How Much is Car Insurance After Drink Driving Ban? 

Are you worried about the cost of car insurance after a drink driving ban? It is a common concern. Each month, over 9,300 people come to our website for help with insurance as a convicted driver, so you’re not alone.

This article will guide you through:

• How a drink driving ban can raise your car insurance cost.
• The ways to find less expensive insurance even after a ban.
• The need to tell your insurer about your ban and why it is so important.
• The difference in cost between insurance group 7 and others.
• The cheapest cars to insure after a ban.

Insurers can legally adjust prices based on perceived risk, making insurance seem unattainable with a conviction, according to Unlock.¹

I know this sounds concerning, but don’t worry. With the right tips and advice, you can still find good car insurance. We’re here to guide you through it.

How is insurance affected?

We have answers to all questions touching on insurance and drunk driving:

• Insurance that is available specifically for disqualified drivers 
• Learn how much drink driving might cost you.
• Insurance for drink drivers that you can look into. 
• Inquiring about insurers that work with higher-risk individuals is a topic that might help too.

Note that you are obliged to tell your insurer about your drink driving conviction. You must disclose this information whether you are taking out a new policy or renewing an old one.

If you don’t, your policy will almost certainly be void should you need to claim.

Convicted Driver Insurance Increase

I’ve put together this table to help you better understand the direct impact points on your license have on insurance costs.

Points on License	Estimated Average Rate Increase
1 – 3 Points : This range usually covers minor offenses. Insurance rates may increase but not excessively.	5% – 20%
4 – 6 Points : This range might indicate repeat offenses or a more serious violation. Insurance premiums are likely to rise more significantly.	20% – 40%
7 – 9 Points : At this level, the driver is considered high-risk. This can lead to substantial rate increases.	40% – 60%
10 – 12 Points : Accumulating this many points might lead to a driving ban. If insurance is offered, it would likely be at a very high rate.	60% – 100%+

How much will it increase?

Generally speaking, car insurance will increase by over two times what you paid originally. This is because insurers give a dimmer view to drivers with drink driving convictions.

This minimum of a 100% increase generally lasts for the time that the drunk driving conviction is on your license.

Let’s look at an example of the total costs you might see accrue over the general ban period of five years:

Annual price for insurance	£1,000	£2,100
Year one	£1,000	£2,100
Year two	£2,000	£4,200
Year three	£3,000	£6,300
Year Four	£4,000	£8,400
Year five	£5,000	£10,500
The total additional amount you are paying over the total period	£5,500 is how much extra you might expect to pay over the 5-year post-offence period.

How can I get cheaper rates?

The best way to do this is to seek out cars that have a low insurance rating.

Some insurers might offer cheaper rates if the driver agrees to install a telematics box which monitors their driving habits. This is called Telematics or Black Box insurance.

Low-insurance-rated cars will, of course, be cheaper for everyone, but they will more likely bring your inflated prices down too. Here are some things that they have in common:

The differentiating factor	The longer ago the conviction was, the better. And when it no longer shows on the DBS, this is the best-case scenario.
The car is a newer make or model	There is less chance of it needing repairs in the near future.
Low-cost parts	The lower the cost to the insurance company to obtain the parts to repair the vehicle, the less they will charge you. This generally means that cheaper models such as the Skoda, lower-end Fords and Hyundai will cost less to insure than high-end BMWs, Mercedes and Audi.
Where the vehicle is stored when not in use	The safer the environment the car is in, the lower the risk of damage and a resulting payout for the insurer. Locking in a garage or driveway is less risky than parking on the roadside.
How recent was the last conviction was	The longer ago the conviction was, the better. And when it no longer shows on the DBS, this is the best-case scenario.
Your age and the length of time you have been driving	The less wear and tear on the car, the better.
Predicted yearly mileage	Keep the number of claims you make down to avoid the risk of increasing it any more than necessary.
The number of past claims	Keep the number of claims you make down to avoid the risk of increasing it any more than necessary

What is the cheapest car to insure after a ban?

There are a few options on the table for you. The things these cars tend to have in common are that they are smaller cars with smaller engines. Such as 1ltr to 1.2ltr:

• Hyundai I10
• Renault Clio
• Citroen C1
• Kia Rio
• Ford Fiesta
• Skoda Yeti
• Maxda CX-5

The Money Expert has a helpful resource that might interest you for research at this point, Also check insurance comparison sites across the web for cheaper cars to buy for convicted drivers.

Is group 7 high or low?

Insurance group 7 consists of some of the cheapest vehicles to repair.

This is due to their cheaper parts which, as mentioned, cost the insurers less to obtain if you make a claim. Thus the risk of insuring such vehicles is low.

An insurance company aims to make as much profit as possible whilst keeping costs – like payouts for claims down.

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

Pre-conceived notions you might face

In addition to the additional costs, you might find that when you seek a job in the future, there might be people who make the journey harder for some.

Drink driving conviction stays on your driving record for 11 years.

But don’t let this deter you, as insurers and employers can see the endorsement only during the first 5 years (or the first 30 months if you’re under 18).

Also, different people have different opinions about hiring convicted drivers. So you might encounter difficulties, but they will not come from everyone you meet.

Remember, if you are refused a job on the basis of a conviction that would not have been disclosed, the employer is acting unlawfully under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

References

1. Unlock – Insurance and convictions