A driving licence endorsement is a record of a motoring conviction printed directly on your licence

When you are convicted of a driving offence, the court does not just fine you or ban you — it also marks your licence with an endorsement. This is a code and points total that stays on your licence for a set number of years. Other drivers cannot see your endorsements, but insurers, employers, and the DVLA can. An endorsement is different from a ban: you keep your licence in your hand, but it carries a permanent record of what you did wrong.

The endorsement system exists because insurance companies and employers need to know your driving history. A single endorsement might not cost you much, but multiple endorsements or a serious one can make your insurance premiums jump sharply or make you uninsurable altogether. Some employers — particularly those hiring drivers or people in safety-critical roles — will not hire you if your licence shows certain endorsements.

Every endorsement comes with a code (usually two letters and two numbers) and a number of penalty points. The points are what matter most: if you reach 12 points within three years, the DVLA will normally revoke your licence and you will have to reapply. Younger drivers face a stricter rule — if you reach 6 points within two years of passing your test, your licence is revoked automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • An endorsement is a conviction code printed on your licence that stays there for between 4 and 11 years depending on the offence.
  • Each endorsement carries penalty points, and reaching 12 points within three years results in automatic licence revocation.
  • Insurers see your endorsements and will usually raise your premiums or refuse to cover you if you have certain ones.
  • Some endorsements (like drink-driving) stay on your licence longer than others and are treated more seriously by insurers and employers.
  • You can ask the court to remove an endorsement in rare circumstances, but this is only possible for minor offences and only if you have a strong reason.

How endorsement codes work and what they mean

Each endorsement is recorded as a two-letter code followed by two numbers. The letters tell you the type of offence, and the numbers tell you how many points it carries. For example, SP30 means speeding (SP) and carries 3 points. DT70 means dangerous driving and carries 7 points. DR80 means drink-driving and carries 8 points.

The most common endorsements are speeding (3, 4, or 6 points depending on how far over the limit), careless driving (3 to 9 points), and using a mobile phone while driving (6 points). More serious offences like dangerous driving, drink-driving, or driving without insurance carry 6 to 11 points and stay on your licence for longer.

You can find the full list of endorsement codes on the DVLA website. Your driving licence itself will show the code and the date the endorsement will be removed — this is called the expiry date. The expiry date is not the same as the conviction date; it is the date when the DVLA will delete the endorsement from their records.

How long endorsements stay on your licence

The time an endorsement remains on your licence depends on the offence. Minor offences like speeding or careless driving usually stay for 4 years from the date of conviction. More serious offences like drink-driving, dangerous driving, or driving without insurance stay for 11 years. A few offences — notably causing death by careless or dangerous driving — stay for life.

The expiry date is printed on your licence card itself, in the section that lists your endorsements. You do not need to do anything when the date arrives; the DVLA removes the endorsement automatically. However, the endorsement will still appear on your driving record for insurance purposes for a short time after it is removed from your licence, so check with your insurer about when they will stop counting it.

It is worth noting that the endorsement stays on your licence even if you do not drive during that time. If you hold a licence, the endorsement is there. If you let your licence expire and then reapply, the endorsement will appear on your new licence if it has not yet reached its expiry date.

How endorsements affect your insurance premiums

An endorsement on your licence will almost certainly increase your car insurance premium. Insurers see endorsements as a sign that you are a higher risk. The amount your premium rises depends on the type of endorsement, how many you have, and how recently they were added. A single speeding endorsement might add 10 to 20 per cent to your premium, while a drink-driving endorsement can double or triple it.

When you get a quote for insurance, you will be asked to declare any endorsements. You must tell the truth — if you hide an endorsement and then make a claim, the insurer can refuse to pay out. Some insurers specialise in high-risk drivers and will cover you even with serious endorsements, but they charge much more. Others will straightforward refuse to quote you at all.

The impact on your premium decreases as the endorsement gets older. An endorsement that is 10 years old will affect your premium less than one that is 1 year old, even if it has not yet expired. Once the endorsement is removed from your licence, most insurers will stop counting it within a year or two, though some may ask about it for longer.

Endorsements and your employment prospects

If you work as a driver — a taxi driver, bus driver, delivery driver, or HGV driver — your employer will check your licence regularly. Many driving jobs require you to have a clean licence or to have no more than a certain number of points. If you get an endorsement, you may lose your job or become ineligible for promotion.

Even if you do not work as a driver, some employers check licences for roles that involve driving as part of the job, or for safety-critical positions. A serious endorsement like drink-driving or dangerous driving can make you unhirable for these roles. You should declare endorsements honestly on job applications; failing to do so can be grounds for dismissal if discovered later.

Self-employed people and those with their own business insurance should also be aware that endorsements affect their business insurance premiums, particularly if the business involves any driving.

What happens if you reach 12 points

If you accumulate 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period, the DVLA will send you a letter telling you that your licence will be revoked. You have the right to ask for a hearing before a magistrate, where you can argue that you should be allowed to keep your licence. This is called a totting up hearing. You might argue that losing your licence would cause you exceptional hardship — for example, if you would lose your job and have no other way to support your family.

The magistrate will decide whether your hardship is serious enough to allow you to keep your licence. If they agree, your points are not wiped; they stay on your record. If they do not agree, your licence is revoked and you must reapply. When you reapply, you will have to pass the theory and practical tests again, and your licence will be issued as a new one — though the old endorsements will still appear on your driving record for insurance purposes.

Younger drivers face a stricter rule. If you passed your driving test within the last two years and you reach 6 points, your licence is revoked automatically with no hearing. You must reapply and pass both tests again.

Can you remove an endorsement early

In rare circumstances, you can ask the court to remove an endorsement before its expiry date. This is called explore for a remission. The court will only consider this for minor offences, and only if you have a compelling reason — for example, if the endorsement was a mistake, or if keeping it would cause you severe hardship.

You cannot straightforward ask the DVLA to remove an endorsement; you must go back to the court that convicted you. You will need to write to the court explaining your reason and provide supporting evidence. The court is unlikely to agree unless there is a genuine error in the conviction or a very serious personal circumstance. Most people do not succeed in getting an endorsement removed early.

If you believe the conviction itself was wrong, you can appeal it through the normal appeals process, but this is a separate matter from asking for a remission. You should speak to a solicitor if you think you have grounds to appeal.

How to check your endorsements and keep your record clean

You can see your own endorsements by looking at your physical driving licence card. The back of the card lists all current endorsements with their codes and expiry dates. You can also check your full driving record online through the DVLA's View Driving Record service, which shows your endorsements, points, and the dates they will be removed.

To keep your record clean going forward, follow the speed limits, avoid using your phone while driving, and do not drive under the influence. These three things account for the majority of endorsements. If you are convicted of an offence, you will receive a notice from the court telling you what endorsement has been added and when it will expire. Keep this notice safe, as you may need it for insurance purposes.

If you are unsure whether you have endorsements, or if you think an endorsement on your record is wrong, contact the DVLA directly. They can confirm what is recorded against your licence and explain what each code means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will an endorsement show up when someone else checks my licence?

No. Only you, the DVLA, insurers, and employers (if they have your permission to check) can see your endorsements. Other drivers cannot see them. However, if you are stopped by police, they can see your full record on their system.

What is the difference between an endorsement and a ban?

An endorsement is a conviction code that stays on your licence for a set period. A ban (or disqualification) means you are not allowed to drive at all for a set period. You can have an endorsement without a ban, or a ban without an endorsement, or both. A ban is more serious.

Can I drive while I am waiting for an endorsement to expire?

Yes. An endorsement does not stop you from driving; it is just a record on your licence. You can drive normally while the endorsement is there. However, your insurance will be more expensive, and if you reach 12 points, your licence will be revoked and you will not be able to drive.

Do endorsements affect my ability to rent a car?

Yes. Car rental companies check your driving record and may refuse to rent to you if you have recent endorsements, particularly serious ones like drink-driving. Some will rent to you but charge a higher deposit or daily rate. Check with the rental company before you book.

What happens to my endorsements if I let my licence expire?

If you let your licence expire and then reapply, any endorsements that have not yet reached their expiry date will appear on your new licence. The endorsement does not disappear just because your old licence expired. You will need to declare it to insurers and employers.