Convicted Driver Insurance

28/03/2025

Getting car insurance for convicted drivers

It can be challenging to get car insurance if you have a conviction against your name, but it is possible. Specialist insurers offer policies to drivers with a variety of unspent convictions or even driving bans.

Although you’ll probably pay more than before your conviction, getting insurance is essential to avoid the further legal problems that come with driving without insurance.

Can insurance companies see your driving convictions?

Yes. Most insurance companies will be able to check what unspent driving convictions you have. However, you will still need to declare them upfront to the insurer when taking out a policy.

Always be honest about your convictions. If you try to hide them, you could risk invalidating your policy or even committing insurance fraud.

Do I have to declare my unspent driving convictions to insurers?

Typically, insurance companies require that you declare your convictions up to 5 years after they’re issued. After this time, they’re usually considered ‘spent’. However, keep in mind that serious convictions, including drug and alcohol convictions, can stay on your license for up to 11 years.

How much does a driving conviction increase your insurance?

This will vary depending on your particular conviction and how many points you were given. Your age can also affect how much insurers will increase premiums. When looking at how speeding convictions impacted insurance costs, those over 50 with a speeding conviction saw twice the increase of those under 50.

Tips for finding cheap insurance for convicted drivers

Insurers raise premiums for drivers with motoring offences because they are considered a higher risk to insure. A lot of getting cheap car insurance for convicted drivers involves lowering this perceived risk again. A number of things could help you achieve this, including:

1. Parking your car in a garage or on a private driveway

This can help to lower the risk of your car being stolen, vandalised, or hit by a passing car.

2. Opting for a black box insurance policy

A black box policy will provide the insurer with more information about your driving habits and adherence to the rules of the road.

3. Taking an advanced driving test

An advanced driving course like Pass Plus, or the RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders test can demonstrate your willingness to improve your driving habits.

4. Paying for your insurance upfront

Paying the annual cost of your insurance upfront could save you quite a bit of money versus a monthly payment plan.

5. Increasing your policy excess

Increasing your voluntary excess will mean you cover a higher cost in the event of a claim, but could mean you get a lower premium.

6. Getting insured on a vehicle with a low insurance group

Vehicles in a lower insurance group can be cheaper to insure, so are a good option for drivers with motoring convictions.

7. Compare car insurance for convicted drivers

The most important thing you can do when shopping for cheap convicted drivers insurance is to compare quotes from a wide range of providers. Different insurance providers have different underwriting terms, which means some insurers might weigh risk factors like driving convictions very differently from others. This applies whether you need convicted driver insurance for a car, van or bike.

Types of convicted driver insurance

There are different kinds of driving convictions, each with their own code. The total number of individual codes is extensive, covering a wide range of offences. Some of the most common road convictions in the UK include:

Drinking offences

The code for drink-related endorsements is DR. Finding insurance with a drink driving offence can be particularly difficult as this is punished severely in the UK. They can carry up to 11 points and can remain on a licence for as long as 11 years.

Speeding endorsements

Speeding convictions, with a code of SP, are some of the most common, particularly SP30. However, this does not make them any less serious. Providers will still view you as a risk to insure if you have a history of speeding in the past 5 years.

Use offences like using a phone

Use-related convictions with the code CU can cover some of the more obscure driving errors, including driving with defective tyres or obstructing the driver’s view. However, a CU80 conviction for driving while using a phone is becoming more common than ever.

Driving without insurance

The endorsement code for driving without the minimum third party insurance cover is IN10. Finding IN10 insurance after this conviction is essential if you are driving on UK public roads.

Driving while disqualified

Drivers with conviction codes BA or MR49 have endorsements for driving or attempting to drive while disqualified. Until this ban is lifted, you will not be able to legally drive on the road, insured or not.

Careless driving

You could be convicted of careless driving (code CD) for not giving your full attention while driving, or simply being inconsiderate to other road users. Something that may seem trivial, like splashing pedestrians, could be met with fines or points on your licence.

Dangerous driving

Dangerous or ‘furious’ driving convictions with codes DD cover a multitude of sins, from unintentional carelessness to deliberately intimidating other drivers.

Drug offences

Conviction codes beginning with DG indicate driving offences related to drug use. These can come with drug awareness courses, up to 11 points, or a driving ban depending on the seriousness of the offence.

“Totting up” penalty points

You can get a TT99 conviction if you accumulate 12 or more points on your licence within a 3 year span. This can result in disqualification, but when you re-insure it could help to do so with a provider who can offer tailored TT99 insurance.

Compare Car Insurance