How do points affect insurance? It’s something people often don’t think about until after they receive points on their license. As well as the short-term consequences of being convicted of a driving violation, like being fined or having to take a retraining course, there will also be long-term implications, a main one being the effect on your car insurance.
How much do points increase you temp insurance by?
There are myriad factors that go into deciding car insurance rates, and one of those is the points on a person’s driving license. A person with points on their license is almost certain to see a rate increase, and some auto insurance companies might not even insure them at all.
However, this is all very dependent on the number of points on a license, and the type of violation that caused those points to be added. There is a very broad points system in the UK, and from car fault accidents to dangerous driving violations, all convictions have different implications on your auto insurance rates.
How much does 3 points increase car insurance by?
With the exception of play street offences, the minimum amount of points you’ll receive on your driving license is three. This is unless you are given the options to take a training course like a defensive driving course, in which case points might not be added to your license.
According to an article by This Is Money, generally speaking, having three points on your license can increase your annual policy by up to as much as £209 a year. Likely not a significant rise, but not an unnoticeable one.
How much does 6 points increase car insurance by?
If you have six points on your license, you’ll certainly have noticed it’s raised your rate significantly. According to The Driving Solicitor, compared to the average 5.1% increase in cost for 1-3 points, having 4-6 points will increase your insurance rates by around 25.8%.
This continues to rise, with 7-9 points giving a 45% increase, and 9-11 a massive 81.9% increase.
In the event of getting points on your license, you may find that having an annual policy is no longer sustainable, especially if you don’t drive every day and share a car with a family member or partner. In that case, a temporary car insurance policy can get you covered for those times you want to drive, but mean you aren’t paying for insurance annually that you won’t use.
How long do you have to declare points for insurance?
When you receive points on your license you legally must declare them to your insurance company or else your policy will be classed as void. Equally, if you choose to apply for an insurance policy with a new company, you’ll need to declare your points then also or that policy will too be void. With a void policy, you will not be able to make any insurance claims in the event of a car accident, and you will be classed as driving uninsured.
Depending on the traffic violation that caused you to receive the points, the points can stay on your record anywhere from 4 to 11 years before they expire. Moving violations like using a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel will set you at the lower end, whereas more serious reckless driving convictions like driving whilst under the influence of drugs will last much longer.
However, regardless of length, you will only need to declare all convictions for five years, as, although they stay on your record for the full time before they expire, they are deemed ‘spent’ after five years and cannot be used against you.
Depending on the insurance company, you may be asked to declare your points, or they may be checked automatically by the insurer. In the case that you do not know how many points you have, you can view your driving license record online.
Do I have to declare expired points to insurance companies?
Once your points are expired you do not have to declare them to any insurers. Furthermore, for longer convictions, you’ll only need to declare the points for the first five years, as after that they are deemed ‘spent’, although they will stay on your license.
If you have found your annual insurance policy rates have risen since gaining points, and you are wondering whether you should continue your policy, utilising temp cover can mean you are insured for the periods you need to use a car but don’t need to pay for cover you simply won’t be using. Perfect for assisting with the driving on a long journey, or if you need to borrow a car from a loved one for work for a week, a temporary policy can mean you only pay for exactly what you use. And, if you finish with your policy early, we’ll even refund you the difference.
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