Typically, endorsements stay on your driving record for anything between 4 or 11 years depending on the offence. You can see a full list of driving Offences at the bottom of this page showing the amount of penalty points associated with offences of various levels of severity.
An endorsement is valid for the first:
And a court can take your endorsement into account if both:
Once your points have exceeded the ‘valid’ period, they no longer count on your tally for totting up purposes.
Organisations such as insurance companies and employers may be able to find out that you have the endorsement:
Again, this depends on the offence. Endorsements and penalty points will stay on a driving licence 4 years from the date of conviction (not the date of the offence) if the offence is for either:
Endorsements and penalty points will stay on a driving licence 11 years from date of conviction (not the date of the offence) if the offence is for either:
In all other cases, an endorsement will stay on your driving record for 4 years from the date of offence.
Penalty points add up on a licence and if you reach the limit of 12 points then you may be disqualified from driving.
For example, if you already have nine or more points on your licence, then a further 3 points would tot up to tot up to 12 or more and a Magistrate will consider disqualifying you from driving for a minimum of six months.
In some cases, there may be special reasons or exceptional hardship caused if a disqualification were to be applied. If either of these arguments are valid, then the Court may reconsider the penalties.
If you already have points on your licence this could lead to disqualification. Known as a TT99, this signifies disqualification under ‘totting-up’ procedure when the driver has reached 12 penalty points within a three-year period and this could result in loss of earnings and have serious consequences affecting your livelihood.
If you have been driving for under two years and already have three points on your licence and you receive three more, then your licence would be rescinded. You would then have to go through the time and expense of taking your driving test again.
Your strongest chance of avoiding a driving ban is to argue ‘exceptional hardship’. To do this you will need a team of expert driving offence solicitors on your side. We have an expert team of driving solicitors who can listen to you and help you build a case for exceptional hardship and so we may be able to request the Court not to ban you even if you are convicted of the offence. Complete our enquiry form today and one of specialist driving offence laywers will get in touch with you
I recently represented a client, AB, who had received a court summons for spe...
|
Offence |
Maximum penalty |
Penalty points |
|
Causing death by dangerous driving |
14 years’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification (minimum 2 years) |
3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) |
|
Dangerous driving |
2 years’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification |
3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) |
|
Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs |
14 years’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification (minimum 2 years) |
3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) |
|
Careless and inconsiderate driving |
Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification |
3 to 9 |
|
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs or with excess alcohol: or failing to provide a specimen for analysis |
6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Obligatory disqualification |
3 to 11 (if exceptionally not disqualified) |
|
Failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident |
6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification |
5 to 10 |
|
Driving while disqualified |
6 months’ imprisonment (12 months in Scotland) / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification |
6 |
|
Driving after refusal or revocation of licence on medical grounds |
6 months’ imprisonment / Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification |
3 to 6 |
|
Driving without insurance |
Unlimited fine / Discretionary disqualification |
6 to 8 |
|
Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition |
LGV or PCV unlimited, other vehicles £2,500/ Obligatory disqualification if offence committed within 3 years of a previous conviction for a similar offence - 6 months min. Otherwise discretionary |
3 in each case |
|
Failure to have proper control of vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead |
£1,000 fine (£2,500 for PCV or goods vehicle) / Discretionary disqualification |
3 |
|
Using a hand-held mobile phone when driving |
£1,000 fine (£2,500 for PCV or goods vehicle) / Discretionary disqualification |
6 |
|
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence |
£1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification |
3 to 6 |
|
Speeding |
£1,000 fine (£2,500 for motorway offences) / Discretionary disqualification |
3 to 6, or 3 (fixed penalty) |
|
Traffic light offences |
£1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification |
3 |
|
No MOT certificate |
£1,000 fine |
- |
|
Seat belt offences |
£500 fine |
- |
|
Dangerous cycling |
£2,500 fine |
- |
|
Careless cycling |
£1,000 fine |
- |
|
Cycling on pavement |
£500 fine |
- |
|
Failing to identify driver of vehicle |
£1,000 fine / Discretionary disqualification |
- |
