Car Insurance After a Driving Conviction

A driving conviction can affect your choice of insurer and the price of cover. This guide explains what to check when answering an insurer’s questions and comparing policies. Availability and prices depend on your circumstances.

In this article, we’re going to share some useful tips on:

• Understanding what a driving conviction is.
• Avoiding paying too much for car insurance.
• Learning about different types of driving convictions.
• Knowing when and how to tell insurance about driving convictions.
• Finding out how long you need to declare driving convictions for.

We know it’s worrying to think about the cost of car insurance. And it’s even more worrying to think you might not be able to get insurance at all. But don’t worry: we’re here to help you understand and manage this tricky situation.

Let’s get started.

What is a driving conviction?

A driving conviction can be passed by a court for a driving offence. There are many types of possible driving offences that can lead to convictions. Some are more serious than others. 

The penalty depends on the offence and sentence. It may include penalty points, a fine or a driving ban. Endorsements can remain on your driving record for a different period from the time a conviction takes to become spent.

What’s the most common type of driving conviction?

Some of the most common types of driving convictions are for dangerous driving, careless driving, speeding or failing to provide a sample of breath, blood or urine when a police officer suspects you are driving drunk or driving while under the influence of illegal drugs. 

MoneyNerd has dedicated articles to discussing common types of driving convictions. Find more information on each of them below.

Do I have to tell insurance about driving convictions?

When buying or renewing consumer car insurance, take reasonable care to answer the insurer’s questions accurately. If asked about relevant unspent convictions or driving endorsements, give the details requested, including for named drivers. You generally do not have to disclose spent convictions. Check with the insurer if a question is unclear.

How can points affect the cost of insurance?

Penalty points may affect the price and availability of insurance. The impact depends on the offence, when it occurred, the insurer and your wider circumstances. A fixed percentage increase for a given number of points would not reliably predict your premium.

How long do you have to declare driving convictions to insurance?

There is no single disclosure period for every conviction. It depends on the insurer’s question, whether the conviction is spent, the sentence, your age and the applicable UK jurisdiction. Do not assume that removal of points from a driving record means the conviction is spent.

In England and Wales, a fine with an endorsement generally becomes spent after five years for an adult or two years and six months for someone under 18 at the time. A longer ban or another sentence can change the period. Check GOV.UK’s driving-conviction guidance and obtain guidance for the relevant jurisdiction if needed.

Why do I have to declare my convictions?

Insurers use the relevant information they ask for to assess risk, decide whether to offer cover and set the premium and terms. This does not remove the protections for spent convictions.

The situation is comparable to someone applying for a loan with an unsatisfactory credit rating. The loan company needs to know about your track record of managing your finances and repayments, so they check your credit score. In this situation, the insurer needs to know about your driving record and needs you to declare driving convictions. 

Compare car insurance quotes through Quotezone. MoneyNerd introduces you to the comparison service. Quotes and cover are subject to the provider’s criteria.

What convictions will affect my insurance?

Relevant unspent convictions can affect the price and availability of cover. Their impact depends on the offence, timing and insurer. An inaccurate answer can also lead to changes to cover or, in some circumstances, cancellation or avoidance of a policy.

Do car insurance companies check convictions?

Insurance providers can verify the information you provide on a policy application, which includes checking your driving record and criminal convictions. The insurance company may even check for convictions during your policy, not just at the application stage. 

What happens if I don’t disclose my convictions to my insurer?

An inaccurate or incomplete answer can have serious consequences, but it does not automatically invalidate every policy. The outcome depends on the question asked, whether you took reasonable care and whether the correct information would have changed the insurer’s decision.

Depending on the circumstances, an insurer may apply different terms, reduce a claim payment proportionately or avoid the policy and refuse a claim. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains the rules on misrepresentation and non-disclosure.

Do I need to declare criminal convictions of named drivers?

Answer the insurer’s questions accurately for every named driver. Check the details with each driver rather than guessing. The same protections for spent convictions apply; you do not automatically have to disclose every conviction a named driver has ever received.

Do I have to declare spent convictions to my car insurance provider?

You don’t need to disclose spent convictions when applying for vehicle insurance. 

In fact, even if you’re asked to disclose spent convictions when applying for a policy, you’re not obligated to do so. 

Do all car insurance companies ask about criminal convictions?

It’s very unlikely that a car insurance provider won’t ask about your driving convictions. The insurer believes this information is essential to understanding the risk of insuring you to drive a vehicle, and therefore they will usually ask. 

If you’ve heard about insurance companies that don’t ask about convictions, you should verify that it’s a legitimate insurer and not a scam before making an application. 

Can you get insurance with a conviction?

Drivers with convictions may be able to obtain third-party or comprehensive cover, but acceptance, price and policy terms depend on the insurer and circumstances. A conviction can narrow the options available and may increase the premium.

Convicted drivers can get insurance for different types of vehicles too. For example, they can get car, motorbike or convicted driver van insurance. 

What if I was banned for driving without insurance?

The number of insurance options are limited after any driving ban, including after a driving ban for driving without insurance. 

However, you can still find many insurance providers willing to insure drivers after they were banned for not having insurance. 

Can I get temporary car insurance for convicted drivers?

Yes, it’s possible to get temporary car insurance with a previous driving conviction. There aren’t as many specialist insurers willing to provide convicted driver temporary insurance, but there are some around. 

A similar and common query is if it’s possible to get affordable car insurance as a learner driver with convictions. Find out the answer in this learner driver conviction post. 

How do convictions affect insurance?

Some insurers may decline an application because of a conviction, while others may offer cover with a higher premium or different terms. Compare the available policies using accurate, consistent information. No particular price or acceptance is guaranteed.

How much will my conviction affect my insurance premium?

The effect on your premium depends on the conviction, its date, the insurer and other factors such as your vehicle and claims history.

There is no reliable fixed percentage increase that applies to everyone with a particular number of points. Compare quotes for the same cover, excess and payment method to understand the options available to you.

Why is car insurance for convicted drivers so expensive?

An insurer may view a relevant conviction as indicating a higher risk of a claim, which can affect its price or willingness to offer cover.

Insurers assess risks differently, so quotes for the same driver can vary.

You can compare this to personal loans. Loan providers usually apply a higher interest rate on loans given to people with a poor credit history. 

#1: Consider convicted driver insurance providers

Consider both mainstream insurers and providers or brokers who accept drivers with convictions. A specialist may help where options are limited, but specialist branding does not guarantee the lowest price or most suitable cover.

These policies can be advertised in different ways, sometimes referencing specific types of convictions. We’ve covered some of them in the examples below. 

Car insurance with points on licence 

You might find insurers simply advertising policies as insurance with points on licence. These policies could be aimed at anyone, but they are likely to be for drivers with lesser convictions that didn’t result in bans – but not always. 

Insurance for banned drivers

If you received a driving ban as part of your conviction, you might need to narrow down your search specifically to insurance for banned drivers. This will stop you from making unsuccessful applications for policies not open to previously banned drivers. 

Car insurance drink drivers 

Drink driving car insurance is a popular search term and many insurance companies are now using it to market their policies available to drivers with a conviction relating to drink driving.

High-risk car insurance 

High-risk insurance policies are usually aimed at people who received a driving conviction with many points added to their licence or were also banned for a short period. It could be worth searching this term online. 

#2: Use comparison websites

Don’t forget to use comparison websites to help you find and compare convicted driver insurance. You can combine your search for specific convicted driver insurance with comparison websites to narrow down your search to companies that are willing to insure convicted drivers, but without missing out on possible options. 

#3: Use a specialist broker for more affordable car insurance

There are some insurance brokers who specialise in helping convicted drivers get more affordable car insurance in their situation.

#4: Consider the vehicle you drive

A driving conviction isn’t the only thing that increases your insurance. The type of vehicle you drive contributes to insurance costs. You may want to consider driving a vehicle that is typically more affordable to insure after receiving a conviction. 

Get quotes for the exact vehicle and your circumstances before buying or changing a car. Model, trim, value and repair costs can all affect the premium.

What do I do if I’ve been refused cover?

If you’re refused cover due to your driving conviction, it might be best to speak with an insurance broker who specialises in helping convicted drivers get insured. The broker may be able to set expectations of policies available to you and their cost. 

Don’t attempt to drive uninsured as this is illegal and can make your situation worse in the long term. 

How long do motoring convictions affect insurance?

The time points count towards a driving ban, the time an endorsement stays on a driving record and the rehabilitation period for a conviction are different things. A conviction becoming spent is not simply the same as points disappearing from your licence.

Check the relevant rehabilitation rules and answer the insurer’s questions accurately. Spent convictions generally do not have to be disclosed for ordinary motor insurance.

Do I need to tell my insurance provider if I’m convicted while I have car insurance?

Check your policy terms for any requirement to report a new conviction, points or a driving ban during the policy. Contact the insurer if the wording is unclear. At renewal, check and update your answers to the questions asked.

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