What Are Endorsements And Penalty Points On A Driving Record?

By Hojol Uddin, Head of Department, Motoring Law, JMW Solicitors

Endorsements and penalty points are one way that the UK government registers driving offences. When you are convicted of an offence, in many cases you will receive an endorsement and with it, an associated number of points on your driving licence. 

These act as a record of your driving behaviour, and can result in a disqualification from driving if you receive too many, but they also function as a deterrent from poor driving practice. Most people are aware that if they reach 12 points on their licence within a three-year period, they will be disqualified from driving, and therefore seeing these points accumulate is often enough to remind drivers who have made mistakes to be more careful in the future.

What is the difference between endorsements and penalty points?

An endorsement registers that you have committed a driving offence on your driving record, and has a code which indicates the nature of the offence. While endorsements and penalty points are often considered together, they are not the same thing – receiving 12 or more points on your licence in a period of three years is not the same as committing 12 offences or receiving 12 endorsements during this period. Instead, each endorsement can be worth a different amount of points, depending on both the overall severity of the offence and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

More serious offences will result in more points, but the minimum number of points is usually three for most common offences, meaning that committing even a few minor offences can quickly result in losing your licence. More serious offences can result in a driving disqualification more quickly (or in some cases, you may be issued with a driving ban for a single offence), but it should go without saying that you should always drive as carefully as possible so as to avoid accruing points.

While 12 points may sound like a large amount, they can mount up quickly. However, if you have only recently passed your driving test – meaning that it has been less than two years since you qualified – you can lose your licence after accruing only 6 points on your driving record, by way of a revocation from the DVLA. Not only will you lose your licence in such cases, but you will need to reapply for a provisional licence and take your driving test again in order to requalify for a full driving licence. This can be an enormously difficult process, and it is easily avoided by sticking to the rules of the Highway Code and approaching every journey behind the wheel with care and attention.

What are the most common offences that result in points or endorsements?

There are many different offences that might result in points on your driving record. Some, such as speeding, are well-known and avoided by careful drivers, but others are less familiar and can catch unsuspecting drivers unaware. For example, failing to give way to pedestrians on a crossing, or refusing to submit to a preliminary drug or alcohol test when pulled over are both reasons that you can be given points – in the latter case, you do not need to be found to have been driving with drugs or alcohol in your system in order to receive this endorsement and points. 

The best way to avoid penalty points is not only to drive carefully, but to ensure that you understand your obligations under the Highway Code. Driving a car with faulty steering or brakes can result in points on your licence, even if this did not ultimately result in an accident This is because, as a driver, you have a legal responsibility to ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy before you drive it, and that it has suitable tyres, brakes, and safety features according to the legal requirements for the type of vehicle. If you are concerned that there is a problem with your car, you should take it to a professional and have it checked before you continue to drive it.

You can receive penalty points on your driving licence for driving a car that has received a “dangerous” rating during an MOT test, which indicates that the vehicle poses a threat to other road users or risks doing harm to the environment. If your car is deemed “dangerous” during an MOT test you should arrange to have these problems addressed immediately to avoid not only the risk of penalty points, but of death or serious injury to yourself or another road user.

Another common problem with penalty points is that on some occasions, drivers may receive them even when they don’t deserve them. Of course, speeding is a serious offence, but speed cameras and other such devices can sometimes be unreliable and catch innocent drivers who can find themselves facing points on their licence without even realising that they can appeal the conviction or fight back against it. If you have received a speeding ticket or points on your licence that you feel were not warranted, you should speak to an expert solicitor to see whether you are eligible to challenge this decision.