Breaking the law on the road can lead to what is called a driving conviction. Convictions can be offences such as speeding, dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving without insurance. The most serious offences can lead to drivers being banned from driving and receiving hefty fines. More minor offences will see the driver receive points on their licence.
But how do driving convictions impact car insurance? Driving convictions can have a big impact on your life and this includes your ability to get insurance. In this guide, we will answer some key questions surrounding insurance for convicted drivers. So, if you are looking to get yourself some temporary convicted driver insurance, read on.
Can you get temporary insurance as a convicted driver?
You can get temporary car insurance as a convicted driver, depending on your convictions, however, the cost of insurance will be more expensive following a conviction. Read on for more details regarding how motoring convictions impact insurance.
How long does a driving ban affect insurance?
If you have received a driving ban, the consequences will likely be with you for quite a while. A driving disqualification can affect your insurance costs for five years. This is typically how long insurers will ask you about any driving convictions you have had when applying for insurance. So, if you are looking for car insurance after disqualification and have been banned in the past five years, be prepared to inform the insurer about your conviction.
Does criminal conviction affect car insurance?
Regardless of if your criminal conviction is motoring related or not, a criminal record will affect your car insurance costs. This is simply because insurers will see you as a greater risk. So, no matter how far removed your criminal conviction is from driving, it will matter to your insurer when it comes to your policy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, high-risk car insurance is going to cost you more than if you have a clean record.
Do you have to tell your insurance if you get points?
Legally you must tell your insurance company if you receive penalty points on your driving license. If you fail to do so you will be committing an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1998. Further still, if you fail to disclose your points and then make an insurance claim, your provider could refuse to pay your claim. So, no matter if you are applying for one day car insurance or an annual policy, make sure to inform your chosen provider about any points attached to your license.
Do car insurance companies check convictions?
All driving license data is held by the Driver and Vehicles Licensing Agency (DVLA) and this includes points on your license. Insurers will have access to this database so if you lie about your convictions when applying for a quote, the company will find out and your policy will be invalid. As a result, not disclosing your convictions isn’t a risk worth taking.
What happens if you don’t declare driving convictions?
You only have to declare driving convictions if asked. The insurance company will ask about the information they need to give you a policy and this will include details about convictions and points. However, you don’t have to declare ‘spent’ convictions. Driving convictions are considered spent after five years. If you don’t declare your unspent driving convictions, however, your policy will become invalid, and the insurer could ask for their money back if you have already made a claim.
How long do you have to declare drink driving on insurance?
If you have been convicted for drink driving, you will have to declare this conviction to an insurer for five years. The conviction will remain on your license for 11 years, however, after five years driving convictions are considered ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. There is no need to declare spent convictions to your insurer.
How much does car insurance go up after drink driving?
It is common for your insurance premium to at least double after a drink driving conviction. Drink driving is a serious offence and will have a big impact on your insurance as a result. This is because insurers will now see you as a high-risk driver. Some insurers may refuse to insure you at all and when you can find cover, the policy will be far more expensive than you are used to. Most insurers will not only up your premium but also require you to pay a larger voluntary excess.
Can you get van insurance with a criminal conviction?
You can get van insurance with a criminal conviction but having a conviction on your record can make it much more difficult to get covered. Any criminal conviction, even non-motoring ones can make it difficult to get van insurance. When you find a provider that is willing to cover you, however, expect to pay significantly more than someone without any convictions. As a reminder, you do not have to declare ‘spent’ convictions when applying for van insurance.
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