How to remove expired penalty points from your licence… holiday hire car essential information

Most expired endorsements will automatically be removed from your driving record when they’re no longer valid.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.

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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.
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RELATED NEWS

What are the categories on my driving licence?Find out what they mean here

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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.

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Endorsements and penalty points by offence:

Here’s a full list of offences with the endorsement and penalty points they attract.

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Accident offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	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

Disqualified driver

Codes must BA10 and BA30 stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the 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

Codes BA40 and BA60 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
BA40	Causing death by driving while disqualified	3 to 11
BA60	Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified	3 to 11

Careless driving

Codes CD10 to CD30 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	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

Codes CD40 to CD70 must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
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

Codes CD80 and CD90 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
CD80	Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving	3 to 11
CD90	Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers	3 to 11

Construction and use offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the 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	Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, mobile telephone etc	3

Reckless/dangerous driving

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	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

Drink

Codes DR10 to DR61 must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	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

Codes DR40 to DR70 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the 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

Drugs

These codes must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction.

Code	Offence	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

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence or 4 years from date of conviction where a disqualification is imposed.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
DG40	In charge of a vehicle while drug level above specified limit	10
DR90	In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs	10

Insurance offences

Code IN10 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
IN10	Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks	6 to 8

Licence offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
LC20	Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence	3 to 6
LC30	Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when 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

Miscellaneous offences

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the 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 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

Motorway offences

Code MW10 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
MW10	Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits)	3

Pedestrian crossings

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the 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

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	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

Traffic direction and signs

These codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the 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

Code TT99 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of 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 UT50 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence.

Code	Offence	Penalty points
UT50	Aggravated taking of a vehicle	3 to 11

‘Mutual recognition’ codes

You’ll get an ‘MR’ code on your driving record if you’re disqualified while driving in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. Your disqualification period will also be valid in GB and will stay on your record for 4 years from the date of conviction.

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

Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring offences

For these 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 these offences, the codes are 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 these offences, the codes are similar, but with the number 0 on the code changed to 6.

For example, DD40 (dangerous driving) becomes DD46 on your driving record if you’ve incited someone to do this.

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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.
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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

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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.

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