How to Get the Cheapest Insurance with Unspent Convictions?

If you are one of the many motorists hoping to find out how to get the cheapest insurance with unspent criminal convictions, this post is for you.

I delve into the reasons why driving convictions can set back a bomb and how you may be able to mitigate the cost in my post!

How to find the cheapest insurance with a conviction

If you’ve got a conviction or points, getting insurance through a standard provider could be more expensive. 

You might find cheaper deals through specialist insurers.

I’ve partnered with Quotezone who can help you find the best insurance specifically for convicted drivers with points.

Fill out the simple form below to find great quotes for convicted drivers today. 

How does a conviction affect my insurance?

All driving convictions are serious offences but some merit more penalties than others.

For example, a minor driving offence could earn you a Fixed Penalty Notice and maybe a court hearing. Whereas other more serious offences get you disqualified, fined and the chance of being sent to prison!

If you’re convicted of driving while drunk and seriously injuring someone, the penalties are extremely severe. And rightly so!

In short, the cost to insure a vehicle with an unspent conviction could set you back more than you could imagine. Plus the likelihood of finding cheap car insurance is slim to none.

What’s the difference between spent and unspent convictions?

Spent convictions no longer appear on your driving record, whereas unspent convictions are still current!

When a conviction is spent, insurers should not up your insurance premium because it’s no longer an issue.

What is an unspent conviction for car insurance?

An unspent conviction remains on your driving record for 4 to 11 years depending on the seriousness of the offence. It will impact your insurance premium for that amount of time.

Don’t get ripped off by insurance companies

Getting affordable car insurance with a conviction or points can feel impossible, especially if you’re using standard comparison websites. 

Luckily, there are some specialist insurers out there… you just need to know where to find them!

I’ve partnered with Quotezone to provide access to some of the best specialist convicted drivers’ insurance deals available.

GET A QUOTE

In partnership with QuoteZone

Do you have to declare unspent convictions?

Yes. But only if the insurer asks you about any convictions you’ve received in the last 5 years.

In short, you don’t have to disclose convictions that are deemed spent.

That said, when you renew a policy or you seek car insurance from another provider, you’ll be asked about current convictions. In which case, you must tell them if you’ve got any on your licence!

When do you have to declare unspent convictions to insurance providers?

If you get a driving conviction midway through the term of an insurance policy, you don’t have to tell your current insurer.

However, you must tell them when you renew a policy or apply for insurance from a new provider!

Check out this question that one motorist asked on a popular forum:

Source: Moneysavingexpert

Why am I asked about convictions?

Penalty points, endorsements and driving convictions all contribute to how car insurers calculate your risk value. But so do other things which insurers factor into how risky it would be to insure you.

For example, they’d take into account the following:

• Your age
• How long you’ve held a full licence
• The category of car you drive
• The level of insurance cover you’re seeking

Why do criminal convictions affect the cost of car insurance?

Criminal convictions affect the cost of your car insurance because insurers think of you as high-risk!

As such, you’d have little to no chance of sourcing cheap car insurance when you’ve got current convictions!

A current insurer may choose not to renew a policy and you may find it hard to find another provider!

You may only have a couple of options which is to speak to a specialist insurance company or a broker!

What happens if you don’t declare criminal convictions on car insurance?

If you don’t tell a car insurance provider about an unspent conviction and you get found out, it could invalidate your policy. In short, you’d be driving on a public road without mandatory vehicle insurance.

If you’re stopped by the police or involved in a road traffic accident, the insurer won’t cover you. Moreover, you could be prosecuted and have your car seized!

How long do convictions stay on insurance?

Driving convictions can stay on your record for 4 or 11 years. The more serious the offence, the longer the conviction remains on your driving record.

A good example is when you’re caught drink-driving which is an extremely serious offence that remains on your record for 11 years!

If you’re caught speeding, you may get a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) which remains on your driving record for 4 years!

Can insurance companies check previous convictions?

Vehicle insurance companies must get your permission before they can check whether you have any criminal convictions. They typically rely on you telling them whether you have any or not!

Can I get car insurance with a pending conviction?

Your insurance premium may be a lot more expensive if you’ve got a pending conviction on the horizon. Mainstream vehicle insurance companies may refuse you cover which means cheaper deals are no longer available.

How do I know whether my convictions are spent?

The DVLA holds all your driving records which you can view online to check whether a conviction is spent or not.

How can I get cheaper criminal convictions car insurance?

Getting insurance from a mainstream insurer may no longer be an option when you have current convictions.

That said, you could contact specialist providers. They are typically more willing to provide non-standard insurance.

Alternatively, you could speak to an insurance broker to see if they can come up with more affordable car insurance premiums.

How can I get car insurance if I have a criminal conviction?

You may not be able to find cheap car insurance for banned drivers, but you could get a better deal by contacting a broker.

Alternatively, you could speak to several specialist insurance providers. By shopping around, you’ll likely find the most competitive quotes.

These specialist insurers offer non-standard policies and although you’ll pay more, it’s an option worth considering. They have experience in finding insurance for people with criminal convictions.

Can I put someone else down as the main driver?

It’s not a good idea to put someone else down as a main driver if you’ve got convictions.

It’s called car insurance fronting when you pretend you’re not the main driver. Moreover, you could be prosecuted for doing this because it’s against the law!

How do convictions affect other parties on a policy?

If you’re a named driver on a policy and the main driver gets a conviction, you’ll also suffer the consequences.

The main driver’s policy could be terminated if the conviction is serious enough. Moreover, an affordable premium could no longer be an option!

Will a conviction affect my ability to make a claim?

Provided you’ve been honest with your insurer about any driving convictions you have, it should not affect any insurance claims you make further down the line!

What are my options if I’m refused cover?

If a mainstream insurer refuses to provide you with cover, you could speak to a vehicle insurance broker to see if they can help.

Alternatively, you could contact several specialist vehicle insurance companies to see if they will offer you a more competitive quote.

What can I do if my insurance provider refuses to pay a claim?

If you didn’t declare a conviction to an insurer, chances are they will refuse to pay a claim. However, if you were honest, there’s no reason for them to refuse it. 

As such, you should speak to their complaints department or write a formal letter of complaint. This should be handled in a timely manner by the insurer’s internal complaints department.

What is Continuous Insurance Enforcement?

You are legally obliged to hold valid car insurance if you use a vehicle on public roads. You must also have insurance if you park your car on a public road, but do not use the vehicle!

However, you don’t need insurance if you declare the vehicle as off the road (SORN) which is known as ‘continuous insurance enforcement’.

What is the National Driving Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS)?

Drivers convicted of a motoring offence can be offered an alternative to prosecution in the form of The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS). 

How much will car insurance with unspent convictions cost?

An unspent criminal conviction could see your insurance premium going up by over 100% depending on the seriousness of the driving offence.

Affordable Convicted Driver Insurance

To help you avoid some of the ludicrously expensive packages out there and actually find something reasonable I’ve partnered with Quotezone.

They bring together some of the best specialist deals for convicted drivers to make your search easier. 

Try it below.

GET STARTED

In partnership with QuoteZone

What if I lie about a criminal conviction?

If you lie to an insurer about a criminal conviction when they’ve asked you about it, they could terminate your policy.

Not only this, but an insurance company may also start legal proceedings against you for committing fraud!

What if I have a van?

If you’ve received a criminal conviction for a driving offence and you own a van, you may find it hard to get affordable insurance coverage.

You could do several things to keep a premium lower which include the following:

• Increasing the voluntary excess
• Paying annually rather than monthly
• Parking your van in a safe place
• Opting for a smaller van
• Enrolling in a driving course