What Are Driving Offence Codes?
Driving offence codes are the letter-and-number references recorded on your licence when you commit a motoring offence. They tell insurers, employers, and the courts exactly what you did, how serious it was, and how long it stays on your record.
Every code is defined under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and logged by the DVLA. The type of offence determines how many penalty points you receive and how long the endorsement lasts.
Even minor codes can push up your car insurance premiums for years. More serious codes, like drink driving or causing death by dangerous driving, can end careers and result in prison sentences.
This guide explains how codes work, what the most common ones mean, how long they last, and what they do to your insurance.
Every motoring offence is recorded on your licence as a letter-and-number code, and each one pushes your car insurance up. Most codes stay for 4 years, but drink and drug driving codes last 11 years from conviction. You must declare all unspent codes to your insurer, because failing to do so can void your policy entirely, even if the undeclared offence has nothing to do with a claim.
Compare convicted car insurance quotes with your current codes declared to see which insurers offer the best price for your record.
- How are driving offence codes structured?
- What are the most common driving offence codes?
- What do the different code categories mean?
- How long do driving offence codes stay on your licence?
- How do driving offence codes affect car insurance?
- What is the totting-up rule?
- How do you check your driving record for offence codes?
- Can you get insurance with offence codes on your licence?
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How are driving offence codes structured?
Each code is made up of two letters followed by a number. The letters identify the category of offence, and the number pinpoints the specific offence within that group.
What the letters mean
The two-letter prefix groups offences by type. SP relates to speeding, DR to drink or drug driving, IN to insurance offences, and CU to construction and use violations.
Other common prefixes include CD for careless driving, TS for traffic signal offences, and DD for dangerous driving. Each prefix covers a range of specific offences numbered within that group.
What the numbers mean
The number after the letters identifies the exact offence. For example, SP30 is exceeding the speed limit on a public road, while SP50 is speeding on a motorway.
DR10 means driving with excess alcohol, and DR80 means failing to provide a specimen. Same prefix, very different offences and consequences.
Where codes are recorded
Codes appear on your driving record held by the DVLA. You can view them through the GOV.UK licence checker using your licence number, National Insurance number, and postcode.
Endorsement vs conviction
An endorsement is the code and points added to your licence. A conviction is the court’s decision that led to it.
Some offences are dealt with by fixed penalty notices without going to court. The endorsement still appears on your licence in the same way.
What are the most common driving offence codes?
The most frequently issued codes are SP30 (speeding), CU80 (mobile phone use), IN10 (no insurance), and DR10 (drink driving). These four account for the majority of endorsements on UK driving licences.
Common codes and their penalties
| Code | Offence | Penalty Points | Time on Licence |
| SP30 | Exceeding the speed limit on a public road | 3-6 | 4 years |
| CU80 | Using a mobile phone while driving | 6 | 4 years |
| IN10 | Driving without valid insurance | 6-8 | 4 years |
| DR10 | Driving with alcohol level above the limit | 3-11 | 11 years |
| TS10 | Failing to comply with traffic light signals | 3 | 4 years |
| CD10 | Driving without due care and attention | 3-9 | 4 years |
| DD40 | Dangerous driving | 3-11 | 4 years |
| LC20 | Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence | 3-6 | 4 years |
How many points each code carries
The points range for each code isn’t fixed at a single number. Courts have discretion within the range, and the severity of the incident determines where you land.
An SP30 for doing 35 mph in a 30 zone might get 3 points. The same code for doing 50 mph in a 30 zone could get 6 points plus a ban.
Why some codes matter more than others
An SP30 from a speed camera might add 10-25% to your car insurance cost. A drink driving conviction (DR10) can double or triple your premium and stay on your record for 11 years.
An IN10 for driving without insurance carries 6-8 points and marks you as high-risk to every insurer. Some providers won’t quote you at all while it’s on your licence.
What do the different code categories mean?
There are over 15 prefix categories covering everything from speeding and drink driving to pedestrian crossing offences and vehicle theft. The full list is published on GOV.UK.
Speed limit offences (SP)
SP codes cover all speeding offences. SP30 is the most common, for exceeding the limit on a public road.
SP50 covers motorway speeding, and SP40 applies to temporary speed limit breaches in roadworks. Speeding remains one of the top causes of road accidents in the UK.
Drink and drug driving (DR and DG)
DR codes cover alcohol-related offences, while DG codes cover drug driving. DR10 (excess alcohol) and DG10 (drug driving) both carry up to 11 points and stay on your licence for 11 years.
Related: How much can I drink and still drive?
Insurance offences (IN)
IN10 is the main code here, for driving without valid third-party insurance. It carries 6-8 points and a fine of up to £300 as a fixed penalty, or unlimited if it goes to court.
Careless and dangerous driving (CD and DD)
CD10 covers driving without due care and attention, carrying 3-9 points. DD40 is for dangerous driving, which can result in up to 11 points, a ban, and imprisonment.
Dangerous driving that causes death (DD80) carries the heaviest penalties in the system. Conviction can mean an unlimited fine, up to life imprisonment, and a minimum 5-year driving ban.
Construction and use offences (CU)
CU80 for mobile phone use is the most well-known code in this group. It carries 6 points, which means a new driver could lose their licence from a single offence.
Other CU codes cover defective tyres, illegal modifications, and overloaded vehicles. These are less common but can cause serious problems for fleet drivers and commercial vehicle operators.
Other categories at a glance
| Prefix | Category | Example | Points Range |
| TS | Traffic signals | TS10: failing to obey traffic lights | 3 |
| CU | Construction and use | CU80: mobile phone use | 3-6 |
| LC | Licence offences | LC20: driving without a valid licence | 3-6 |
| AC | Accident offences | AC10: failing to stop after an accident | 5-10 |
| MS | Miscellaneous | MS90: failing to give driver information | Varies |
| MW | Motorway offences | MW10: contravening motorway regulations | 3 |
| PC | Pedestrian crossings | PC30: failing to stop at a crossing | 3 |
| UT | Theft/taking | UT50: aggravated vehicle taking | 3-11 |
| MR | Mutual recognition | MR09: foreign driving offence | Varies |
| TT | Totting up | TT99: disqualification for 12+ points | Ban |
How long do driving offence codes stay on your licence?
Most codes stay on your licence for 4 years from the date of the offence. The most serious offences, including drink and drug driving, remain for 11 years from the date of conviction.
Four-year endorsements
The majority of offences fall into this category, including speeding (SP30), mobile phone use (CU80), no insurance (IN10), traffic light offences (TS10), and careless driving (CD10).
Points become ‘spent’ after 4 years, but insurers often ask about convictions for up to 5 years. The GOV.UK penalty points guide explains how the system works.
Eleven-year endorsements
Reserved for the most dangerous offences: drink driving (DR10, DR20), drug driving (DG10), refusing a breath test (DR80), and causing death while under the influence.
These stay on your DVLA record for 11 years from conviction. During that time, insurance options are severely limited and premiums can be several times higher than normal.
When codes are removed
Endorsements are removed automatically once they expire. There’s no manual process and no way to have them wiped early.
Once removed, you no longer need to declare them unless an insurer specifically asks about convictions within the last 5 years. Some insurers ask about the last 5 years even if the code has expired.
Counting from offence date vs conviction date
For most 4-year endorsements, the clock starts from the date of the offence. However, dangerous driving codes (DD40, DD60, DD80) count 4 years from the date of conviction instead.
For 11-year endorsements like drink and drug driving, the clock also starts from the date of conviction. Since serious cases can take months to reach court, the endorsement period may be longer than you’d expect.
A drink driving offence in January with a conviction in June means the 11 years run from June, not January. This catches many drivers off guard when calculating when their record will be clean.
How do driving offence codes affect car insurance?
Offence codes increase your insurance premium because insurers view them as evidence of higher risk. The impact varies from a modest rise for a single speeding code to outright refusal for drink driving convictions.
How insurers price different codes
| Code Type | Insurer Risk Rating | Typical Premium Impact |
| SP (speeding) | Low to medium | +10% to +25% |
| CU (mobile/construction) | Medium to high | +25% to +40% |
| TS (traffic signals) | Medium | +15% to +30% |
| CD (careless driving) | High | +30% to +50% |
| IN (no insurance) | High | +40% to +60%, or refusal |
| DR (drink driving) | Very high | +100%+, limited providers |
Why you must declare all codes
You’re legally required to declare unspent motoring convictions when applying for insurance. Failing to do so can void your policy entirely, even if the undeclared offence is unrelated to a claim.
Your insurer uses your endorsement history alongside other factors to set your premium. Find out more about how car insurance is calculated.
Multiple codes stack up
Having more than one code on your licence compounds the premium increase. Two SP30s might add 30-40%, while an SP30 plus a CU80 could push you into the high-risk category.
Insurers don’t just look at the total points. The combination of code types tells them about your driving behaviour as a whole.
Understanding your cover type
The type of policy you hold also matters. A comprehensive car insurance policy covers more scenarios, but any undeclared convictions can still invalidate your cover.
It’s also worth understanding how excess works, since some insurers increase your excess if you have endorsements on your licence.
What is the totting-up rule?
If you accumulate 12 or more penalty points within a 3-year period, you face automatic disqualification under the totting-up rule. The code TT99 is then added to your licence.
How totting up works
Points from different offences add together. Three SP30s at 3 points each gives you 9 points; one more offence could push you over the 12-point threshold.
New driver rules
If you passed your test less than 2 years ago, the threshold drops to just 6 points. Reach that and your licence is revoked, not suspended.
See our guide on provisional licence rules for more on how the new driver period works.
You’d then need to reapply for a provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again. There’s no appeal process for new driver revocations.
Can you avoid a ban?
Courts can use ‘exceptional hardship’ arguments to avoid a totting-up ban, but it’s rare and you’d need strong evidence. Losing your job alone isn’t usually enough.
How do you check your driving record for offence codes?
You can check your driving record for free using the DVLA’s online licence checker. It shows all current endorsements, offence codes, conviction dates, and expiry dates.
What you need to check
You’ll need your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and postcode. The tool shows every active code, the points attached, and when each endorsement expires.
Sharing your record with insurers or employers
The DVLA tool lets you generate a check code that insurers and employers can use to view your record. This is common for fleet roles, delivery jobs, and any position that involves driving.
Related: How to check your driving licence in the UK
What to do if your licence is lost or stolen
If you lose your driving licence, you can still check your record online. The digital service doesn’t require your physical licence, just the details printed on it.
Spent convictions and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, most motoring convictions become ‘spent’ after a set period. Once spent, you don’t need to declare them outside of insurance applications and certain regulated jobs.
Can you get insurance with offence codes on your licence?
Yes, but your options depend on the type and number of codes. Minor speeding endorsements are accepted by most mainstream insurers, while drink driving codes often require specialist providers.
What to do if you’ve been refused
If mainstream insurers won’t quote you, specialist convicted driver policies exist for exactly this situation. These providers cater specifically to drivers with DR, DD, or IN codes on their licence.
Shopping around matters
Different insurers weight offence codes differently. One provider might refuse a DR10 completely, while another specialises in convicted driver cover.
Comparison sites don’t always include specialist providers. If you’ve been refused, it’s worth contacting brokers who deal specifically with drivers who have points.
Does telematics help?
Black box or telematics policies can help rebuild your risk profile after an offence. They track your driving in real time and reward safe behaviour with lower premiums.
How long until your premium drops?
Your premium should start falling once the code expires, but some insurers price cautiously for a year or two after that. Getting multiple quotes each renewal is the best way to find the point where your record stops working against you.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Yes, every motoring offence recorded by the DVLA is assigned a specific letter-and-number code that appears on your driving record.
Most drivers face disqualification at 12 points within 3 years. New drivers who passed within the last 2 years lose their licence at just 6 points.
Failing to disclose unspent convictions can void your policy. Your insurer can cancel your cover or refuse to pay a claim, even if the offence is unrelated.
No. Drink driving (DR10) and no insurance (IN10) are rated as high-risk, while speeding (SP30) is lower risk but still increases your premium.
Codes are removed from your DVLA record after 4 or 11 years. However, insurers may still ask about convictions within the last 5 years.
No, a ban is separate from your points. Once the disqualification ends, any active points remain until their own expiry date.
Yes. Many employers request a DVLA check code before hiring for roles that involve driving, such as fleet or delivery positions.
Only by appealing the original conviction through the courts. Once a code is endorsed and no appeal is filed, it can’t be removed early.