Driving conviction codes and car insurance
The information in this article is for editorial purposes only and not intended as financial advice.
The information in this article is for editorial purposes only and not intended as financial advice.
Sorting out your car insurance after a conviction can be a headache. With so many different endorsement codes and insurance policies, it can be difficult to know where to start.
I have put together this quick article to help make finding insurance for convicted drivers a little bit easier.
How Much Will Penalty Points Affect My Car Insurance?
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.
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.
If you gave an incorrect answer, tell the insurer promptly. An omission does not automatically make every policy void or amount to fraud. The outcome depends on the questions, the care taken and what the insurer would have done with the correct information. See the Financial Ombudsman’s guidance.
Tips for Getting 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.
Before paying for a driving course, ask whether an insurer recognises it and would offer a discount. Before changing cars, get quotes for the actual model and your circumstances; no short list of models guarantees the cheapest cover.
How can points affect car insurance?
| Factor | What it means for your quote |
|---|---|
| Penalty points and convictions | There is no fixed percentage increase that applies to every driver. Insurers assess the offence, its date and your wider circumstances. |
| Cover and excess | Compare the cover, excesses, exclusions and payment terms as well as the price. |
| Insurer criteria | Quotes and acceptance vary. A comparison does not guarantee a saving or an offer of insurance. |
Use the button below to compare quotes through Quotezone. Answer the insurer’s questions accurately. MoneyNerd may receive a referral fee.
In partnership with Quotezone.
Which Driving Convictions Affect My Insurance Premiums the Most?
The tables below explain selected endorsement codes and their listed points. They are not a ranking of insurance prices. Check the official code list for the full current details.
Selected drink- and drug-related codes
Drink- and drug-related offences can affect insurance eligibility and price. The outcome depends on the insurer and the full circumstances; no code has a universal premium increase.
Some insurers may decline to quote. Compare any available policies carefully, including the excess and total payment cost.
| Code | Category | Offence | Points |
| CD40 | Careless Driving | Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink | 3 to 11 |
| CD50 | Careless Driving | Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs | 3 to 11 |
| CD60 | Careless Driving | Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit | 3 to 11 |
| CD70 | Careless Driving | Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcohol analysis | 3 to 11 |
| DR10 | Drinking Offences | Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit | 3 to 11 |
| DR20 | Drinking Offences | Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink | 3 to 11 |
| DR30 | Drinking Offences | Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis | 3 to 11 |
| DR31 | Drinking Offences | Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity | 3 to 11 |
| DR61 | Drinking Offences | Refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive | 10 |
| DG10 | Drug Offences | Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above specified limit | 3 to 11 |
| DG60 | Drug Offences | Causing death by careless driving with drug level above the limit | 3 to 11 |
| DR80 | Drug Offences | Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs | 3 to 11 |
The endorsement codes listed above remain on the driving record for 11 years, but this is not the same as the insurance disclosure period. Check when the conviction becomes spent and answer the insurer’s questions accordingly.
The following examples have a four-year driving-record period. The start date depends on the code and sometimes whether disqualification was imposed; this is separate from whether a conviction is spent.
| Code | Category | Offence | Points |
| BA40 | Disqualified Driver | Causing death by driving while disqualified | 3 to 11 |
| BA60 | Disqualified Driver | Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified | 3 to 11 |
| CD10 | Careless Driving | Driving without due care and attention | 3 to 9 |
| CD20 | Careless Driving | Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users | 3 to 9 |
| CD30 | Careless Driving | Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users | 3 to 9 |
| CD33 | Careless Driving | Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving | 3 to 11 |
| CD80 | Careless Driving | Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving | 3 to 11 |
| CD90 | Careless Driving | Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified, or uninsured drivers | 3 to 11 |
| DR50 | Drinking Offences | In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink | 10 |
| DR60 | Drinking Offences | Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive | 10 |
| DG40 | Drug Offences | In charge of a vehicle while drug level above specified limit | 10 |
| DR90 | Drug Offences | In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs | 10 |
| DD10 | Reckless/Dangerous Driving | Causing serious injury by dangerous driving | 3 to 11 |
| DD40 | Reckless/Dangerous Driving | Dangerous driving | 3 to 11 |
| DD60 | Reckless/Dangerous Driving | Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle | 3 to 11 |
| DD80 | Reckless/Dangerous Driving | Causing death by dangerous driving | 3 to 11 |
| DD90 | Reckless/Dangerous Driving | Furious driving | 3 to 9 |
| AC10 | Accident Offences | Failing to stop after an accident | 5 to 10 |
| AC20 | Accident Offences | Failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours | 5 to 10 |
| AC30 | Accident Offences | Undefined accident offences | 4 to 9 |
| IN10 | Insurances Offences | Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks | 6 to 8 |
Speed Limit Conviction Codes
A speeding offence can result in points. Accumulating 12 or more points within three years can lead to a totting-up ban, and a court can disqualify for an individual offence. Do not assume a ban is an automatic administrative result.
All of the following conviction codes will stay on your driving record for 4 years.
| Code | Category | Offence | Points |
| SP10 | Speeding Offences | Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits | 3 to 6 |
| SP20 | Speeding Offences | Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles) | 3 to 6 |
| SP30 | Speeding Offences | Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road | 3 to 6 |
| SP40 | Speeding Offences | Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit | 3 to 6 |
| SP50 | Speeding Offences | Exceeding speed limit on a motorway | 3 to 6 |
Other Conviction Codes
Other endorsement codes are listed below. The insurance effect depends on the actual offence and other risk details, so this list should not be read as a lower-price category.
| Code | Category | Offence | Points |
| BA10 | Disqualified Driver | Driving while disqualified by order of court | 6 |
| BA30 | Disqualified Driver | Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court | 6 |
| CU10 | Construction and Use Offences | Using a vehicle with defective brakes | 3 |
| CU20 | Construction and Use Offences | Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle with parts or accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition | 3 |
| CU30 | Construction and Use Offences | Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s) | 3 |
| CU40 | Construction and Use Offences | Using a vehicle with defective steering | 3 |
| CU50 | Construction and Use Offences | Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers | 3 |
| CU80 | Construction and Use Offences | Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone | 3 to 6 |
| DR70 | Drug Offences | Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test | 4 |
| TT99 | Special Code | Disqualification under ‘totting-up’ – once the total number of penalty points reaches 12 or more in 3 years, the driver can be disqualified | N/A |
Where Can I Get Support?
Need some support after your driving conviction?
Organisations such as Unlock and Citizens Advice provide information about convictions and related practical issues. Check what each service covers before contacting it.
These groups and organisations offer practical self-help information, but some also offer free advice.
