Convicted driver codes appear on your license once you’ve been convicted of a driving offence. They also come with penalty points - the amount depends on the offence.
The most common amount of time that a conviction code will stay on your license for is 3 years. However, there are some convictions that will stay on your license for upwards of ten years, especially for serious offences like drink driving.
If you’ve been convicted of a driving offence, and would like to know how we can help you get back on the road, click here.
What types of convicted driver codes are there?
There are a wide variety of convicted driver codes out there - one for each type of driving conviction.
Accident offences
If you’ve been convicted of an accident offence, your conviction code will start with AC. These offences usually carry 4 to 10 penalty points, and stay on your license for four years from the date of conviction.
Disqualified driver
These conviction codes start with BA, and are related to drivers who continue to drive even though they have been disqualified. These offences carry six penalty points and usually stay on your license for four years from the date of conviction.
Careless driving
Starting with CD, these convictions cover a wide variety of offences, ranging from driving without due care and attention right up to causing death through careless driving while unfit through drugs.
Careless driving convictions carry 3 to 11 penalty points, and can stay on your license for either four or eleven years from the date of conviction.
Construction and use offences
If you intentionally use a vehicle with defective parts (i.e. faulty brakes), you will receive a CU conviction code. These types of offences all carry three penalty points, and will stay on your license for four years from the date of conviction.
Remember: using a mobile phone while driving could also result in a CU code being added to your license.
Reckless / dangerous driving
This is one of the most serious conviction categories, and includes furious driving and causing death by dangerous driving. Reckless / dangerous driving all begin with DD, and carry three to 11 penalty points.
Reckless / dangerous driving convictions will stay on your license for four years from the date of conviction.
Drink or drugs
If you’ve been convicted of drink or drug driving, you’ll receive a DR code on your license. Most of these offences come with three to 11 penalty points, and will stay on your license for 11 years from the date of the conviction.
However, if you refuse to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without your consent, due to incapacity, you could receive 10 points on your license.
Insurance offences
Driving without valid insurance that covers you against third party risks means that you could receive a IN10 conviction on your license. This conviction code carries six to eight penalty points, and will stay on your license for four years from the date of conviction.
License offences
License offences include a variety of offences, including driving a vehicle after failing to notify a disability. These types of offences come with 3 to 6 penalty points and will stay on your license for four years from the date of offence.
Motorway offences
If you fail to follow the rules of the motorway, excluding speed limits, you could receive a MW10 code on your license. This conviction code will stay on your license for four years from the date of conviction, and comes with three penalty points.
Pedestrian crossings
Pedestrian crossings are there to ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers alike, so if you fail to follow the rules of the crossings, you could end up with a PC code on your license.
These convictions all carry three penalty points, and stay on your license for four years.
Speed limits
Unless there’s racing involved, it’s quite rare that speeding is an intentional offence. These types of convictions usually come with three to six penalty points, and stay on your license for four years from the date of the offence.
Traffic direction and signs
These types of convictions start with TS and involve a driver who fails to comply with traffic direction and/or signs. These can be anything from running through a red light to failure to comply with a traffic direction sign.
A TS conviction will result in three penalty points, and will stay on your license for four years from the date of the conviction.
Totting up
If you get more than 12 penalty points over a three year period, you’ll receive a TT99 conviction. This code carries with it a six month ban (at least), and will stay on your license for four years from the date of the conviction.
Unauthorised taking or theft
If you intentionally take a vehicle that’s not yours, without the owner’s permission, you could end up with a UT50 code on your license. This conviction carries with it three to 11 penalty points, and will stay on your license for four years from the date of the offence.
