An Endorsement, Can it be Removed?

Q.

I have a three point endorsement from 4 years ago, how do I get it removed from my licence?

I have an old type paper licence, can I get it updated to the newer type?

A.

If you have point endorsements on your driving licence that date back several years, you are probably wondering if you can get them removed.

How Long do Endorsements Remain on Your Driving Licence?

Depending on the type of Motoring Offence that they were awarded for, point endorsements must stay on your driving licence for either four or eleven years.

Point endorsements that must stay on your driving licence for four years after you are convicted include:

• Accident offences, including failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident within 24 hours
• Disqualified driver offences, including Driving While Disqualified
• Careless driving offences, including reckless and dangerous driving, and driving without due care and attention towards other road users
• Use offences, such as Using a Mobile Phone While Driving, driving a car with defective brakes or tyres
• Driving while under the influence of drink or drugs
• Driving a car without third party insurance
• Failing to notify the DVLA of a medical condition or disability that may otherwise result in you being refused a full driving licence or disqualification, or driving after your driving licence has been revoked on medical grounds
• Speeding offences

Point endorsements that must stay on your driving licence for eleven years after you are convicted include:

• Death by dangerous driving while under the influence of drink or drugs
• Death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis

Updating Your Licence

Once your points endorsement is due to expire (more about Endorsements here), you can have them removed from your driving licence by exchanging your driving licence. To do this, you need to get a D1 application form from the DVLA. This can be done through the DVLA form ordering service (which you can access on the Directgov website) or you can get the form from some Post Office branches. As well as the D1 application form, you also need to send your photocard driving licence and paper counterpart (for holders of paper driving licences, you need to send original documentation that confirms your identity, your paper driving licence and a passport-sized photograph), and the fee (this is usually £20.00 but the DVLA website can confirm if this changes).

Once your application form has been received, the DVLA aim to send your new driving licence to you within three weeks, but it may take a month. As long as you have previously held a full UK driving licence (that was issued after 1976) and have not been disqualified due to the amount of penalty points on your driving licence or on medical grounds, you can continue driving without legal implications.