Drivers

Convicted car insurance explained

What convicted driver car insurance is, what it usually covers, why it can cost more and why you must tell insurers about your motoring convictions.

Convicted car insurance is car insurance for people who have been convicted of driving offences, such as drink driving, careless or dangerous driving, or speeding. A conviction can lead to higher premiums, and some insurers may decline to cover you or cancel an existing policy.

What convicted car insurance covers

A convicted driver policy covers the same kinds of risk as any other car insurance, including:

1. Road risks

Cover for the car while it is driven on public roads. Depending on the level of cover, this may include accidental damage, theft and fire.

2. Liability cover

Cover if you accidentally injure someone or damage other people's property while driving. Third party cover is the minimum the law requires to drive on UK roads.

3. Personal accident cover

Some policies include, or offer as an extra, cover for the driver and passengers if they are injured or killed in an accident.

Why it can cost more

Insurers price policies on risk, and a driving conviction suggests a higher chance of a claim. As a result, convicted car insurance can cost more than cover for drivers without convictions. Insurers may also set extra conditions, such as a higher excess, which is the amount you pay towards any claim.

How much a conviction affects your premium usually depends on the type of offence, how recent it was and how many penalty points you have.

Telling your insurer about convictions

If you have driving convictions, you must disclose them when an insurer asks. Leaving them out can mean a claim is refused or the policy is cancelled. You can check the endorsements on your licence on GOV.UK.

Bringing your costs down over time

It may help to look at more than one policy and to compare the cover as well as the price. Over time, a clean record helps: as convictions get older and drop out of the period insurers ask about, your premium may come down. Some drivers also choose to take further driver training.

At Kompare we help drivers with convictions. You fill in a short form, and a specialist FCA-authorised broker from our panel contacts you to talk through quotes. See our convicted driver insurance page for more.