Endorsements - How Long on Your Licence?

Endorsements must remain on a licence for 11 years from date of conviction if the offence is:

• drinking/drugs and driving (shown on the licence as DR10, DR20, DR30 and DR80)
• causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink/drugs (shown on the licence as CD40, CD50 and CD60)
• causing death by careless driving, then failing to provide a specimen for analysis (shown on the licence as CD70)

OR four years from date of conviction if the offence is as listed below:

a. reckless/dangerous driving (shown on the licence as DD40, DD60 and DD80)

b. offences resulting in disqualification

c. disqualified from holding a full licence until a driving test has been passed

OR 4 years from the date of offence in all other cases.

At the appropriate time you can apply to remove your endorsement(s) from your licence by completing a DVLA D1 application form and sending the appropriate fee (if you do not hold a photocard licence, you will also have to complete a photocard application form D750). Both forms are available from Post Offices.

Removing Expired Endorsements

Paper Licence Holders

If you wish to have expired endorsements removed from your driving licence you must complete DVLA driving licence application form D1 and photocard application form D750 and enclose your current driving licence together with the appropriate fee. You must also enclose original documentation confirming your identity and a passport sized photograph taken against a plain light background. Send your completed application and fee to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB.

Photocard Licence Holders

If you wish to have expired endorsements removed from your driving licence you must complete DVLA driving licence application form D1 and enclose both your photocard licence and paper counterpart together with the appropriate fee. Send your completed application and fee to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB.

Note: Photocard Holders - If your name has changed since your photocard licence was issued you must complete DVLA driving licence application form D1 and photocard application form D750 and enclose both your photocard and paper counterpart together with the appropriate fee. You must also enclose original documentation confirming your new name. There is no requirement to supply a new photograph.

How to get your licence back after being disqualified

You must apply for a new licence, even if your old licence has not run out.

Paper Licence Holders

You must complete DVLA driving licence application form D1 and photocard application form D750 and enclose the appropriate fee. You must also enclose original documentation confirming your identity and a passport sized colour photograph taken against a plain light background. Send your completed application and fee to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB.

Photocard Licence Holders

You must complete DVLA driving licence application form D1 and enclose the appropriate fee.

Note: Photocard Licence Holders: If your name has changed since your last licence was issued you must complete driving licence application form D1 and photocard application form D750 and enclose the appropriate fee. You must also enclose original documentation confirming your new name. There is no requirement to supply a new photograph.

The DVLA will make medical enquiries if you have:

a) been disqualified for driving, or being in charge of a vehicle, when the level of alcohol in the body equalled or exceeded:

• 87.5 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, or
• 200 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood, or
• 267.5 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine

b) two disqualifications within the space of 10 years for drinking and driving, or being in charge of a vehicle whilst unfit through drink.

c) one disqualification for refusing/failing to supply a specimen for analysis.

If you are not sure when your disqualification ends, contact the court which disqualified you.

How to get a disqualification removed

If you have been disqualified for more than two years, you can apply to the court that gave you the last disqualification to have it removed after a minimum period. This is:

• two years if you were disqualified for less than four years
• half the period of disqualification if it is less than 10 but not less than four years
• five years if you were disqualified for 10 years or more

Short Period Disqualifications (SPD)

If you were disqualified for less than 56 days, the court will stamp your licence and give it back to you. The stamp will tell you how long you are disqualified for. You do not need to renew your licence when the short period disqualification ends. Your licence becomes valid again the day after the expiry of the disqualification.

Revocation under The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995

This Act will affect you if you pass your first driving test on or after 1 June 1997. If you incur penalty points in the two year period immediately following your first successful driving test, and your penalty points add up to six or more (including any that were incurred within three years of the latest conviction) your licence will be revoked by the DVLA. You will then have to obtain a provisional licence, drive as a learner, and pass the theory and practical test again in order to regain your full driving licence.

Passing the re-test will not remove the penalty points from your licence, and if the total reaches 12, you are liable to be disqualified by a court.

Endorsements for driving offences

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