Check how many penalty points you have for driving

With millions of British drivers having points on their licence for the likes of speeding it’s essential to check the DVLA has a correct and up to date record of points recorded against you. Here motoring journalist and expert Pete Barden looks at a fast, free and official online tool to check how many points the DVLA says you have on your driving licence.

Use this guide to ensure the tally is correct and, if not, how to have it updated to show the true number – helping you save money on the likes of insuring cars and making sure you’re not turned down for hiring vehicles – or even prevented from getting some jobs.

Here is how you can instantly check how many endorsements are currently registered against you by the DVLA.

Speed camera giving out fines and penalty points on driving licences Find out how many points you have on your licence right now (Credit: pxhere.com)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to check for points on your driving licence?
What if you find incorrect penalty points?
How to remove expired penalty points
Will points be removed from my licence?
How long do points affect car insurance or jobs?
How long do points stay on your licence?
How many points for each offence?

How to check for points on your driving licence?

The DVLA has an online tool that allows drivers to check their licence to see how many points they have on their licence and when they are scheduled to be removed. Checking this record is correct could be a smart move after Covid restrictions and industrial action caused huge backlogs at the DVLA which may have impacted such services.

To view your licence, you will need the following information at hand before you start:

Your driving licence number – photocard or paper licences can both be checked

Your national insurance number – you can find your national insurance number here if you don’t know it

You will also need the post code that is printed on your licence.

With this information to hand, you can now view your driving licence information by logging in to the official Gov.UK site here.

What if you find incorrect penalty points?

If the penalty points (endorsements) are wrong – the type of offence etc – then you will need to contact the court that convicted you. Contacting the DVLA will not help you get them adjusted.

How to remove expired penalty points

In most cases, expired endorsements will automatically be removed from your driving record with no action required.

However, if you believe an endorsement is still on your record when it should have been removed, you will need to contact the DVLA to discuss the situation. You may be required to send supporting documentation from the court that issued the penalty points.

Will points be removed from my licence?

Photocard driving licences do not have records of penalty points recorded on the physical document, so there is no need to obtain a new document from the DVLA.

Drivers with paper licences will see that a record of offences is recorded on the physical licence, so a new document will be required to remove the expired penalty points. This will mean swapping the paper licence for a new photocard version.

How long do points affect car insurance or jobs?

You can see below how long penalty points remain on your licence, but the reality of how they can be referred to by courts ruling on subsequent offences, or insurance companies deciding premiums, is slightly more complicated.

While points can remain on your driving licence for four or 11 years, it is only ‘valid’ for the first three years for a four-year endorsement and 10 years for an 11-year endorsement. Even though it will remain on the licence for the full term.

Courts can take points into account during both while they are valid and if it is still on your licence when the case is heard.

However, the likes of insurers and employers might be able to find out about and act on points at any time for a four-year offence, but only during the first five years of an 11-year endorsement. This falls to the first 30 months of the longer endorsement if the person is under 18.

How long do points stay on your licence?

Penalty points, or endorsements as they are also known, remain on a driving licence for a period of between 4 – 11 years. This is why it’s important to ensure that your record is up to date – or you could risk spending hundreds of pounds extra on insurance. You could also miss out on jobs, or be refused when attempting to hire a vehicle.

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How many points for each offence?

Now that you know how many points are on your licence and why they are there, you and use the following table to check that the endorsements are correct and have not expired. The following table is available on Gov.UK

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 BA10 and BA30 must 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, such as using a mobile phone	3 to 6

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 or 4 years from date of conviction where a disqualification is imposed.

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 co-operate with a preliminary 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
DR70	Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test	4
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 cancelled (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 or the Isle of Man. 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

Author: Pete Barden:

Twitter: @pete_barden

Pete Barden is a qualified journalist who has written and produced for publications including The Sun (thesun.co.uk), New Statesman Media Group, Whatcar? (Whatcar.com) Stuff Magazine (Stuff.tv), Fastcar Magazine (Fastcar.co.uk), Maxim Magazine and UK broadcast stations within the Heart network (Formerly GCAP). Pete specialises in motoring and travel content, along with news and production roles. You can find out more about Pete Barden on LinkedIn.

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