
---|---|
TT99 | To signify a disqualification under ‘totting-up’ procedure. If the total of penalty points reaches 12 or more within three years, the driver is liable to be disqualified |
Theft or unauthorised taking
Offence codes UT50 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of offence.
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
UT50 | Aggravated taking of a vehicle | 3-11 |
Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring
Offences as coded, but with 0 changed to 2 eg LC10 becomes LC12.
Causing or permitting
Offences as coded, but with 0 changed to 4 eg LC10 becomes LC14.
Inciting
Offences as coded, but with the end 0 changed to 6 eg DD40 becomes DD46.
Non-endorsable offences
Some offences are non-endorsable. A non-endorsable offence is an offence which courts do not endorse onto your paper counterpart. No penalty points are attributed to these offences but they carry a period of disqualification.
At the end of the disqualification (over 56 days) you will have to apply for a renewal licence together with the appropriate fee. Any queries about offences and endorsements should be directed to the convicting court.