How long does a drink driving conviction stay on your record UK?
Mia Moss
Published Jan 09, 2026
11 years from date of conviction
drink driving or drug driving - shown on the driving record as DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31, DR61 and DR80. causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs – shown on the driving record as CD40, CD50 and CD60.How long does a drunk driving charge stay on your record?
A drink driving endorsement (DR10) will remain on your licence for a period of 11 years from the date of conviction. Endorsement codes DR40 - DR70 remain on your driving licence for 4 years from the date of offence OR 4 years from the date of conviction where a disqualification was imposed for the offence.Does drink driving come off your criminal record?
Drink driving is a criminal offence and will result in a criminal record. A criminal conviction will never go away, it's always there and can always be found. Even if a criminal conviction becomes spent, it can still be detected on security checks carried out by employers.Does a drink driving conviction show up on a DBS check?
For adults over age 18, the rehabilitation periods for drink driving offences are as follows: Custodial sentence over 48 months – never spent. This conviction will always show up on a DBS check.Do I have to declare drink driving after 5 years?
Typically, you'll need to declare your drink driving convictions for 5 years after the fact. After this they become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act of 1974, meaning you are not required to disclose them, despite them staying on your record for longer.Will a driving offence appear on my criminal record?
Can you join the police with a drink driving conviction UK?
Your application will be automatically rejected if you have ever been convicted or cautioned for a range of serious offences or have previously been dismissed from the police service. These include: Any offence that has resulted in a prison sentence (including suspended or deferred)How do I know if my conviction is spent or unspent?
If you're still in your rehabilitation period following a criminal conviction, your conviction is unspent. Any custodial sentence over two and a half years stays unspent. If you were found guilty of a criminal offence by a court, following the specified time-period, your conviction will be considered “spent”.How long before a drink driving conviction is spent?
Once “spent” it is treated as though it is forgotten for various purposes such as visa applications, job applications, applying for insurance etc. A drink driving conviction becomes spent 5 years from the date of conviction. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 outlines the legal position on spent convictions. 9.How far back does a DBS check go?
A DBS check has no official expiry date. Any information included will be accurate at the time the check was carried out. It's up to you to decide when a new check is needed.How long do I have to declare a DR10 to an employer?
While a DR10 endorsement will remain on your driving licence for 11 years, you only need to declare it to insurance companies for a period of 5 years beginning from the date of conviction.Does your criminal record clear after 7 years?
The Seven Year RuleUnder federal law, the consumer reporting agencies cannot report an arrest that is over seven years old. However, they may report a conviction no matter how old it is.