Get Cheap Car Insurance As A Convicted Driver - All Codes

Having a conviction or penalty points on your driving record can make finding cheap car insurance seem tough.

But don’t worry, we are here to help. Each month, over 1,000 people visit our blog to learn about insurance options after a driving conviction.

In this guide, we’ll help you:

Learn what penalty points mean for your car insurance
Understand if penalty points will make car insurance too costly
Find out if insurance providers need to know about your driving record
Discover how to find affordable car insurance with penalty points
Decide which car to get after a driving conviction

We know that it’s hard, but our aim is to show you that finding affordable insurance is not impossible. We’re here to help you make sense of it all and find a way forward.

Will Penalty Points Make Car Insurance Unaffordable?

Penalty points will increase the cost of your car insurance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll become unaffordable.

From my own research, I can tell you that your car insurance is likely to increase by at least 25% as soon as you get points on your license. This is the most dramatic increase that you’re likely to see on your insurance. Extra points and convictions will increase the cost of your premiums, but not as much as this initial step up.

Keep in mind that this isn’t personal. There isn’t someone sitting at a desk reading your file and working out how risky you are. It’s all computer-generated. The information that you provide these insurance companies groups you with people who have inputted similar information.

Those who have similar information or driving histories are usually a similar risk to the insurance company. The biggest indicator of risk for the insurance company is a history of penalty points or driving convictions. Basically, you’re going to be put in the same group as other people with your conviction codes. This group are all going to have premiums that are similar costs.

I’ll go into more detail in a moment, but other common risk factors that are associated with risky and, therefore, expensive drivers include your car’s make and model, and your age. Even without any convictions, a 20-year-old driving a BMW 1 Series with modifications will have more expensive insurance than a 40-year-old driving a Skoda.

But what does this mean? Well, you might be able to make your insurance a bit cheaper by limiting the number or risk categories that you fall into. Swapping your car for a less powerful model could be your first step.

What Do Penalty Points Mean For My Car Insurance?

If you have ever got a few penalty points or even a conviction on your driving record, you might have noticed that your car insurance bill is looking a bit scarier. You might even have found that some insurance companies won’t consider giving you a policy at all.

This happens because car insurance companies calculate the cost of your premiums based on how much of a risk you are. So, if you have a few endorsements to your name – endorsements are penalty points, etc. – car insurers assume that you are more likely to make an expensive claim on your insurance.

You could argue that this is just common sense. Anyone who commits driving offences regularly drives a bit dangerously, so is more likely to be involved in a collision. Someone with a clean record, on the other hand, is much more likely to drive safely with respect for the law and other road users.

Usually, you need to disclose your conviction codes when you renew or start a new policy. From this code, your insurers will know what your conviction is and how much of a perceived risk you pose. If your insurance premiums are going to get more expensive, they’re going to get more expensive now.

Will points ruin my insurance?

Points	Insurance increase
3 Points	5%
6 Points	25%+
10-12 Points	80%+

The best way to find better deals is to use companies who specialise in insuring drivers with convictions and points.

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Do My Insurance Providers Need to Know About My Driving Record?

You need to tell your insurance company about any points or convictions on your driving record. It’s a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1998 to deliberately not tell your insurance company, especially if they ask you directly.

You can’t not tell anyone and cross your fingers that your insurance is cheap! Withholding this vital information can be classed as misrepresentation, which will invalidate your insurance on top of being illegal.

Checking the terms of your contract is a good idea because you don’t always have to tell your insurance company immediately. It’s quite common to only need to tell your insurance company when you renew your policy or start a new one.

But you need to tell your insurers immediately if you are banned from driving. Bans typically happen after you have racked up 12 points or more in a 3-year window. It’s actually illegal to not tell your insurance company when you’ve been banned.

Fortunately, spent convictions will not have an impact on your car insurance. You don’t have to tell your insurers about your spent driving convictions, even if they ask.

Which Driving Convictions Have the Biggest Impact On My Insurance?

Driving convictions are not all equal, and some will show you as a more dangerous driver than others. This can mean that some conviction codes have a bigger impact on your insurance than others.

Here is my quick breakdown of conviction codes and how they are likely to impact your insurance.

Most Significant Impact

Your insurance is going to be most affected by careless driving offences. Drink and drug-related offences are also very serious and will have a similar impact.

People have the most issues finding insurance if they have these conviction codes. If you do find insurance, be prepared to pay high premiums with a high excess.

The following offences are visible on your driving record for 11 years and will impact your insurance during this time.

Code	Category	Offence	Points
CD40	Careless Driving	Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink	3 to 11
CD50	Careless Driving	Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs	3 to 11
CD60	Careless Driving	Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit	3 to 11
CD70	Careless Driving	Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcohol analysis	3 to 11
DR10	Drinking Offences	Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit	3 to 11
DR20	Drinking Offences	Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink	3 to 11
DR30	Drinking Offences	Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis	3 to 11
DR31	Drinking Offences	Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity	3 to 11
DR61	Drinking Offences	Refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive	10
DG10	Drug Offences	Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above specified limit	3 to 11
DG60	Drug Offences	Causing death by careless driving with drug level above the limit	3 to 11
DR80	Drug Offences	Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs	3 to 11

Other offences have a similar impact on your insurance as the above, but are visible for 4 years.

Code	Category	Offence	Points
BA40	Disqualified Driver	Causing death by driving while disqualified	3 to 11
BA60	Disqualified Driver	Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified	3 to 11
CD10	Careless Driving	Driving without due care and attention	3 to 9
CD20	Careless Driving	Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users	3 to 9
CD30	Careless Driving	Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users	3 to 9
CD33	Careless Driving	Causing injury by careless or inconsiderate driving	3 to 9
CD80	Careless Driving	Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving	3 to 11
CD90	Careless Driving	Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified, or uninsured drivers	3 to 11
DR50	Drinking Offences	In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink	10
DR60	Drinking Offences	Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive	10
DG40	Drug Offences	Incharge of a vehcile while drug level above specified limit	10
DR90	Drug Offences	In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs	10
DD10	Reckless/Dangerous Driving	Causing serious injury by dangerous driving	3 to 11
DD40	Reckless/Dangerous Driving	Dangerous driving	3 to 11
DD60	Reckless/Dangerous Driving	Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle	3 to 11
DD80	Reckless/Dangerous Driving	Causing death by dangerous driving	3 to 11
DD90	Reckless/Dangerous Driving	Furious driving	3 to 9
AC10	Accident Offences	Failing to stop after an accident	5 to 10
AC20	Accident Offences	Failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours	5 to 10
AC30	Accident Offences	Undefined accident offences	4 to 9
IN10	Insurances Offences	Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks	6 to 8

Does Speeding Affect My Insurance?

Yes, getting caught speeding can affect your insurance. Penalty points will be added to your record each time you’re caught. Too many points, and you’re disqualified altogether.

Speeding convictions are visible on your driving record for 4 years.

Code	Category	Offence	Points
SP10	Speeding Offences	Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits	3 to 6
SP20	Speeding Offences	Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles)	3 to 6
SP30	Speeding Offences	Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road	3 to 6
SP40	Speeding Offences	Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit	3 to 6
SP50	Speeding Offences	Exceeding speed limit on a motorway	3 to 6

Will Other Conviction Codes Affect My Insurance?

There are a few other common conviction codes that you need to be aware of. Many of these convictions won’t impact your insurance as severely, but there can be a change to your premiums.

Code	Category	Offence	Points
BA10	Disqualified Driver	Driving while disqualified by order of court	6
BA20	Disqualified Driver	Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court	6
CU10	Construction and Use Offences	Using a vehicle with defective brakes	3
CU20	Construction and Use Offences	Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle with parts or accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition	3
CU30	Construction and Use Offences	Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s)	3
CU40	Construction and Use Offences	Using a vehicle with defective steering	3
CU50	Construction and Use Offences	Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers	3
CU80	Construction and Use Offences	Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone	3 to 6
DR70	Drug Offences	Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test	4
TT99	Special Code	Disqualification under ‘totting-up’ – once the total number of penalty points reaches 12 or more in 3 years, the driver will be disqualified	N/A

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How Do I Find Cheap Car Insurance With Penalty Points?

Trying to find insurance after a driving conviction or penalty points can be a nightmare. It’s expensive, and some companies won’t deal with you at all. What do you do?

Well, from what I’ve seen, your best bet is to shop around as much as possible. Getting as many quotes from as many different insurance providers as possible will help increase the likelihood that you snag a good deal.

Remember, each insurance company has its own rules and rates. So, a certain conviction might bump up your rate more with one company than another. Keep looking, and you just might find the best deal for you!

Aside from shopping around, here are some other things that you can do to help lower the cost of your car insurance:

Get a different car: As I mentioned above, BMW 1 Series with modifications are more expensive to insure than Skodas, no matter how old you are. It might be drastic, but a cheaper insurance group for your car can make a massive difference to the cost of your insurance.

Black box insurance: You can give your insurance provider more information about your driving style by installing a black box. Black boxes or telematics monitor your driving and how well you stick to the Highway Code and other road laws. The more information they have on you, the less your perceived risk, and the cheaper your insurance should be.
Add extra drivers to your policy: Adding an experienced driver with a clean record to your policy can help lower your premiums, especially for young drivers. Getting an experienced driver on your car means that you are driving for fewer miles, meaning that there is less ‘risky driving’ happening in the eyes of your insurance provider.
Taking the Pass Plus or RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders Test: Successful advanced driving tests can lower your premiums as they prove that you are a well-informed driver.

Which Car Should I Get After A Driving Conviction?

As I’ve already talked about, downgrading your car is a drastic but effective way to get cheaper insurance. But which ones are the cheapest? If you’re going to commit to giving up your car, the savings had better be brilliant!

Here are a few cars that are some of the cheapest to insure: