1. Endorsement Guide
Disqualifications, convictions and acceptance of fixed penalties payments in respect of driving offences are notified to DVLA by the courts. The details are entered on to the driver's record and the licence. In addition to paying a fine/fixed penalty the drivers licence will be endorsed with a penalty ranging from 3-11 points or a period of disqualification will be imposed, depending on the seriousness of the offence. Any driver who incurs 12 or more penalty points within a 3-year period faces automatic disqualification under the under "totting -up" system. Information on a driver's entitlement and endorsements are sent to courts and police on request.

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

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

offences resulting in disqualification.

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.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/endorsem.htm