Car insurance for convicted drivers

If you’ve been zipping along a road a bit too fast and you spot that tell-tale flash of a speed camera in your mirrors, your heart may sink. Top of your mind will be the prospect of a speeding fine and points on your licence. The likely impact on your insurance premiums may not dawn on you until much later.

We say it across many of our car insurance guides. Insurers – understandably – reward safe drivers, and penalise those they consider higher risk. Having a conviction makes you a higher risk and will hike up your premiums. Read on to find out how different convictions can affect your car insurance and how to keep costs as low as possible.

What is convicted driver insurance?

Convicted driver insurance is no different in principle to regular car insurance. The difference lies in the fact that you have a criminal conviction at the point of taking out your car insurance policy.

Speeding offences are among the most common convictions. But, importantly, the conviction doesn’t have to be related to driving to affect your car insurance. If you have a criminal conviction of any kind, such as shoplifting or fly tipping, you will need to declare it when you go through the insurance quote process. That’s because insurers regard anyone with a criminal record as riskier to insure.

That means that car insurance is likely to be more expensive if you have a criminal conviction. It’s often the case even if the conviction had nothing to do with your driving.

How can I find insurance as a convicted driver?

If you have an unspent conviction, it should usually still be possible to get car insurance.

However, you may find fewer insurers are willing to cover you, and those that do will charge more than they would if you had a clean record.

The number of providers that will offer cover may depend on the nature of your conviction. For example, you may find it easier to get cover if you have a non-driving-related conviction, such as shoplifting, than if your conviction is linked to driving, such as dangerous driving or drink-driving.

It’s still well worth comparing quotes using a price comparison site. There are lots of car insurance providers, so even if only half are willing to cover you, that should still give you plenty to choose from.

If you struggle to get cover from any mainstream insurer, try a specialist convicted driver insurance provider. Be aware it may charge over the odds, though.

Why does insurance cost more for convicted drivers?

Drivers with convictions are considered to be a higher risk. Insurers consider them more likely to make a claim or commit further driving offences. This is why providers generally charge a higher premium.

What types of convictions are insurers more likely to accept?

There’s no hard and fast rule for this, as each insurer will have its own criteria for what it does and doesn’t accept. But you may find it easier to find insurance for some offences than others. For example, some insurers may be more willing to cover:

• (Relatively) minor speed infringements that may result in 3 points on your licence
• Non-driving-related convictions such as fly-tipping or shoplifting

What are the different types of driving offences?

Below we’ve outlined a selection of driving offences that can affect your insurance, and their typical penalties.

Bear in mind that the information in our table is not a comprehensive list of all possible driving offences. The precise penalties will vary depending on the nature of the crime and the decision of magistrates if your case goes to court.

The table also assumes that the convictions are on an otherwise clean driving record. Repeat offences may result in more severe penalties. If you get 12 penalty points or more within 3 years, you face a driving ban of 6 months.

If you’re banned from driving for 56 days or more you must apply for a new licence before driving again, and may have to retake your driving test.

The more serious (or frequent) the offence(s), and the greater the number of points on your licence, the greater the likely negative impact on your insurance premiums.

What if I am refused cover?

There are insurers out there that will do all they can to offer you the level of policy you want, but you will need to shop around.

Use comparison sites to find companies that will potentially offer you cover. Be sure to fully disclose all of your driving history when you fill in the application forms to avoid being later refused.

If you’ve been refused cover from all of the mainstream insurers you’ve tried, don’t immediately despair. There are specialists in convicted driver insurance that may cover you even when no others will. If you’re not sure how to find one, try contacting Unlock, a charity that supports people with criminal records. It might be able to point you in the right direction.

What happens if I do not declare my convictions?

We wouldn’t recommend you put this to the test, as it could come back to bite you. You must declare any unspent convictions as part of the application process for insurance.

If you don’t, your premium payments will have gone to waste. The insurer won’t pay out if you need to claim, and your policy is likely to be completely invalidated. You may even run the risk of being charged with insurance fraud.

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

No. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, once your conviction is “spent” you are considered rehabilitated. At this point, your previous conviction can no longer count against you. This means you don’t need to declare it.

The length of time that must pass before a conviction is considered spent varies depending on the offence. Driving offences are typically considered spent 5 years after the offence; other convictions may never be considered spent.

How do I declare unspent convictions to car insurers?

When you apply for a new car insurance policy, whether on a price comparison site, directly with an insurer or via a broker, you’ll typically be asked whether you have any convictions as part of the application process. You should answer as truthfully and accurately as possible.

If you renew with an existing provider, you will need to let it know at the point of renewal (at the latest) about any new convictions in the last 12 months. The conviction might affect the renewal premium or whether the insurer is willing to continue cover. Some insurers’ terms and conditions require you to declare any new convictions immediately, rather than waiting for renewal.

How can I get a better car insurance deal as a convicted driver?

Here are some tactics to help you cut costs on the cover you need.

• To state the bleeding obvious, drive carefully and safely from now on. A few points on your licence after a speeding offence will undoubtedly bump up your premium. Adding insult to injury by committing another offence in quick succession will make insurance even more expensive and harder to get.
• Compare and contrast providers. It’s really important that you don’t run out and buy the first policy you’re offered. Be sure to get as many different quotes as possible and compare the cover on offer, and the costs, side-by-side. Pick the cheapest policy option that still offers the level of cover you want.
• Volunteer to pay a higher excess. An excess is the amount you would contribute to any claim before your insurer will pay out. If you voluntarily increase your excess, your insurance company sees you as less likely to make a claim. This can help to bring down the cost of your premium.
• Choose a provider that offers a black box. Providing you’re a safe and competent driver, a black box could dramatically reduce your car insurance premium.
• Consider a smaller, less-powerful car that’s in a lower car insurance group. Fast cars with big engines are statistically more likely to be involved in incidents. Opting for something lower-octane is likely to make for a cheaper premium.
• Make the most of discounts and deals. If there’s a deal on offer, Finder knows about it and we’ll be the first ones to let you know and help you save.

Bottom line

If you have an unspent conviction, it can be harder and costlier to get car insurance. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible, or that there aren’t ways to save money. So don’t despair; use the tips we’ve peppered throughout this guide to get the best deal at the best price, and focus on keeping a clean record from now on. After 5 years, driving offences will be considered “spent” and will no longer affect your ability to get insurance or how much it costs.

Finder survey: Have you ever had points on your driving licence?

Frequently asked questions

• What does car insurance for convicted drivers include?

  If an insurer is happy to offer you cover, your policy will include the same protection as any other driver and you’ll have the same choice of cover levels. These are third-party insurance (the minimum legal requirement), third-party, fire and theft insurance or fully comprehensive insurance.

• Do I have to declare my convictions?

  Yes. Failure to disclose past driving convictions could result in your insurer cancelling your policy which will make it more difficult to get insurance in future. It will also mean refusal of your claim in the event that you need to make one.

• Can insurers check my driving convictions?

  Potentially. Some insurers ask for your driving licence number as part of the quote process so that they can get up-to-date information about your licence from the DVLA’s “MyLicence” database. If you supply it, this will enable the insurer to see your driving conviction records.

  Given that honesty is the best policy, and it’s important to accurately disclose information about convictions, providing your licence number can help speed up the quote process. It can also ensure that you don’t make a mistake or overstate the seriousness of your offence. The latter could even result in you paying more than you need to.

• Can I drive without insurance?

  No. It is a legal requirement that you have the correct level of insurance in place before getting behind the wheel of a car in the UK.

• How long do I have to declare convictions after committing the offence?

  This depends on the type and severity of the conviction. Some convictions are never considered spent; others may no longer impact your car insurance options or costs after a certain period of time, for example after 5 years.

• I have a conviction from driving abroad, do I need to declare it?

  Yes, you will generally need to declare any relevant convictions, especially if they are still unspent at the time you are applying for insurance.

• Can I get car insurance if I've previously been banned from driving?

  Probably, but how easy you find it to get insurance will depend on the reason for and length of the ban, and how long ago it was. You may find it more difficult, though not impossible, to get insurance soon after the ban – before your conviction is “spent”. If you struggle, consider a specialist insurer.

  Whether or not you were banned, driving offences are considered “spent” after 5 years and you do not need to declare them to insurers.

• Can I get temporary car insurance as a convicted driver?

  Probably, but as with regular insurance you may have to do a bit more research to find an insurer that’s happy to cover you. The temporary insurance is also likely to be more expensive. Take look at our guide on temporary car insurance for some providers that are worth trying.

• Can young drivers get convicted driver insurance?

  Almost certainly; even young convicted drivers should be able to find cover from some insurers. But be aware that young drivers pose a double whammy of risk as far as insurers are concerned. Young drivers (typically under 25) are seen as higher risk, so both age and driving record are likely to bump up premiums. In combination this may make insurance premiums painfully expensive.

• I have car insurance and just committed a driving offence, what do I need to do?

  Depending on the wording of your policy, you will need to inform your insurance provider of any recent offences either:

  • As soon as possible following the offence
  • Before renewing your policy

• Do driving offences count as criminal convictions?

  Typically, yes. The exception to the rule is minor speeding infringements that result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (typically £100 and 3 points on your licence). But, unlike some criminal convictions, motoring convictions do not usually last for life, and are typically considered “spent” after a few years.

• Why do insurers ask about offences in the last 5 years?

  Endorsements imposed by a court for road traffic offences are considered spent after 5 years. If an insurer is mainly concerned about driving offences, and does not need to know about other types of convictions to be willing to insure you, it might only ask you to declare offences within the last 5 years. After this period, by law insurers must disregard the conviction.

• For how long does a drink-driving conviction affect insurance?

  For the purposes of car insurance, drink-driving convictions are considered “spent” 5 years after the offence. The conviction is likely to stay on your driving record for 11 years, but insurers must not use this information to influence the cover they offer after 5 years.

• Can I insure my car while I'm banned from driving?

  Yes. You may need or want to insure your car for the following reasons:

  • If you keep it on a public road you are legally required to have at least third-party insurance for your car, even if you’re not driving it
  • If you are keeping your car off the road, for example on a private driveway or in a garage, you are not legally obliged to insure it. However, while the risk of you being involved in a collision is almost non-existent, you may wish to get cover to protect it from theft or fire damage, for example. If so, you could consider something called laid-up insurance. This is usually intended for specialist cars that are off the road while they are being repaired or restored