Van insurance for convicted drivers

Drivers with a record, whether it’s for a motoring offence or another criminal offence, are likely to be faced with a high insurance bill for their car or van. We’ve looked at how you can find the right policy for you, even with a previous conviction, and how to save on your cover.

What is convicted van drivers insurance?

Convicted driver insurance is van cover for drivers with a previous conviction – either for a motor related offence or something else.

Most insurers won’t have a specific policy for convicted drivers, but will instead offer standard cover with your circumstances in mind. That said, some insurers will refuse to cover you altogether, depending on what your conviction relates to.

There are some providers who offer specialist convicted driver policies, but these may not be cheaper than standard cover elsewhere.

How do driving convictions work for van drivers?

Breaking the law on the road will see you fined by the courts and your driving record endorsed with penalty points. The endorsement can stay on your driving record for four or 11 years, depending on which offence you committed.

The number of points you receive also depends on the nature of the offence. Note that if you collect 12 penalty points within three years, you may be disqualified from driving.

What offences can result in a driving conviction?

There are a variety of offences that can lead to a conviction. These include:

• Drink/drug driving. Also known as a DUI (driving under the influence), a drink driving conviction can result in points on your license, a hefty fine and in some cases a driving ban, or even prison. In the UK, the legal alcohol limit for drivers is four units for men (approximately 1.5 pints of beer) and three for women (approximately one small glass of wine). Driving under the influence of drugs will land you in hot water with the law regardless of how much is in your system.
• Speeding. In the UK, speeding is considered a dangerous driving offence, as it reduces your ability to stop in the case of an emergency. If you are travelling at a speed of more than 10% over the advised limit, then you face the risk of a £100 fine and three points on your license. In some cases, you will be offered the option to attend a speed awareness course, which will result in the possibility of the points on your licence being removed.
• Driving without insurance. You are legally obliged to have at least third party only cover to drive on UK roads, and choosing to drive without insurance is a serious offence. Some people inadvertently drive uninsured, as it’s surprisingly easy to invalidate your insurance without realising it. Either way, being caught driving without valid insurance will mean a mark on your record, a fine, and a minimum of six points on your license.
• Other offences. These include driving without a license, and dangerous driving (like using a handheld mobile phone or driving through a red light). These have varying levels of fines and penalty points based on the severity of the crime committed.

What are the driving penalty codes?

Each driving offence has a unique code and a range of penalty points attached. The exact number of point you are given is dependent on the severity of the offence committed.

Here are some examples from the government’s website:

Do I need van insurance for convicted drivers?

You must declare all unspent convictions when you take out an insurance policy. However, you don’t need to take out a specialist policy aimed specifically at convicted drivers.

Some insurers offer a specialist convicted drivers policy, but mostly you’ll just take out standard insurance with your circumstances calculated into the premium and level of cover.

How does a driving conviction affect the cost of my van insurance premium?

When calculating your premiums, insurers evaluate how much of a risk you are likely to be. This means, how likely you are to make a claim and cost them money.

If you have a history of disobeying the law, whether on the road or off it, insurers will be inclined to believe you may do this again and cause an accident. This is why they set your premiums higher. Some insurers may even refuse to cover you altogether.

Don’t despair though – you can find cover for your van, you might just have to look for longer and potentially pay a higher premium.

How much does convicted van driver insurance cost?

The cost of van insurance is a personal thing and is based on a number of personal factors, like your age, location, job and driving experience. Details of your van, like its age, make and model, also have an effect.

The details of your conviction will affect the cost of your insurance as well, as not all convictions carry the same level of penalty.

How do I find cheap quotes if I’m a convicted van driver?

1. Compare 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 both the cover on offer and the cost. Pick the cheapest policy option that still offers the level of cover you want.
2. Volunteer to pay a higher excess. An excess is the amount you need to contribute towards a claim. Increasing this amount will bring down your premiums, but make sure you can actually afford to pay the excess in case you need to make a claim.
3. Get a black box policy. Providing you’re a safe and competent driver, a black box policy could reduce your car insurance premium.
4. Drive less. If you have the option of driving less miles per year, this can reduce the cost of your premiums.
5. Improve your van’s security. Keeping your van in a garage or an off-road drive will make the insurer view you as less of a risk for theft claims. Installing extra security features can also help here. Driving a smaller van might also make the insurance company view you as less of a risk, so consider this if you have the option.
6. Sign up for driving courses. There may be advanced driving courses you can take to reduce your risk level in the eyes of your insurance company. Certain driving courses can also help you get back behind the wheel in a shorter span of time if you’ve been banned from driving by the courts.
7. Only pay for what you need. It may be tempting to add a range of optional extras to your cover (like cover in Europe and legal expense cover), but only take these out if you have a genuine need for them.

Bottom line

Having any sort of conviction on your record is likely to make finding affordable van insurance difficult, but not impossible.

There are certain actions you can take to reduce your premiums, but make sure these are realistic and don’t have a negative effect on your life. Shop around and compare policies to find the best option for your personal circumstances.

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

Frequently asked questions

• Should I declare my driving convictions?

  You must declare all unspent convictions – motor or criminal. Failure to do this can invalidate your policy and leave you with a large bill to pay if you need to make a claim. A caution or final warning does not have to be disclosed, as they are spent straight away. If you already have insurance in place when the offence is committed, you don’t need to declare it until your policy becomes due for renewal.

• What if I've been disqualified?

  If you’ve been disqualified from driving, you must not get behind the wheel until you’re legally allowed to drive again. When this happens, you may struggle to find an insurer willing to cover you, and you will likely have to pay more for your cover.

• How will a driving conviction affect other people on my policy?

  Your conviction shouldn’t affect them directly, if they have no convictions of their own (you must declare convictions for all drivers named on the policy). However, it will likely make the policy more expensive, so, if you’re sharing the cost, they’ll have to pay more.

• What if I use my van for work, will I be able to get cover?

  To use your van for work, you have to take out commercial van insurance. It’s likely to be a similar story as with standard van insurance – some insurers may refuse to cover you and you’ll have to pay more for the cover, but you should be able to find a policy if you shop around.

• How long does a DG10 stay on your record?

  If you are convicted of a DG10 offence, it will stay on your driving record for 11 years after the conviction. You will likely be banned from driving for a minimum of one-year, and get either a fine, a community order or up to six months in prison.

• Will I be able to get van insurance with a drink driving conviction?

  Yes, but it will be difficult, as drink driving points stay on your record for 11 years. You may struggle to find an insurer willing to offer you cover and your premiums will be high. You will also likely get at least a one year driving ban, during which you won’t be able to get insurance, as it will be illegal for you to drive.

• How long do points stay on my driving license for?

  The points stay on your licence for four or 11 years, depending on the offence you committed.

• Which van insurance providers offer policies for convicted drivers?

  You should be able to find cover with a number of major insurers, but the only way to find out whether they’ll be willing to offer you a policy is to go through the quote process and compare providers. You can also speak to some specialist brokers, like Keith Michaels and Think Insurance.