Most drivers understand that motoring convictions, of whatever type, can affect their ability to obtain motor insurance. Not only do insurance costs tend to rise dramatically after a conviction, some individuals, particularly young drivers, can find it impossible to obtain any insurance at all.
This comprehensive guide to motoring convictions explains why, and answers many other questions about getting car insurance if you’re in this situation.
There’s a lot here, so if you want, skip to the section that’s of most interest to you!
- Why is car insurance more expensive after a conviction?
- Do I need to disclose convictions to my insurer?
- What happens if you don’t declare convictions when obtaining car insurance?
- How do penalty points work?
- Automatic disqualification under the “totting up” system
- What’s the rehabilitation period if I get more than one conviction?
- New convictions before an old one becomes spent
- Motoring conviction codes
- Speeding offence codes
- Construction and use offence codes
- Drink driving offence codes
- Drug Driving offence codes
- Disqualified driver offence codes
- Insurance offence codes
- Traffic Direction and Signs offence codes
- Careless Driving offence codes
- Dangerous Driving offence codes
- Other offence codes
Why is car insurance more expensive after a conviction?
Most insurance companies use algorithms to calculate future risk. To put it simply, individuals with driving convictions are deemed to be at a higher risk of involvement in accidents, and insurance costs reflect this.
Do I need to disclose convictions to my insurer?
In short, yes. However, as of April 2013, you don’t have to declare your unspent convictions when applying for or renewing your car insurance, unless an insurer asks you about them.
This includes everyone covered by the policy, so make sure you have details handy of any named drivers. If asked and you fail to disclose unspent convictions, your insurance could be invalid. If you’re not asked about unspent convictions, you should still check the terms and conditions of your insurance policy.
What happens if you don’t declare convictions when obtaining car insurance?
It is possible for someone with motoring convictions to attempt to dodge the issue by failing to declare their full driving history. Not declaring convictions risks invalidating your insurance. Aside from the potential financial implications, driving without valid insurance cover is an offence.
How do penalty points work?
A driving offence can result in a fine and an endorsement on your driving licence. Each endorsement has a corresponding offence code, which carries between one and eleven penalty points. Offence codes and penalty points alike go onto the driver’s record.
The current paperless system means that you can view your driving licence online. You’ll be able to see what penalty points you have and when they will be removed.
Automatic disqualification under the “totting up” system
Building up twelve or more penalty points within a three-year period leads to automatic disqualification from driving. Drivers who are within two years of passing their test can only accumulate six penalty points before being disqualified from driving.
Although penalty points drop off a licence for ‘totting up’ purposes after three years, they remain on a motorist’s driving record for between four and eleven years, depending on the offence code. After that period, the motoring conviction is “spent” and does not need to be declared to an insurer.
Unfortunately, to make the situation more complicated, an endorsement may become ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, before it comes off the motorist’s driving record. This article explains how this happens, but if you are in this situation it can affect an insurance application.
What’s the rehabilitation period if I get more than one conviction?
If more than one sentence or penalty is imposed at the same time, the longer sentence determines the rehabilitation period. For example, if a driver was given a fine (usual rehabilitation period 1 year) AND disqualified from driving for 4 years, the conviction would not become spent until the rehabilitation period of 4 years (relating to the disqualification) had ended.
New convictions before an old one becomes spent
If you already have an unspent conviction, and you get another conviction before the first one is spent, then neither conviction becomes spent until the rehabilitation period for both offences ends. If your second conviction results in a custodial sentence of more than 4 years, then neither the first nor the second conviction ever becomes spent.
Motoring Conviction Codes
Some driving offences occur more frequently than others. We’ve outlined the most commonly seen ones, and how some of them may affect drivers when it comes to taking out a new insurance policy or renewing an existing one.
Speeding offence codes
Many drivers speed at one time or another, whether inadvertently or not. Many speeding offences are dealt with via fixed penalty notices, which are an alternative to prosecution before the magistrates’ court. They are not criminal convictions or cautions.
SP30 – Exceeding the Statutory Speed Limit on a Public Road
This offence will result in three to six penalty points, depending on the seriousness of the circumstances, and a fine. The endorsement code must remain on the offender’s driving licence for a period of four years from the date of the offence.
SP50 – Exceeding the Speed Limit on a Motorway
As with SP30, this offence will result in the imposition of between three and six penalty points and a fine. Again, the endorsement code must remain on the offender’s driving licence for a period of four years from the date of the offence.
Other speeding offences include exceeding the speed limit for the type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles) and exceeding a passenger-vehicle speed limit.
Find out about car insurance with a speeding conviction.
Construction and Use offence codes
CU80 – Breach of Requirements as to the Control of a Vehicle, such as Using a Mobile Phone
This much publicised motoring offence code makes it unlawful to use a handheld phone while driving, whether this is to make or receive a call, send or read a text or email, or to use any of the phone’s other functions.
Anyone using a handheld phone while supervising a learner driver is also committing an offence. Offenders can expect to receive between three and six penalty points, as well as a fine.
Although using a mobile phone as a satnav is not necessarily treated as using a mobile for the purposes of CU80, a driver may face charges of careless or dangerous driving, or of not being in proper control of their vehicle. It’s best to avoid having your mobile phone in view while driving, to avoid any ambiguity if caught with a visible device.
For more information on driving while using a mobile phone, check out our informative blog post: Your Guide to Using Your Mobile Phone at the Wheel.
Drivers with a CU80 conviction can find affordable car insurance.
CU30 – Using a Vehicle with a Defective Tyre or Tyres
All tyres on a motor vehicle must have a minimum tread depth; they must be inflated to the correct pressure; tyres must also be free from any structural defects, such as cuts and tears. This requirement also extends to the vehicle’s spare tyre.
Drink Driving offence codes
Drink driving penalties can be severe. Depending on the type and gravity of the offence, imprisonment, an uncapped fine and a driving ban are all possible repercussions. There are currently 9 different offence codes for drink driving and between them, an offender can also expect to receive between three and eleven penalty points.
DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31 and DR61 must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of conviction.
DR10 – Driving, or attempting to drive, with alcohol level above limit
This is the most common drink driving conviction. Any drink driving offence is a matter for the magistrates’ court and any conviction is a criminal one. The potential ramifications of driving while under the influence of alcohol are reflected in the penalties. Certain high-risk offenders must also pass a medical examination before getting their licence back.
The offence codes DR40, DR50, DR60 and DR70 must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence or 4 years from date of conviction where a disqualification is imposed. Penalty points range from 4 to 10, depending on the severity of the offence.
Although there is a legal drink drive limit, it is not possible to assess one’s own blood, breath or urine alcohol level without specialist equipment. Moreover, the amount of alcohol it takes to put an individual person over the limit varies widely. It can be influenced by:
- gender
- age
- weight and metabolism
- what and how much alcohol has been drunk
- the time a person last ate
- emotional state.
It is always safest to abstain from alcohol completely when driving.
The legal limit of alcohol for driving in England, Wales and Scotland
In England and Wales, the limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath or 107 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine.
In most other European countries, including Scotland, the limit is lower. Scotland’s limits are 50 milligrammes of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood, and 22 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath
How does a drink-driving conviction affect my insurance?
If you’ve been convicted of drink-driving, you’ll likely have been issued with one of the following insurance codes: DR10, DR30, DR40, DR50 or DR70. If this is the case, you may struggle to find affordable car insurance for some time following your conviction, especially if you received a driving ban.
The length of time these convictions impact your car insurance for depends on the code itself, any driving bans, your age and how long you have been driving. This could only reduce after a few years without repeat offences.
Read more on our blog post Drink-Driving: Here’s What You Need to Know for additional information.
Get a quote for drink-drive car insurance.
Drug Driving offence codes DG10, DG60, DR80, DG40, DG90
There are currently five offence codes relating to drug offences:
- DG10 – Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit
- DG60 – Causing death by careless driving with drug level above the limit
- DR80 – Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs
These three offences can result in between 3 and 11 penalty points, and the codes must stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence, or 4 years from date of conviction where it results in a disqualification.
The last two drug driving offence codes each carry 10 penalty points.
- DG40 – In charge of a vehicle while drug level above specified limit
- DG90 – In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs
The limits that apply to drug driving offences depend on the type of drug taken. Any trace of certain illegal substances automatically classes a driver as over the limit.
Several prescription drugs can also make it illegal to drive. This is information that should be made clear when the medication is prescribed, but anyone in doubt is advised to consult their doctor before driving.
Drug driving offences are punished by a driving ban of a minimum of one year, an unlimited fine, up to six months in prison and between three and eleven penalty points. Needless to say, the offence also attracts a criminal record.
A conviction for drug driving offences could affect your car insurance – find out more.
Disqualified Driver offence codes
BA10 and BA30– Driving / attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court
A driver will usually be disqualification from driving for a certain period of time following a number of offences. This can include drink driving and driving while under the influence of drugs. Driving while disqualified (BA10) or attempting to drive whilst disqualified (BA30) attracts a further six penalty points. Both endorsements will remain on the offender’s driving record for four years from the date of the offence.
More serious offences involve causing death by driving while disqualified (BA40) and causing serious injury by driving while disqualified (BA60). They each carry between 3 and 11 penalty points and stay on your driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction.
Insurance offence codes
The rise of technology and online databases makes it easy for the police to check the insurance status of any vehicle. Checks may even happen on the roadside.
IN10 – Using a vehicle uninsured against third-party risks
This motoring conviction carries six to eight penalty points, and the endorsement will stay on the driving record for four years from the date of the offence.
Anyone who uses a vehicle that is uninsured against third-party risks may also have their vehicle impounded by the police. This happens to over 1,000 drivers every week, many of whom did not realise that they were uninsured.
You could find more affordable insurance with Complete Cover if you have an IN10 conviction.
How to release an impounded car
The driver of an impounded vehicle will receive a seizure notice, which lists the documents needed for having the car returned. This includes a driving licence, proof of ownership and an insurance cover note. While the first two are usually easy to provide, it is necessary to obtain specialist insurance that covers impounded vehicles. This should be done quickly, as the police are only required to keep an impounded car for a minimum of seven days before they can sell or scrap it.
All the requested documents must be presented at the police station. If they are correct, and match the information on the Police National Computer and the Motor Insurance Database, the seizure notice will be stamped. The driver then has a further seven days in which to reclaim their vehicle and pay any necessary costs, which can be high.
Traffic Direction and Signs offence codes
This group of offences, from TS10 to TS70 covers a relatively wide area, including;
- running red traffic lights (TS10)
- Failing to comply with double-white lines (TS20)
- failure to adhere to stop signs (TS30)
Drivers can avoid these and other offences in this group by ensuring they are up to date on the Highway Code. They should also pay close attention to the road around them.
TS10 – Failing to Comply with Traffic Light Signals
This offence carries three penalty points. The endorsement will stay on the driving record for four years from the date it took place. TS10 convictions are easy to incur, due to the high number of traffic light cameras monitoring junctions.
Careless Driving offence codes
There are currently 9 different Careless Driving offence codes from CD10 through to CD90. These range in severity from Driving Without Due Care and Attention (CD10), to more serious offences such as Causing Death through Careless Driving when Unfit Through Drink (CD40) / Drugs (CD50).
- Codes CD10 to CD30 stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence and carry 3 to 9 penalty points
- Codes CD40 to CD70 stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of the conviction and carry 3 to 11 penalty points
- Codes CD80 (causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving) and CD90 (causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers) stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of the conviction and also carry 3 to 11 penalty points.
CD10 – Driving Without Due Care and Attention
This offence carries three to nine penalty points. The endorsement code must stay on the individual’s driving record for eleven years from the date of the conviction.
The same potential penalty applies to Driving Without Reasonable Consideration for Other Road Users (CD20) and also to Driving Without Due Care and Attention or Without Reasonable Consideration for Other Road Users (CD30).
Find out more about car insurance with a Careless Driving conviction.
Dangerous Driving offence codes
Often considered to be among the most serious of motoring offences, Dangerous Driving is rightly taken extremely seriously, particularly when someone is killed as a result. There are currently 5 different offence codes for dangerous driving, ranging from DD10 to DD90, carrying between 3 and 11 penalty points. The most common offence in this category is DD40.
All Dangerous Driving offences will stay on a driving record for 4 years from the date of conviction.
DD40 – Dangerous Driving
This offence carries a possible prison sentence, a minimum period of disqualification from driving and the likelihood of an extended retest. Convicted driver will get between three and eleven penalty points and an endorsement that must stay on their driving record for four years from the date of the conviction.
A DD40 conviction code will also impact significantly on future insurance premiums.
Other offence codes
Other driving offences are less common and tend to pose fewer obstacles when it comes to car insurance. They include:
Accident offence codes
These include:
- failing to stop after an accident (AC10)
- failing to give particulars of an accident or report it within 24 hours of it occurring (AC20)
Offenders committing either of these offences will receive between five and ten penalty points. Offenders who commit an undefined accident offence will receive between four and nine penalty points.
Anyone committing any accident offence will carry the relevant endorsement code on their driving record for four years from the date of the offence.
Licence offence codes
They include driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence (LC20). Licence-related offences carry three to six penalty points and the relevant endorsement codes must stay on the offender’s driving record for four years from the date of the offence.
Pedestrian Crossings offence codes
These offences include a contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with a moving or stationary vehicle (PC10, PC20 or PC30). They carry three penalty points.
The relevant endorsement codes must stay on an offender’s driving record for four years from the date of the offence.
Special and Miscellaneous offence codes
These offences include leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position (MS10) and refusing to submit to an eyesight test (MS80). They carry between two and eleven penalty points, depending on the nature of the offence.
The relevant endorsement codes must stay on an offender’s driving record for four years from the date of the offence.
How Complete Cover Group can help
If you have received any kind of motoring conviction, or you have one pending, car insurance is not necessarily going to be at the front of your mind. However, as others in your situation have found, you can expect a rise in premiums at best. At worst, you can be refused insurance altogether.
Fortunately, this is an issue that some insurers have woken up to. Complete Cover Group doesn’t assume that a motoring conviction automatically makes a driver unworthy of future insurance. And charging very high premiums isn’t always necessary.
Treating every driver as an individual, we have a panel of specialist insurers who share our belief that past convictions are not necessarily a prediction of future driving behaviour.
We can help you access the best insurance policies and rates currently on the market. You’ll find comprehensive insurance or a third party, fire and theft policy – and always with reputable insurers you can trust.
You’ll even have access to specific insurance schemes for drivers who have the most common motoring-related convictions, including:
- driving while disqualified
- driving without due care and attention
- speeding offences.
Find out how Complete Cover Group can help drivers with motoring convictions find great value, specialist insurance here.
Other articles you may find useful:
- Drug Driving Convictions and Insurance
- UK Drink Driving Law Guide
- Car Insurance Jargon Buster
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