Car insurance with penalty points: comparing cover

How penalty points affect insurance and practical checks when comparing suitable cover.

What are penalty points?

Penalty points are added to your driving licence when you accept guilt for a motoring offence or when you’re convicted of a driving offence.

The number of points you receive will depend on the type of offence and details surrounding the offence.

For example, the number of penalty points you can get for speeding depends on how fast above the speed limit you were travelling and some other factors, such as if you were near a school.

Other reasons why you’d get penalty points are for:

• Traffic violations
• Drink-driving
• Careless driving
• Dangerous driving

Do you have to tell insurance companies about penalty points?

Take reasonable care to answer the insurer’s questions accurately about unspent convictions, points and bans. Check the policy for changes you must report before renewal. Spent convictions generally do not need to be disclosed for ordinary motor insurance, even when asked. If the question or your conviction’s status is unclear, get advice before answering.

Driving-record retention and the period before a conviction becomes spent are different. The sentence, your age and the relevant UK jurisdiction matter. The end of a ban or removal of an endorsement does not automatically settle the disclosure question. See the official rehabilitation guidance for England and Wales; check the separate rules for Scotland or Northern Ireland where relevant.

How long do penalty points last?

Endorsements normally stay on the driving record for four or eleven years, depending on the offence. The period used to assess a totting-up ban is a separate matter. Check your actual code in the official endorsement list.

Reaching 12 points within three years can lead to a totting-up ban. A court can also disqualify for an individual offence, and new-driver revocation has a separate six-point rule.

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Advertisement. MoneyNerd introduces enquiries to Quotezone and may receive a referral fee. Prices, cover and acceptance depend on your circumstances and the insurer.

Can you get insurance with points?

Some insurers will consider drivers with penalty points, while others have stricter criteria. Acceptance and price depend on the offence and other details.

Take reasonable care to answer the insurer’s questions accurately about unspent convictions, points and bans. Check the policy for changes you must report before renewal. Spent convictions generally do not need to be disclosed for ordinary motor insurance, even when asked. If the question or your conviction’s status is unclear, get advice before answering.

Is car insurance more expensive with points?

Penalty points can make cover more expensive or reduce the number of providers willing to quote. The effect varies with the offence and other details. Compare current quotes rather than assuming a fixed increase or guaranteed saving.

How to Reduce Insurance Rates	Keep in Mind…
Choose Your Car Wisely	Consider age, engine, insurance group & price. A lower insurance group may help, but the actual premium depends on the insurer and your circumstances. A high-powered & fast car, or cheap car with less value come with a higher risk, which means a higher premium.
Ensure Car Safety & Security	Park in a driveway or locked garage. Use safety technology.
Add a genuine named driver	An additional driver may change the quote. Always identify the real main driver accurately; naming someone else as the main driver to reduce cost can invalidate cover.
Drive Fewer Miles	Quote your expected mileage accurately; a lower estimate does not guarantee a lower premium.
Relevant rehabilitation course	If eligible and offered by the court, an approved drink-drive rehabilitation course can affect disqualification. Do not assume it will reduce an insurance premium.
Check the cover you need	Third-party cover protects against specified liabilities to others; third-party fire and theft adds specified cover for your vehicle; comprehensive usually adds accidental damage to your own vehicle. Exclusions, excesses and benefits vary, so read the policy.
Compare Policies and Opt Out of Extras	Get quotes tailored to your specific convictions and needs. Optional extras like excess protection, legal cover, breakdown, windscreen, and gadget cover are nice to have but come with added costs.
Increase Your Excess	Raising the amount of excess (upfront payment for any claim; the rest to be paid by the insurer) on your policy can lower your insurance premium.

Why is car insurance more expensive with points?

Insurers may use relevant motoring history when assessing risk, alongside many other details. Points do not produce a fixed or automatic price increase across every insurer. Comparing quotes is the way to establish the options for your circumstances.

How to reduce car insurance with points?

Compare premiums alongside cover, exclusions, compulsory and voluntary excess and any instalment interest. Specialist insurers and brokers may help, but are not automatically cheaper. Use accurate mileage and vehicle-use details. Only add a genuine named driver, identify the main driver correctly and choose an excess you can afford.

Third-party-only cover is not necessarily cheaper than comprehensive insurance. Compare quotes for appropriate cover rather than reducing protection on the assumption that it will save money.

How much does 3 points put insurance up by?

There is no fixed percentage or cash increase that applies to everyone. Insurers consider the offence, driving history, vehicle, address, use and other factors. A historic average cannot predict your quote, and some insurers may decline. Compare current personalised quotes for suitable cover.

How much does 6 points put insurance up by?

Six points have no standard premium increase. The offence and other risk details matter; obtain current quotes rather than applying an old percentage to your existing premium.

Can I get insurance with 9 points?

Cover may be available, but the provider’s criteria and your circumstances determine acceptance and price. A specialist broker may help identify options; neither acceptance nor a particular saving is guaranteed.

How you could save money on car insurance with points

There are ways you could get cheaper car insurance with penalty points.

I’ve provided some top tips here:

1. Compare available mainstream policies with specialist cover for drivers with penalty points
2. Get help from a vehicle insurance broker, especially one with a record of helping high-risk drivers get cheap insurance. They might have access to exclusive cheaper deals
3. Consider changing your vehicle to one that is usually cheaper to insure

How to get the best deal for you on car insurance renewal

Compare premiums alongside cover, exclusions, compulsory and voluntary excess and any instalment interest. Specialist insurers and brokers may help, but are not automatically cheaper. Use accurate mileage and vehicle-use details. Only add a genuine named driver, identify the main driver correctly and choose an excess you can afford.

Start comparing before your renewal deadline, using the same accurate details across quotes. Paying annually may avoid instalment interest if affordable. If considering a different vehicle or telematics, check a quote and the full terms before committing.

What is telematic insurance?

Telematics insurance uses in-car monitoring technology, which adjusts the rates you pay based on your driving habits and the mileage you do.

It’s often referred to as black box car insurance, a popular choice for younger drivers.

How you could save money on your car insurance with points?

There is no single car insurance provider that is the cheapest for everyone with penalty points.

Compare suitable policies and consider a broker if you need help finding providers that accept your circumstances. Premiums and eligibility vary; a particular increase or saving is not guaranteed.

Best car insurance for young drivers with points

No provider is best or cheapest for every young driver with points. Check acceptance criteria and compare suitable cover, including any telematics conditions. Before paying for an additional course, ask whether the insurer recognises it and whether it would change the quote.

Comparison websites

I’ve included links to some top comparison websites in the table below.

Organisation	Link to website
Confused.com	Website link
GoCompare.co.uk	Website link
Compare the Market	Website link
Money Super Market	Website link
Money Saving Expert	Website link

Enrol in driving courses

Check whether a provider recognises the course and would offer a discount before paying for it. Any saving may be smaller than the course cost.