The Cheapest Car Insurance for Drink Drivers After Ban?
Having your licence taken away for drink driving can make you worry about getting affordable car insurance afterwards.
This is a common concern for many people. In fact, every month, over 1,000 people visit this blog looking for guidance on car insurance after a conviction.
In this article, you’ll find helpful tips on:
- How to find cheap car insurance even with a drink driving conviction.
- Understanding the UK’s drink-drive alcohol limits.
- Knowing the penalties for drunk driving in the UK.
- Understanding if car insurance covers drunk drivers.
- How to avoid being overcharged by insurance companies.
We understand how hard it can be to find affordable insurance after a conviction. But with the right knowledge and guidance, it is not impossible to find the right insurance for you.
This article will help you understand your options and make an informed choice for your car insurance. Let’s get started!
Will my insurance go up after a driving ban?
Yes. Your car insurance will go up after a driving ban which stays on your record until it expires!
In short, your car insurance premiums remain high for that length of time. The good news is that over time, a premium could come down provided you show you’re a safe driver and no longer high-risk!
But this could make finding affordable car insurance difficult for a number of years which is one of the consequences linked to drinking driving convictions!
How long does a driving ban affect insurance?
As mentioned, a driving ban will affect your car insurance premium for 5 years as most car insurance companies ask for details of convictions you received over that length of time.
Even when a conviction is spent in 4 years, the insurer will ask you to declare it.
Is it hard to get insurance after drunk driving?
Yes. Having been disqualified from driving for drunk driving, you’ll find getting car insurance extremely challenging.
Insurance companies see you as a high-risk driver and may not be willing to offer you insurance because you’re too much of a liability!
That said, a specialist insurer could offer to insure you under a non-standard insurance policy! You may want to consider shopping around and speaking to insurance brokers too.
How to get car insurance after the drunk driving ban?
As mentioned above, finding insurance after a drunk driving ban is challenging but not impossible. It just means you’re going to pay a higher premium to insure a vehicle.
You could contact several insurance brokers and specialist car insurance companies who may provide a better quote.
In short, you’d have to shop around to find a company willing to insure you.
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.
To see if you can improve you insurance with a free quote, click the button below.
In partnership with Quotezone.
How much is car insurance after drunk driving?
Your car insurance premium could rise by 100% and sometimes more when you’re convicted of drunk driving.
The best deals you may get are through specialist insurers but even then the premium may be high! In short, drunk driver insurance is going to be expensive.
What is the cheapest car to insure after a ban?
There are several car models that fall in the lower insurance group which could bring down the amount you pay for motor insurance.
I’ve included some of the cars worth considering in the list below:
- Volkswagen Up.
- Fiat Panda.
- Vauxhall Corsa hatchback.
- Skoda Citigo.
- Chevrolet Spark.
- Citroen C1.
- Nissan Micra.
- Smart ForFour.
Will drinking and driving invalidate my car insurance?
Your car insurance company is only legally obliged to pay third-party damages if you’re in an accident and drunk in charge of a vehicle.
In short, even if you have comprehensive cover, your insurer will downgrade it to third-party-only when you’re a convicted driver!
Does a drunk driving conviction show up on a DBS check?
When you have a drunk driving conviction on your record, it will be visible to anyone who carries out a DBS check. The record remains visible until it expires!
Does car insurance cover drunk drivers?
Motor insurance companies are only legally obliged to pay out third-party damages if you’re convicted of drunk driving. It’s a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act.
Do I have to tell insurance about drunk driving?
Yes. You are legally obliged to tell your insurance company if you’ve got a drunk driving conviction because they may want to cancel your car insurance policy!
You could be in breach of the law if you fail to tell them about the conviction and may even be prosecuted for attempting to defraud the insurer!
The police could get involved and you could be arrested and prosecuted!
How long do I have to tell insurance about the drunk driving ban?
Drink-driving convictions must be disclosed to insurers for five years which starts from the date of the offence or the conviction.
For younger drivers who are under 18 years of age, the time is halved!
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Find the best insurance for drivers with points
How do I lower my car insurance after a drunk driving ban?
There are things you can do if you’re looking for ways to lower your car insurance with a drunk driving ban on your record.
But as the conviction stays on your record for a long time, you may have to pay more than you used to before getting a drunk driving conviction!
You could:
- Use comparison sites, shop around and contact several specialist insurers
- Pay a higher amount on your voluntary excess
- Opt for third-party insurance cover
- Limit the number of named drivers on a policy
- Do fewer miles annually which reduces the risk of being involved in a road traffic accident
- Secure your vehicle by garaging at night, installing an immobiliser and/or car alarm
- Choose to drive a car that’s in the lower insurance group
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How could I get cheaper drunk driving car insurance?
The best way to lower your car insurance premium once your ban is over is to:
- Think about taking out telematics insurance which insurance companies favour as they can assess how you drive
- Think about reducing your annual mileage
- Consider paying more towards the excess on a policy
- Think about driving a lower insurance group vehicle
- Consider taking out third-party insurance cover
- Think about enrolling in an advanced driver course
- Garage your vehicle at night, fit an alarm or immobiliser
Will a drunk driver rehabilitation course make my insurance cheaper?
Unfortunately, not all car insurance companies view a drunk driver rehabilitation course as something that could reduce your premium.
Some insurers do whereas other insurers won’t, so it’s worth checking which insurer does and which insurer won’t.
More information on unspent convictions
Check out our recent post for more information on unspent convictions and how they will affect your car insurance premium.
