Convicted Drivers
Convicted Drivers
Car insurance choices have produced this page to help drivers fully understand the detrimental effect that having driving convictions added to your driving licence will have.
Many drivers are totally unaware that receiving a driving conviction can and probably will increase the price of your car insurance premium, depending on the severity of your offence, some insurance companies may not even insure you.
Insurance companies have now been instructed to increase car insurance premiums by 30% if a driver is convicted of using a mobile phone whilst driving. Companies such as Allianz Insurance treat mobile phone use as serious as dangerous driving.
Generally for every 3 points added to your licence will equal a 15% rise in your car insurance premium.
Drivers who receive driving bans not only will find it difficult or expensive to find car insurance but will also now need to re-take their driving test.
For full details of all the driving offences and codes, view the driving offence page.
Drink-driving offences
| Conviction | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink | 10 years’ in jail, minimum 2 year driving ban, + an extended test |
| Driving or attempting to drive while over the limit or unfit to drive through drink | 6 months in jail, + £5,000 fine + a minimum 12 month driving ban (3 years if you’re convicted twice within 10 years) |
| In charge of a vehicle while over the limit or unfit to drive through drink | 3 month custodial sentence + £2,500 fine + driving ban |
| Refusing to provide a specimen | 6 months behind bars + £5,000 fine + 12 month driving ban (minimum) |
Besides the above punishments, drink related offenders will also face an increase of roughly 82% in their car insurance premium, that’s if you can find an insurance company who will offer you a policy. Some of the major compare web sites will not give you a quote if convicted of drink-driving. Drink-drivers will not be able to hire a vehicle for 10 years from date of conviction.
There are some insurance companies who will help drink-related offenders to gain vehicle insurance cover: Kwik-Fit and Budget insurance will provide cover for drink-drivers, Liverpool Victoria insurance will insure drink-drivers after a 5 year waiting period.
If you are convicted of drink-driving, you should consider taking the Drink-Driving Rehabilitation course, completion of this course can reduce your disqualification period by 25%, also some insurance companies recognise this course and will take this into account when offering you a quote.
Top tips on reducing your car insurance premium if convicted of drink driving:
- Attend the drink driving rehabilitation course
- Apply for car insurance cover only in your own name “as a named driver”, this will help you earn a no claims bonuses after a month period
- Ask to pay a higher excess, this is the amount you pay towards an insurance claim
- Drive shorter distances at lower speeds, this reduces the risk of being involved in an accident, after 12 months you will have then earned a no claims bonus, which will help reduce the following years premium.
- Purchase a car with a small engine, this helps your vehicle to be in a lower insurance bracket, which helps reduce your insurance quote.
Ready to choose an insurer? Visit our Car insurance table