Most expired endorsements will automatically be removed from your driving record when they’re no longer valid. The length of time they remain on your record depends on how serious the offence was.
Incorrect information on your driving record can lead to holiday hire cars being more expensive – or refused altogether. Follow our guide to ensure your licence isn’t showing damaging information that should have been removed…
Read about recent changes to your driving licence and how you hire a car while abroad.
Give your licence a full health check
A poorly maintained licence can result in higher than necessary insurance premiums, cancelled policies, problems with the police, or even losing your job.
The abolition of the paper counterpart (the paper part of your photocard licence that contained endorsements and driving permissions) makes it harder to ensure your permit to drive is fit for purpose and correct.
Use this driving licence health check to make sure yours is fit for purpose.
Visual check-up: DVLA View Licence service
The DVLA’s View Driving Licence website allows you to enter a few details and find out exactly what’s on your licence. This includes information such as endorsements and categories of vehicle you’re qualified to drive.
What will it tell me: Log in and the service will tell you when your licence expires, how many penalty points you have and which vehicle’s you’re licensed to drive. The service will also tell you what personal details you have registered with the DVLA. Make sure you change them if they’re wrong or risk a big fine. We tell you how here.
What information do I need to log in: Getting into the service is easy with the following personal details:
1) Your driving licence number
2) Your National Insurance number
3) The postcode on your driving licence
How much does it cost and when can I use it: The View My Licence website is free to use and available 24 hours a day.
Use the View Driving Licence service here
Here’s a video explaining the new system.
RELATED NEWS
What are the categories on my driving licence?Find out what they mean here
Endorsement treatment
You’ve checked your licence and perhaps you’ve come across some endorsements? This is an area you’ll need to know about when it comes to getting a driving job, insurance quotes and hiring cars. Here we’ll look at what they mean and how long they’ll remain on your licence.
About endorsements: Individual endorsements have a unique code and come with penalty points on a scale from 1 to 11. The more serious the offence, them more points it attracts. Some offences will be so serious they’ll attract an instant disqualification.
Endorsements and penalty points by offence:
Here’s a full list of offences with the endorsement and penalty points they attract.
Endorsements and new drivers: Anyone receiving six or more penalty points within two years of passing their driving test will have the licence revoked.
Any unexpired points on your provisional licence will be carried over to your full version if you pass your test.
If your licence is revoked within two years of passing your test, you’ll have to retake it – both the theory and practical elements.
Getting the all-clear – removing endorsements from your licence
Removing endorsements from your paper licence: If you’ve got an old-style green, pink, or pink and green paper licence, having endorsements removed will mean swapping it for a new photocard version.
To do this you’ll need a completed a D1 licence application form and the following:
- Original documentation confirming your identity
- A passport type photograph and your paper driving licence
- A cheque or postal order for £20 payable to DVLA (do not send cash)
Then, send it all to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BU
Order your D1 form online here
Removing expired endorsements from your photocard licence
With the paper counterpart being withdrawn in June 2015, drivers’ records became entirely digital with checks through the online database. The good news is those with expired penalty points will no longer need to take any action, or make payment to have them removed.
The DVLA has confirmed that any spent endorsements will automatically be wiped from drivers’ records without intervention or cost to the licence-holder, but mistakes can happen so make sure you regularly use the View Driving Licence service to ensure it’s correct.
FAQS
A new driver in the UK can have up to 6 penalty points before losing their license.
Penalty points stay on your UK driving license for a period of 4 or 11 years, depending on the severity of the offence.
Penalty points cannot be removed from a UK driving license once they have been added, but they will be removed automatically after the specified time period.
The number of penalty points for speeding in the UK will depend on how far above the speed limit the driver was going, but it can range from 3 to 6 points.
The penalty for driving without insurance in the UK is 6 to 8 penalty points, and a fine of up to £5,000.
The penalty for using a mobile phone while driving in the UK is 6 penalty points and a fine of £200.
The penalty for failing to stop at a red light in the UK is 3 penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000.
In some cases, penalty points can be reduced if the driver takes a UK driving improvement course, but this is at the discretion of the court.
Yes, it is possible to appeal a UK penalty point conviction, but it must be done within a certain time period and with valid grounds for appeal.
If a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points within a period of 3 years on their UK driving license, they will be disqualified from driving for a minimum of 6 months.
hi i wanted to know can i remove points from my driving licence, if i can how?
how do I remove the 107 on my licence
I only have a provisional licence but passed my theory and got caught driving a couple of times (i have learned that lesson now ) resulting in disqualification but once my disqualification ends is my theory still valid as it would still be within 2 years of passing just not sure if the disqualification would cancel it out or not ? Any helpful links would be appreciated many thanks in advance
Endorsements and new drivers: Anyone receiving six or more penalty points within two years of passing their driving test will have the licence revoked.
Any unexpired points on your provisional licence will be carried over to your full version if you pass your test.
If your licence is revoked within two years of passing your test, you’ll have to retake it – both the theory and practical elements.
I wanted to know if you have 6 penalty points and 3 expire in 2017 but the removal date is 2018 if you were to get six more after they expire in 2017 would this mean you would technically have 12 or 9 because the three points from 2014-2017 have been expired but NOT removed. Would this mean you have 9 or 12 points. Please explain as with 12 you would be disqualified
Hi Adam, Just wondering if you managed to get an answer?
hi i wanted to know can i remove points from my driving licence, if i can how?
H0w can I get my points off my drivers license as time spent.
Please let me know how to do this.
Thank you
You need to do nothing .Since 2015 dvla will automatically remove your points with no cost to yourself,due to the paper driving license being abolished
I have a paper driving license with my PC20 code date and penalty points for my offence whitch have expired do I send it into theDVLA or can I shred it .
Harry Wilson,
If you haven’t already dones so, Simply apply for a new photo licence, once you get it the expired points will automatically be removed.