Driving licence endorsements

If you commit a motoring offence, you will usually be fined by the courts and driving licence endorsements will be added to your current licence. Driving licence endorsements can stay on your licence for up to eleven years depending on the motoring offence you committed.

Endorsements are usually referred to as penalty points. The number of points that the driving licence endorsement contains shows how severe the offence is that you have committed. Any driving licence endorsements that you do receive are shown on the electronic records that the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) maintain. Your driving licence endorsements also appear on your paper licence - the counterpart of your photocard driving licence.

All driving licence endorsements appear on your licence, but depending on the offence you committed will only stay on your licence for a certain period of time. These periods of time are currently:

Four years from the date of your offence in all cases
Four years from the date of any conviction for dangerous driving or driving when disqualified or not holding a valid driving licence
Eleven years for drug or alcohol offences, or if your offence caused death

Note that your driving licence is automatically taken away from you if you obtain six or more endorsements on your licence within two years of passing your first driving test. Also, it is important to check the details of any driving licence endorsements you receive. Each offence should have a corresponding code next to the offence details.

If you believe that a driving licence endorsement is incorrect, or has been unfairly or unlawfully applied to your licence, you can take your dispute to court. It is important to have proper legal representation if you bring this type of case. The magistrate will want to hear a legal argument from you that your solicitor can present on your behalf.

If you would like to obtain legal advice about driving licence endorsements, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local specialist motoring / traffic solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local motoring / traffic solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.