How Much 3 Points Affects Your Insurance: Cost Breakdown

The information in this article is for editorial purposes only and not intended as financial advice.

Are you trying to find cheap car insurance but have points on your driving licence? You’re not alone! In fact, over 9,300 people come to our website each month seeking advice on this matter.

This guide will help you know what you need to handle this situation. Here’s what you’ll learn:

What penalty points are and how they work.
How penalty points change car insurance costs.
If you must tell your insurer about your penalty points.
How you can still get car insurance even with points.
Tips on how to lower your car insurance costs even with points.

The Guardian reports that each year in the UK, around 1.2 million people face the challenge of securing car insurance because mainstream insurers typically refuse coverage to those with unspent convictions.¹

We know this can be hard and worrying, but there are ways to find car insurance that you can afford.

How long will 3 points stay on my record?

Penalty points usually stay on your driving record for four years.

However, the offence committed will remain on your driving record for longer – up to 11 years, depending on the severity.

Car insurers tend to keep driving offences on record for five years and consider them spent after that. However, a history of offences can still affect your premiums.

How many points could I get on my licence?

There’s actually no limit to how many points you can get.

The most serious offences incur 11 points, and once you’ve accrued 12 points within a three-year period, you are usually banned from driving for a minimum of six months.

If you were charged with multiple offences at the same time, you could gather more than 12 points.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Find the best insurance for drivers with points

How do I see how many points I have on my licence?

You can look at your driving record online to see how many penalty points are currently on your driving licence.

To do this, you can head to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) information service on the government website.

You’ll need:

Driving licence number
National Insurance number
Your postcode

Will points ruin my insurance?

Points	Insurance increase
3 Points	5%
6 Points	25%+
10-12 Points	80%+

The best way to find better deals is to use companies who specialise in insuring drivers with convictions and points.

To see if you can improve you insurance with a free quote, click the button below.

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In partnership with Quotezone.

Can I get insurance after a driving ban?

Once you accrue 12 points on your driving licence you will automatically be banned from driving.

If you have been disqualified from driving, you can still get insurance once you’ve served your ban.

I suggest you shop around. Look for an insurer who specialises in your particular conviction, and take added steps to bring your insurance down.

These steps could include:

Adding extra security systems to your car.
Parking in a safe place like a driveway each night.
Consider adding a black box which reports back to your insurer and rewards safe driving with cheaper premiums.
Consider raising your excess.
Take a defensive driving course.

If you have committed a driving offence and have three points on your driving licence, chances are that if the offence isn’t severe, your insurance won’t be affected by more than 5%.

My advice: It’s worth shopping around for the best insurance that suits your situation. And remember, the points will stay on your licence for four years.

Convicted Driver Insurance Reduction

Dealing with higher insurance costs due to points on your licence can be quite frustrating. Fortunately, there are various ways to reduce insurance rates.

These include:

How to Reduce Insurance Rates	Keep in Mind…
Choose Your Car Wisely	Consider age, engine, insurance group & price. The lower the group, the lower the premium. 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 Named Driver	Adding an experienced driver with a good claims history, such as a parent, can lower your insurance premium by reducing the perceived risk.
Drive Fewer Miles	Reduced mileage = Reduced risk.
Complete a Rehabilitation Course	Third-Party Only – the bare minimum; as required by law Comprehensive – provides full coverage and may include personal accident and medical expenses coverage Third Party, Fire & Theft – TPO cover and also insures against damage to other vehicles and injuries to others in accidents where you’re at fault, accidental fires or arson, stolen vehicles
Determine the Cover Level You Need	Third-Party Only – the bare minimum; as required by law. Comprehensive – provides full coverage and may include personal accident and medical expenses coverage. Third Party, Fire & Theft – TPO cover and also insures against damage to other vehicles and injuries to others in accidents where you’re at fault, accidental fires or arson, stolen vehicles.
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.

References

The Guardian – Insurers’ Ban on Unspent Convictions