What is a TT99 conviction?
TT99 is the endorsement code the DVLA puts on your licence when you're disqualified under the totting-up rules — accumulating 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period. The individual offences might each be minor (a couple of SP30s and a phone offence will do it), but the disqualification that follows is treated as a conviction in its own right. The minimum ban is six months, rising if you've been disqualified before.
One quirk that surprises people: when a totting-up ban is imposed, the points that triggered it are wiped. You return from the ban with a clean points slate — but the TT99 code itself now sits on your record, and that's what insurers react to. The individual codes behind it are explained in our conviction codes guide.
How long does TT99 last, and how long must you declare it?
There are two separate clocks, and mixing them up is the most common TT99 mistake:
| Clock | How long | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| On your licence | 4 years from the date of conviction | The TT99 code shows on your DVLA record and licence check for this period. |
| Declaring to insurers | As long as the question asks — commonly 5 years | You must answer the insurer's actual question honestly, even after the code leaves your licence, for as far back as they ask. |
Answer exactly what's asked, every time. Leaving a TT99 off an application when the question covers it is non-disclosure — the insurer can void the policy and refuse claims, which costs far more than any premium saving. Our declaring convictions guide covers the wording traps.
How much does TT99 add to your insurance?
Expect a significant rise in the first year or two after the ban — a disqualification signals more risk to insurers than the same points spread across a clean record would. The exact loading depends on your age, car and postcode, and on which insurers you ask: mainstream brands often simply decline, while convicted-driver specialists price TT99 as routine business.
The good news is the trajectory: the premium impact fades every year the conviction recedes, drops noticeably once the code leaves your licence at four years, and largely disappears once it falls outside the insurers' question window.
Getting insured after a totting-up ban
Once your disqualification ends, your licence is returned and it's about asking the right panel: declare the TT99 accurately, get quotes from insurers who specialise in convicted drivers, and compare on total cost rather than headline price — excess and cover level matter as much as the premium.
If you're back on the road with points that pre-date the ban window, our car insurance with points guide covers the pre-totting picture, and banned driver insurance covers disqualifications more broadly.
How to make TT99 insurance cheaper
The honest levers: pick a smaller, lower-group car for the first couple of years; consider a telematics policy that prices your actual driving rather than your record; build the no-claims bonus back patiently; and pay annually if you can, since instalments add interest. Above all, shop the specialist market every renewal — the loading for a fading TT99 varies enormously between insurers, and the panel that quoted you highest this year is rarely the right answer next year. More in cheap convicted-driver insurance.