Here is a full list of the UK driving offences, conviction codes, penalty points and how long you need to carry each of these penalties on your licence before they’re considered spent. You may also like to read our article on can you hire a car or van with penalty points?
Conviction Codes & Driving Offences
The following applies to cars, vans, minibuses, motorcycles, or any other motor vehicle that requires a UK licence to drive or operate including electric vehicles.
Road Traffic Accident Offences
Offences Committed By A Disqualified Driver
Careless Driving
Construction And Use Offences
Reckless Or Dangerous Driving
Drink & Intoxication (DUI)
Drugs & Intoxication (DUI)
Insurance Offences
Licence Offences
Miscellaneous Offences
Motorway Offences
Pedestrian Crossings
Speed Limits
Traffic Direction And Signs
Special Code
Theft Or Unauthorised Taking
Mutual Recognition Codes
Under the current UK “totting up” system, if you commit an offence while driving, your licence may be endorsed with penalty points along with a conviction code that specifies the type of offence you committed.
Some offences are more severe than others and carry a heavier penalty including having your licence endorsed for longer or even a mandatory driving ban.
Some driving offences might result in you also having to retake an extended UK driving test before you are legally allowed back on the road.
Road Traffic Accident Offences
Accident offences only apply to road traffic accidents. Failure to stop after an accident or failure to report an accident within 24 hours is an offence.
Code AC30 (undefined accident offences) is also an umbrella term used when an obvious offence has taken place but isn’t covered by its own respective code.
Here are the driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to accidents.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes AC10, AC20 & AC30 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Offences Committed By A Disqualified Driver
Disqualification offences apply to drivers who are currently disqualified from driving but are caught driving, or attempting to drive, a motor vehicle.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to disqualification.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 BA10 & BA30 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes BA40 & BA60 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of conviction | |
Careless Driving
Careless driving offences basically mean you were caught driving with disregard for the safety and wellbeing of other road users, property, or pedestrians. Penalties for careless driving are commonly applied after an accident that was caused by, yep, driving without due care and attention.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to careless driving.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 CD10, CD20 & CD30 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 CD40, CD50 CD60 & CD70 will remain on your licence for 11 years from the date of conviction | |
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes CD80 & CD90 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of conviction | |
Construction And Use Offences
Construction and use offences apply to the structural integrity of your motor vehicle as well as the components belonging to it.
They also apply to the amount of control you have over your motor vehicle in regards to eating, drinking, or using a handheld mobile phone. They also apply to any other activity that distracts you while operating a motor vehicle.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to construction and use.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes CU10, CU20, CU30, CU40, CU50 & CU80 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Reckless Or Dangerous Driving
Reckless or dangerous driving offences apply to any act, by use of a motor vehicle, that can cause harm, destruction, or damage to people or property.
Although reckless and dangerous driving penalties are commonly imposed after an accident, they also apply to any act, by use of a motor vehicle, that is likely to cause an accident or injury.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to reckless or dangerous driving.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes DD10, DD40, DD60, DD80 & DD90 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of conviction | |
Drink
Drink offences, commonly known as “drink driving”, also apply to failure to give a breath test, failure to supply urine or another specimen for analysis such as blood, or failure to give permission for a blood sample to be analysed for the purpose of alcohol detection.
Code 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 ) is a bit tricky though. This means it is an offence to be in charge of a motor vehicle even if you aren’t driving, or attempting to drive it while over the legal limit (alcohol).
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to drink and alcohol.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31 & DR61 will remain on your licence for 11 years from the date of conviction | |
Endorsements Valid From (Variable)
| 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 |
| | Codes DR40, DR50, DR60 & DR70 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence or 4 years from the date of conviction where the driver is disqualified from driving | |
Drugs
Driving under the influence of drugs doesn’t only imply the use of illegal substances. It also applies to prescription medicine prescribed by your doctor that can make you drowsy, impair your judgement or reaction times, and prohibit you from operating a motor vehicle safely.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to drugs.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of Offence
| 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 |
| DG80 | Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs | 3 to 11 |
| | Codes DG10, DG60 & DG80 will remain on your licence for 11 years from the date of offence | |
Endorsements Valid From (Variable)
| CODE | OFFENCE | PENALTY POINTS |
| DG40 | In charge of a vehicle while drug level above specified limit | 10 |
| DG70 | Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test | 4 |
| DG90 | In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs | 10 |
| | Codes DG40, DG70 & DG90 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence or 4 years from the date of conviction where the driver is disqualified from driving | |
Insurance Offences
Insurance offences apply to being in charge of, or driving or attempting to drive, any motor vehicle without valid motor insurance. This also applies to motor vehicles parked on the road even while not in use. It is illegal to keep an uninsured motor vehicle on a public road for any reason.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to insurance.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of Offence
| CODE | OFFENCE | PENALTY POINTS |
| IN10 | Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks | 6 to 8 |
| | Codes IN10 (no valid insurance cover) will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Licence Offences
Licence offences apply to driving without a licence or neglecting to tell the DVLA about any illness, fitness issues, or disability when applying for a driving licence.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to licencing regulations.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes LC20, LC30, LC40 & LC50 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Miscellaneous Offences
Miscellaneous offences apply to the odd things people do whilst driving, but don’t really warrant their own category. These range from failure to properly identify yourself as the driver of a motor vehicle to refusing to give an eyesight test.
These codes also cover the little known play street offences (code MS30 ) which translates to “the prohibition of any motor vehicle using a road that has been designated and signposted for play, outside of the published times”. Basically, when a road becomes a children’s play area between specified times.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to miscellaneous.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes MS10, MS20, MS30, MS50, MS60, MS70, MS80 & MS90 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Motorway Offences
Motorway offences apply to motorway regulations excluding offences for speeding. These include, but aren’t limited to…
- Undertaking
- Driving on the hard shoulder
- Driving the wrong way on a motorway
- Stopping in an active lane
- Making a u-turn on a motorway
- Reversing on a motorway
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to motorway regulation.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of Offence
| CODE | OFFENCE | PENALTY POINTS |
| MW10 | Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits) | 3 |
| | Codes MW10 (umbrella term) will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Pedestrian Crossings
Pedestrian crossing offences include code PC30 ( Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with stationary vehicle ) which means you can get into hot water even while parked.
Parking on the white zigzag lines on either side of a pedestrian crossing will land you with 3 penalty points and a fine whereas not stopping for a pedestrian waiting to cross will land you the same.
Code PC10 covers any other offence not defined by any of the other codes applicable to pedestrian crossings.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to pedestrian crossings.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes PC10, PC20 & PC30 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Speed Limits
Speed limit offences apply when you’re caught exceeding the legal speed limit of the road you’re using. The type of penalty your licence is endorsed with for speeding depends on both the road you were using at the time and the type of motor vehicle you used to commit the offence.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to speed limits.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes SP10, SP20, SP30, SP40 & SP50 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Traffic Direction And Signs
Traffic Direction And Signs offences are when you fail to stop at a red light, straddle or cross double white lines, fail to stop at a stop sign, or in the case of code TS70, any offence committed by failing to comply with a sign, light, constable, or traffic warden not covered by any other code.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to traffic direction and signs.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of 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 |
| | Codes TS10, TS20, TS30, TS40, TS50, TS60 & TS70 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
Special Code
The Special Code TT99 isn’t an offence. It is the result of multiple other offences that, accumulatively under the totting up system, will take you over the 12 point maximum before a driving ban is imposed.
From the .gov.uk penalty points and endorsements page: 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.
It’s worth noting that you can have more than 12 points on your licence without getting a driving ban so long as enough of those points were imposed more than 3 years ago to keep you under the 12 “active point” limit (those points imposed within 3 years). Otherwise, it’s a TT99.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to special codes.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of Conviction
| CODE | OFFENCE | PENALTY POINTS |
| TT99 | Shows disqualification under ‘totting-up’ system | N/A |
| | Codes TT99 (disqualification) will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of conviction | |
Theft Or Unauthorised Taking
Theft Or Unauthorised Taking (also known as unlawful taking) offences cover theft of a motor vehicle as well as the unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle.
Unauthorised taking means taking a motor vehicle without permission, even if you intend to return it.
Getting a UT50 endorsement will almost certainly land you with an IN10 too as motor insurance doesn’t cover you for theft of a motor vehicle or “taking without consent”.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to theft and unauthorised taking.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of Offence
| CODE | OFFENCE | PENALTY POINTS |
| UT50 | Aggravated taking of a vehicle | 3 to 11 |
| | Codes UT50 (Unlawful Taking) will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence | |
‘Mutual Recognition’ Codes
Mutual recognition codes apply to UK drivers who have been banned from driving in Ireland. These codes are recognised by the UK as if they were imposed in the UK.
From the rsa.ie website: The CICA provides the method by which a driving disqualification imposed in Ireland on a UK resident, or a holder of a UK driving licence, for certain offences will be recognised and given effect in the UK.
Here are the UK driving codes, endorsements and penalty points you may receive for driving offences related to mutual recognition codes.
Endorsements Valid From Date Of Conviction
| CODE | OFFENCE | PENALTY POINTS |
| MR09 | Reckless or dangerous driving (whether or not resulting in death, injury or serious risk) | N/A |
| MR19 | Willful failure to carry out the obligation placed on driver after being involved in a road accident (hit or run) | N/A |
| MR29 | Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other substance affecting or diminishing the mental and physical abilities of a driver | N/A |
| MR39 | Driving a vehicle faster than the permitted speed | N/A |
| MR49 | Driving a vehicle whilst disqualified | N/A |
| MR59 | Other conduct constituting an offence for which a driving disqualification has been imposed by the State of Offence | N/A |
| | Codes MR09, MR19, MR29, MR39, MR49 & MR59 will remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of conviction | |