Insurance with Convictions: Getting Covered After Points

When you have a conviction, insurers see you as higher risk. This affects your insurance in several ways:

Higher premiums: Even minor convictions can increase premiums by 10-50%. Serious convictions like drink driving can double or triple your premium.

Fewer insurers: Many mainstream insurers won't cover convicted drivers at all, limiting your options.

Policy restrictions: Some policies for convicted drivers have restrictions like higher excesses, limited mileage, or excluded cover types.

Declaration requirements: You must declare convictions for a set period (usually 5 years, but varies by conviction type). Failing to declare is fraud and voids your insurance.

Understanding conviction codes helps you know what you're dealing with:

Speeding (SP codes):

• SP10: Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits
• SP20: Exceeding speed limit for vehicle type
• SP30: Exceeding statutory speed limit (most common)
• SP40: Exceeding speed limit on motorway
• SP50: Exceeding speed limit on motorway (specific limits)

Points: Usually 3-6 points Effect on insurance: Typically 5-15% increase per conviction

Careless/Dangerous driving (CD/DD codes):

• CD10: Driving without due care and attention
• CD20: Driving without reasonable consideration
• DD40: Dangerous driving
• DD80: Causing death by dangerous driving

Points: 3-11 points (or disqualification) Effect on insurance: 20-100%+ increase

Drink/Drug driving (DR codes):

• DR10: Driving with alcohol above limit
• DR20: Driving while unfit through drink
• DR30: Failing to provide a specimen
• DR40: In charge of vehicle while alcohol above limit
• DR80: Driving after excess alcohol (second offence)
• DG10: Driving with drug level above limit

Points: Usually 11 points minimum, plus disqualification Effect on insurance: 100-300% increase, many insurers refuse cover

Insurance offences (IN codes):

• IN10: Using a vehicle uninsured
• IN20: Not updating insurer about changes

Effect on insurance: Severe - shows disregard for insurance law

Declaration periods vary by conviction severity:

Standard convictions (speeding, minor offences):

• Declare for 5 years from conviction date
• Points stay on licence for 4 years from offence date

Serious convictions (drink driving, dangerous driving):

• Declare for 5 years from conviction date
• Points stay on licence for 11 years from conviction date
• Some insurers ask about convictions for longer periods

Disqualifications:

• Declare for 5 years from end of disqualification
• Some insurers ask about any disqualification, ever

Important: Always check what period your insurer asks about. Some ask for 5 years, some ask for 3 years, some ask if you've "ever" had certain convictions.

Spent vs unspent: Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, convictions become "spent" after certain periods. But this doesn't apply to insurance - you must still declare spent motoring convictions when asked.

Specialist convicted driver insurers: Several insurers focus on higher-risk drivers. They understand convictions and often offer better rates than mainstream insurers.

Brokers who specialise in convictions: Brokers have access to specialist markets and can often find cover that's not available directly. This is where Insure4Less can help.

Comparison sites: Not all comparison sites include convicted driver specialists. And some exclude anyone with serious convictions entirely.

What to prepare:

• Your conviction codes
• Dates of convictions
• Points received
• Any disqualification periods
• Details of any rehabilitation courses completed

Be completely honest: Insurers verify convictions against DVLA records. If you lie or "forget" convictions, your policy will be voided when you claim - and you'll have committed fraud.

Complete a rehabilitation course: For drink driving, completing a drink drive rehabilitation course can reduce your disqualification period and shows insurers you're taking responsibility.

Consider telematics: Black box policies can help prove you're now driving safely. Good scores lead to lower premiums over time.

Increase your excess: A higher voluntary excess reduces premiums. But only choose an excess you can afford to pay.

Improve security: Good security features (approved alarms, immobilisers, trackers) can reduce premiums.

Choose your car carefully: Lower-group cars cost less to insure. Avoid anything powerful or sporty.

Build no claims bonus: Each claim-free year rebuilds trust. After several years, your premium will reduce.

Wait it out: As time passes since your conviction, premiums reduce. Each year without incidents helps.

Keep trying different insurers: Just because one refuses doesn't mean all will. Specialist insurers have different criteria.

Try a broker: Brokers have access to insurers you can't approach directly. They may find cover when comparison sites can't.

Check why you were refused: Ask for the reason. It might be a mistake or misunderstanding you can correct.

Consider cover restrictions: Some insurers will cover you with restrictions (limited mileage, no additional drivers, etc.). This might be acceptable temporarily.

Contact the Motor Insurers' Bureau: If you genuinely can't find cover anywhere, the MIB operates the "Declined Cases Agreement" - insurers must consider cases referred to them.

Never drive uninsured: Driving without insurance is a serious offence that will make your situation much worse. It adds points, fines, and an IN10 conviction to your record.

Insurers can also ask about non-motoring criminal convictions. These include:

Convictions insurers care about:

• Fraud or dishonesty offences
• Criminal damage
• Violence
• Theft
• Drug offences

Why they ask: These convictions indicate potential for fraudulent claims or higher risk-taking behaviour.

Declaration period: Usually 5 years, but some insurers ask about unspent convictions only.

Effect on premiums: Depends on the offence. Fraud convictions have the biggest impact as they suggest dishonesty in claims.

Be honest: If asked, you must declare. Lying is fraud and voids your policy.