Car Insurance for Drivers With Convictions: UK Complete Guide
You can get car insurance with a motoring conviction in the UK, but you must declare all unspent convictions when applying. Failure to disclose is not just a cost-saving strategy – it voids your policy, meaning any claim will be rejected and you may face prosecution for driving without valid insurance. The impact on premiums varies by offence: a single SP30 (speeding) typically increases premiums by 10-25%, a CU80 (mobile phone) by 25-50%, and a DR10 (drink driving) by 50-100% or more, with many mainstream insurers refusing to quote at all. Specialist convicted driver insurers exist for all offence types, and premiums reduce over time as the conviction ages.
What Is a Motoring Conviction Code?
A motoring conviction code, also called an endorsement code, is a two-letter-and-number reference that the DVLA uses to record driving offences on a licence. Each code represents a specific offence (for example, SP30 means exceeding a statutory speed limit on a public road; DR10 means driving with alcohol above the legal limit). The code is accompanied by penalty points and stays on the licence for a set period, typically four years for most offences and eleven years for serious ones including drink driving.
For insurance purposes, you are generally required to declare all convictions that insurers ask about when taking out a policy, usually those received in the last five years. This is one year longer than most convictions remain valid for DVLA totting-up purposes, catching out drivers who assume that because points have become inactive for penalty accumulation purposes, they no longer need to be declared. Always check your full licence record at gov.uk/view-driving-licence before applying for insurance.
Quick Facts
- ✓Most driving offences stay on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence. Drink driving (DR10) and drug driving stay for 11 years. Insurers typically ask about convictions for the past 5 years
- ✓A single SP30 (speeding, 3 points) increases the average premium by approximately £58-£117 per year. Six points on a clean licence can increase premiums by 30% or approximately £552 per year
- ✓Non-disclosure of a conviction is insurance fraud. The policy is void, claims are rejected, and you are effectively driving uninsured, which carries a minimum of 6 points and an unlimited fine
- ✓Specialist convicted driver insurers cover all conviction types including DR10. Premiums are higher than standard market rates but reduce year on year as the conviction ages and as a clean subsequent record is established
Key Takeaways
- →Always declare your convictions accurately. The short-term premium saving from non-disclosure is vastly outweighed by the consequence: a voided policy, a rejected claim, and prosecution for driving without insurance
- →The insurance impact of a conviction diminishes over time. A DR10 that costs you 100% premium loading in year one may cost 50% in year five and have minimal impact in year ten. The conviction does not follow you forever
- →Specialist convicted driver insurers are not a last resort. They exist specifically for this market and compare well against mainstream insurers who accept convicted drivers, because they understand the risk profile and can price it accurately
- →A telematics (black box) policy can help convicted drivers demonstrate safe current behaviour, which some specialist insurers factor into renewal pricing. It does not remove the conviction from your record but can help offset some of the premium loading
- →Named drivers on your policy must also declare their own convictions. If a named driver has an undisclosed conviction that comes to light during a claim, the policy can be voided in the same way as if the main driver had failed to disclose
A motoring conviction does not mean you cannot get car insurance. It means your options are narrower, your premiums are higher, and the process of finding cover requires more effort than a standard quote. The good news is that the market for convicted driver insurance is well-established in the UK, premiums reduce as convictions age, and there are concrete steps you can take to manage the cost.
This guide explains how every category of motoring conviction affects your insurance, the difference between how endorsements appear on your DVLA record versus what insurers ask you to declare, how specialist convicted driver insurance works, and what steps reduce the cost of cover over the years following a conviction.
Expert Note – MMC Insurance Specialists | FCA Reg. 916241
“The most damaging thing a driver with a conviction can do is try to hide it. We have seen the consequences: a claim arising years into a policy, and the insurer discovering at that point that the original application contained a material non-disclosure. The policy is cancelled from inception, the claim rejected, and the driver is left personally liable for a potentially large third-party claim. Declaring the conviction costs more upfront. Non-disclosure can cost tens of thousands. The comparison is not difficult.”
What convictions do you need to declare to your insurer?
You must declare any conviction that the insurer asks about on the proposal form. Most standard insurers ask about motoring convictions received in the last five years. This is longer than the four-year validity of most endorsements for DVLA totting-up purposes, so points that are no longer active for accumulation purposes may still need to be declared for insurance. For drink driving (DR10) and other serious offences that remain on the licence for eleven years, most insurers will ask about them for the full period.
Non-Disclosure Is Not a Grey Area
Under the Insurance Act 2015, all policyholders have a legal duty to make a fair presentation of the risk. A motoring conviction is always a material fact. Failing to disclose it is not a technicality that insurers sometimes overlook – it gives the insurer the right to void the policy as if it had never existed, decline any claim arising during that period, and in serious cases refer the matter for fraud investigation. Driving on a voided policy means you are driving without insurance, which is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 carrying a minimum of 6 penalty points and an unlimited fine.
If you receive a conviction after taking out a policy, contact your insurer immediately. Most policies require you to notify them of any material change in circumstances during the policy year, including new convictions. Failing to do so at mid-term can have the same effect as failing to disclose at inception.
How do different conviction codes affect car insurance premiums?
Not all convictions are treated equally. Insurers assess each code based on its statistical correlation with future claims and the seriousness of the underlying behaviour. A single low-level speeding offence (SP30, 3 points) is common and carries a relatively modest loading. A drink driving conviction (DR10) is treated as a significant red flag and will push many mainstream insurers to decline to quote entirely.
| Code | Offence | Points | Stays on Licence | Typical Premium Impact | Mainstream Insurer Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP30 | Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road | 3-6 | 4 years | +10-25% (~£58-£117/yr on an average premium). Lower for single first offence | Good. Most mainstream insurers quote |
| SP50 | Exceeding motorway speed limit | 3-6 | 4 years | +10-25%. Similar to SP30 for a single offence | Good |
| CU80 | Using a mobile phone while driving | 6 | 4 years | +25-50%. Higher loading because the offence is deliberate, not inadvertent. 6 points also has greater totting-up implications | Moderate. Some insurers decline, others load heavily |
| CD10 | Driving without due care and attention | 3-9 | 4 years | +25-50%. Often accompanies an at-fault accident, so loss of NCD adds additional loading on top | Moderate |
| IN10 | Using a vehicle uninsured against third-party risks | 6-8 | 4 years | +50-100%+. Viewed as particularly serious because it represents deliberate disregard of a legal obligation that protects other road users | Limited. Many mainstream insurers decline. Specialist market usually needed |
| DR10 | Driving with alcohol level above the limit | 3-11 | 11 years | +50-100% where cover is available. Loading reduces over time: approximately 100% in year 1, 75% in year 3, 50% in year 5, minimal impact by year 10 | Mainstream insurers often refuse entirely. Specialist broker essential |
| DR20/DR30 | Attempting to drive/being in charge of a vehicle with alcohol above the limit | 3-11 | 11 years | Similar to DR10. Serious but slightly less so than a DR10 conviction for driving | Specialist market required |
| DG10 | Driving with drug level above specified limit | 3-11 | 11 years | Treated similarly to DR10. Very high loading where available | Specialist market required |
| DD40/DD60 | Dangerous driving / causing serious injury by dangerous driving | 3-11 | 4 years from conviction | 50-200%+ where cover available. Often involves disqualification period too | Very limited. Lloyd’s specialist market placement sometimes required |
| TT99 | Disqualified by totting up (12+ points in 3 years) | N/A (disqualification, not points) | 4 years from conviction | Very significant. Represents a pattern of multiple offences, not a single lapse. Higher loading than individual offences suggest | Limited. Specialist broker recommended |
Premium impact ranges are approximate. Actual increases depend on the full conviction record, driver age, vehicle, location, and insurer. For a full official list of endorsement codes, see gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements.
Getting car insurance after a DR10 (drink driving) conviction
A DR10 is the most impactful conviction for insurance purposes. The endorsement stays on the licence for 11 years, many mainstream insurers will not quote for it at all, and initial premiums can be double or more the standard rate. You can still get cover – the specialist market exists precisely for this – but the process requires working with a specialist broker who has access to the insurers that do write this risk.
| Years Since DR10 Conviction | Typical Premium Loading | Market Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ~100% above standard rate | Specialist brokers and specialist insurers only. Mainstream market typically unavailable | Disqualification period usually concurrent. Must surrender licence to DVLA during the ban |
| Years 2-3 | ~75% above standard rate | Specialist market primarily. Some more progressive mainstream insurers may start to quote | Clean record since conviction begins to be recognised. Completing a drink-drive rehabilitation course may be viewed positively |
| Years 4-5 | ~50% above standard rate | Broader specialist market. Some mainstream insurers will consider if record has been clean | DVLA record still shows the conviction. Still need to declare in most cases. Active NCD from clean years helps |
| Years 6-10 | Reducing, typically 15-30% above standard | Most of the market available. NCD now established. Some insurers focus on recent clean history | Still on DVLA record. Must still be declared where asked. Check each insurer’s specific question wording |
| Year 11+ | Minimal or no loading | Full mainstream market available. Conviction no longer on DVLA record and no longer needs to be declared | After 11 years, DR10 is removed from the DVLA record automatically. Insurers cannot ask about it and it does not need to be disclosed |
Pro Tip: Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Course
A DVSA-approved drink-drive rehabilitation course can reduce the length of a driving ban by up to 25% if taken as part of the court-ordered sentence. Some specialist insurers view completion of the course as a positive indicator of rehabilitated risk when considering applications, though it does not guarantee a discount. If you were required to undertake one as a condition of licence reinstatement, mention it when applying for insurance and ask whether it is factored into the assessment.
How much does an SP30 (speeding) affect car insurance?
A single SP30 conviction for exceeding a speed limit on a public road typically increases car insurance premiums by 10-25%, or approximately £58-£117 per year on an average premium. The impact is at the lower end for a first offence with 3 points, and higher for those with existing points or more serious SP30 offences. The loading stays with the policy for the five-year declaration period, meaning the total cost of a single SP30 can reach £500 or more in cumulative premium increases.
Worked Example: The True Cost of One SP30
Driver profile: 35-year-old, Ford Focus, provincial location, 5-year NCD, previous clean record. Standard annual premium: approximately £550.
- →Year 1 after conviction: premium increases by approximately £110 (20%) to ~£660
- →Years 2-5: loading diminishes slightly each year as insurers treat the conviction as historical. Approximate average increase: £80/yr
- →Total additional premium over 5 years: approximately £430
- →This is in addition to the fixed penalty fine (typically £100-£300) and court costs if applicable
For a driver under 25 on an already high base premium, the proportional impact is similar but the absolute cost is higher. A young driver on a £1,500 base premium might pay an additional £300 per year for an SP30, totalling £1,500 over the five-year declaration period.
How to reduce car insurance costs with a conviction
The strategies for reducing convicted driver insurance costs are the same as for standard drivers, but with the additional step of working through specialist channels for serious convictions. Time is the most powerful factor overall – the impact of any conviction on premium loading diminishes progressively over the declaration period as clean subsequent driving builds evidence of rehabilitated risk.
| Strategy | How It Helps | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Use a specialist convicted driver broker | Specialist brokers have access to insurers who understand convicted driver risk and price it accurately. Mainstream comparison sites often have limited panels for serious convictions and return either no quotes or very expensive ones | Essential for IN10, DR10, DD codes, TT99, and any combination of multiple convictions. Useful for all convictions |
| Compare quotes at every renewal | The market changes each year. As the conviction ages, more insurers will quote and the best price available improves. Staying with the same insurer out of inertia costs money in this market | All conviction types. Compare via our convicted driver insurance page |
| Consider a telematics policy | Some specialist insurers incorporate telematics data for convicted drivers as evidence of safe current behaviour, which can improve renewal pricing. It does not remove the conviction but can provide offsetting evidence of current risk | Most useful for SP30, CU80, and other offences where safe subsequent driving is the main counter-argument |
| Protect your NCD | If an at-fault accident accompanied the conviction (as with many CD10 and some DR10 cases), the NCD will have been reduced or lost. Rebuilding NCD through subsequent claim-free years provides a progressive premium reduction that runs in parallel with the aging of the conviction | All drivers who also lost NCD as a result of the incident |
| Choose a lower insurance group vehicle | The conviction loading is applied as a percentage of the base premium. A lower group car has a lower base, so the absolute cost of the loading is smaller. The reverse is also true: a high-value or high-performance car combined with a serious conviction can produce extremely high premiums | All conviction types |
| Increase voluntary excess carefully | Raising the voluntary excess reduces the premium, but note that convicted drivers often also face higher compulsory excesses set by the insurer. Check the total excess before increasing the voluntary element, and only set a voluntary excess you can genuinely afford | All conviction types. Particularly worth modelling for DR10 where compulsory excess is already high |
| Avoid adding more points | Each additional conviction multiplies the loading. A second SP30 on top of an existing one may more than double the premium increase. Multiple convictions also narrow the available insurer market significantly | All drivers. Especially critical in years immediately after a conviction when the total premium loading is highest |
How long do you need to declare a conviction to your insurer?
The declaration period for insurance is not the same as how long a conviction stays on your DVLA record. Most endorsements remain valid on the licence for four years from the date of offence. For insurance purposes, most insurers ask about convictions in the last five years. This one-year gap catches many drivers who stop declaring a conviction as soon as it becomes inactive for DVLA totting-up purposes, when it still needs to be declared for insurance.
| Offence Type | Stays on DVLA Record | Typically Must Declare to Insurer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most motoring offences (SP, CU, CD, IN10 etc.) | 4 years from date of offence | 5 years from date of conviction | The 5-year insurance period begins from conviction, not offence. The gap between offence and conviction can add weeks or months |
| Serious offences: DR10, DG10, DD40, DD60, causing death by driving | 11 years from date of conviction | Up to 11 years. Varies by insurer – check each insurer’s exact question | Some insurers ask only about convictions in the last 5 years; others ask about all convictions on the licence. For DR10, check the specific wording on the application form |
Frequently Asked Questions
Important: Information, Not Advice
This article provides general information about car insurance for drivers with motoring convictions in the UK. Premium impact ranges are approximate and vary significantly by individual circumstances, the specific conviction, additional conviction history, driver profile, vehicle, and insurer. You must declare all convictions as required by the question wording on any insurance application. Non-disclosure is a breach of the duty of fair presentation under the Insurance Act 2015 and may void your policy. Driving without valid insurance is a criminal offence under section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. For confirmation of what is currently on your DVLA record, use the online check at gov.uk/view-driving-licence. MyMoneyComparison.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), registration number 916241.
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