diff --git a/src/blueapi/utils/numtracker.py b/src/blueapi/utils/numtracker.py
index 91e3c66c2a..0fde7c699e 100644
--- a/src/blueapi/utils/numtracker.py
+++ b/src/blueapi/utils/numtracker.py
@@ -105,6 +105,18 @@ async def create_scan(
         json = response.json()
 
         if json.get("errors") is not None:
+            for error in json["errors"]:
+                code = error.get("extensions", {}).get("code")
+                match code:
+                    case "AUTH_FAILED":
+                        raise RuntimeError(
+                            f"Not authorised to create a scan number for "
+                            f"{instrument} and {instrument_session}"
+                        )
+                    case "AUTH_MISSING":
+                        raise RuntimeError("Numtracker authentication missing")
+                    case "AUTH_SERVER_ERROR":
+                        raise RuntimeError("Numtracker server authentication error")
             raise RuntimeError(f"Numtracker error: {json['errors']}")
 
         new_collection = NumtrackerScanMutationResponse.model_validate(json["data"])
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_numtracker.py b/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_numtracker.py
index 859dbaf098..1aa6df9e88 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_numtracker.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_numtracker.py
@@ -109,3 +109,41 @@ async def test_create_scan_raises_runtime_error_on_graphql_error(
     )
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Numtracker error:"):
         await numtracker.create_scan("ab123", "p46")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("auth_error_code", "expected_message"),
+    [
+        ("AUTH_FAILED", "Not authorised to create a scan number for p46 and ab123"),
+        ("AUTH_MISSING", "Numtracker authentication missing"),
+        ("AUTH_SERVER_ERROR", "Numtracker server authentication error"),
+        ("UNKNOWN_ERROR", "Numtracker error:"),
+    ],
+)
+async def test_numtracker_auth_error_types(
+    numtracker: NumtrackerClient,
+    httpx_mock: HTTPXMock,
+    nt_query,
+    auth_error_code,
+    expected_message,
+):
+    error_response = {
+        "data": None,
+        "errors": [
+            {
+                "message": "xyz",
+                "locations": [{"line": 3, "column": 5}],
+                "path": ["scan"],
+                "extensions": {"code": auth_error_code},
+            }
+        ],
+    }
+    httpx_mock.add_response(
+        method="POST",
+        url=URL,
+        match_json=nt_query,
+        status_code=200,
+        json=error_response,
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match=expected_message):
+        await numtracker.create_scan("ab123", "p46")