An endorsement is a record of a driving offence added to your licence by the DVLA
When you are convicted of a driving offence, the court tells the DVLA to add a code and details to your licence record. This permanent mark is called an endorsement. It stays on your licence for a set number of years — usually four or ten, depending on the offence — and anyone who checks your licence (an employer, an insurance company, a rental car firm) will see it.
Endorsements are different from penalty points. A single offence can result in both: you might receive three penalty points and an endorsement code, for example. The endorsement is the formal record of what you did; the points are a separate system that can lead to a ban if you accumulate too many in a short time.
Not every driving offence results in an endorsement. Minor matters like a parking fine do not. But any offence serious enough to go to court — or that you admit to and accept a fixed penalty for — typically does.
Key Takeaways
- An endorsement is a court-ordered record of a driving offence added to your DVLA licence record and visible to employers and insurers.
- Each endorsement has a code (like SP30 for speeding or DR10 for drink-driving) that describes the offence and how long it stays on your record.
- Endorsements are separate from penalty points; you can have both from a single offence, and points can lead to a ban if you accumulate enough.
- Most endorsements remain visible for four to ten years, but some serious offences like causing death by dangerous driving stay for fifteen years.
How endorsement codes work
Each endorsement is recorded as a two-letter code followed by a number. The letters tell you the category of offence; the number tells you how many points it carries. For example, SP30 means speeding (SP) and carries 3 points (30). DR10 means drink-driving and carries 10 points.
Common codes include SP50 and SP60 (speeding at different levels), CD40 (careless driving), and IN10 (driving without insurance). The DVLA publishes the full list, and you can request a copy of your own licence record to see exactly what codes are recorded against you.
The code matters because it tells a future employer or insurer not just that you were convicted, but what you were convicted of. A single speeding offence looks different on a record than a drink-driving conviction, even though both are endorsements.
How long an endorsement stays on your licence
Most endorsements remain visible for four years from the date of conviction. This applies to offences like speeding, careless driving, and driving without insurance. After four years, the endorsement is still technically on your record, but it becomes "spent" and you do not have to disclose it to most people.
More serious offences stay visible for longer. Drink-driving and drug-driving endorsements remain for ten years. Causing death by dangerous driving stays for fifteen years. During the time an endorsement is unspent, you must declare it if asked — for instance, on an insurance form or a job process that asks about driving convictions.
After the endorsement becomes spent, you are not legally required to mention it in most situations. However, some employers (particularly those in transport, security, or roles involving vulnerable people) can still ask about spent convictions, and you must answer truthfully if they do.
The difference between endorsements and penalty points
Penalty points and endorsements often arrive together but work differently. An endorsement is a record of the offence itself. Penalty points are a running total that can trigger a ban if you accumulate too many within three years.
If you receive 12 or more points within three years, the DVLA will normally ban you from driving for a minimum of six months. This is called totting up. However, you can ask the court for a hearing to argue that a ban would cause you exceptional hardship, and the court may decide to let you keep your licence despite the points.
You can also lose points through a course. Some forces offer speed awareness courses or other driver improvement schemes; if you complete one, the points for that offence are removed. The endorsement, however, stays on your record for the full four or ten years.
How endorsements affect insurance and employment
Insurance companies check your licence record before offering you a quote. An endorsement will almost certainly increase your premium, sometimes significantly. A single speeding offence might add 10 to 20 percent to your cost; a drink-driving conviction can double or triple it. Some insurers will not cover you at all if you have certain endorsements, particularly recent ones.
Employers who need you to drive as part of the job — delivery drivers, taxi drivers, company car users — will ask to see your licence. They can see all unspent endorsements. Some employers have policies that rule out hiring anyone with certain offences. Others will consider the offence, how long ago it was, and what you have done since.
Once an endorsement becomes spent (after four or ten years), you do not have to tell most employers or insurers about it. However, some sectors can still ask, and you must answer truthfully.
How to check your own endorsements
You can view your licence record online through the DVLA's online service. You will need your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and postcode. The online record shows all current endorsements, when they were added, and when they will become spent.
You can also order a paper copy of your licence record by post. This takes longer but gives you a physical document you can show to an employer or insurer if needed. Some employers ask to see the actual licence; others accept a screenshot or printout from the online service.
If you believe an endorsement has been recorded in error, you can contact the DVLA to dispute it. However, you will need evidence — for example, a court document showing the conviction was overturned. straightforward disagreeing with the endorsement is not enough to have it removed.
What happens if you drive while disqualified
If the DVLA bans you from driving (because you totted up 12 points, or because a court imposed a ban as part of your sentence), you must stop driving when ready. Driving while disqualified is a serious offence that can result in a fine, a longer ban, or even a prison sentence.
If you are caught, you will receive an endorsement for the new offence on top of the existing ban. This makes it much harder to get your licence back when the ban ends, because you will have additional convictions to explain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove an endorsement before it becomes spent?
No. An endorsement stays on your record for the full period set by law — usually four or ten years — and there is no way to have it removed early. You cannot pay to have it deleted or appeal to have it erased. Once the time period ends, it becomes spent automatically.
Do I have to tell my insurance company about an old endorsement that is now spent?
No, not in most cases. Once an endorsement is spent, you do not have to disclose it to insurers unless they specifically ask about spent convictions. However, always read the insurance form carefully; some insurers do ask about spent offences, and you must answer truthfully if they do.
Will an endorsement stop me from getting a job?
It depends on the job. If the role does not involve driving, most employers will not care. If it does, some employers have strict policies and will not hire anyone with recent endorsements, while others will consider your circumstances. Always be honest on process forms; lying about a conviction is grounds for dismissal.
What is the difference between an endorsement and a ban?
An endorsement is a record of an offence on your licence. A ban (disqualification) is a court order preventing you from driving at all. You can have an endorsement without a ban, but if you accumulate 12 points in three years, the DVLA will normally ban you, and that ban will also be recorded as an endorsement.
Can I still drive if I have an endorsement?
Yes, unless you have also been banned (disqualified). An endorsement is a record of an offence, not a ban. You can continue to drive, but your insurance will cost more, and you must declare the endorsement to insurers and employers who ask.