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Convictions Car Insurance Comparison

  • Car insurance for DR10 to DR70 convictions
  • Get coverage after a DR10–DR70 drink or drug driving offence
  • Compare insurers for DR10–DR70 convicted driver insurance

What Is a Drink or Drug Driving Conviction?

A drink driving or drug driving conviction happens when a driver exceeds the legal limit for alcohol or drugs while in charge of a vehicle. This is a serious offence. It can result in penalty points, a driving ban, increased insurance premiums, and even jail time.

Under UK law, the alcohol legal limit for driving is:

Measurement Legal Limit in England, Wales & Northern Ireland Legal Limit in Scotland
Millilitres of blood 80mg per 100ml 50mg per 100ml
Millilitres of breath 35µg per 100ml 22µg per 100ml
Millilitres of urine 107mg per 100ml 67mg per 100ml

Fact: Scotland's legal limit for alcohol is lower than in England and Wales. This means that in Scotland, drivers can face charges for being over the legal limit at a lower alcohol level.

Drink and Drug Driving Conviction Codes and Penalties

Conviction Code Offence Penalty Points Licence Endorsement Duration
DR10 Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit 3 - 11 11 years
DR20 Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink 3 - 11 11 years
DR30 Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drugs 3 - 11 11 years
DR31 Driving or attempting to drive, refusing to provide a specimen 3 - 11 11 years
DR40 In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit 10 4 years
DR50 In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink 10 4 years
DR60 In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drugs 10 4 years
DR61 Refusing to provide a specimen while in charge of a vehicle 10 4 years
DR70 Failing to co-operate with roadside breath test 4 4 years

Fact: A DR10 conviction stays on a driver’s driving licence for 11 years. This makes it tougher to get standard car insurance.

How a Drink or Drug Driving Conviction Affects Car Insurance

Having a record of drink driving or drug driving can make it tough to find cheap car insurance. Insurance providers view drink drivers as high risk. This results in:

  • Higher car insurance costs – Your insurance payments may go up by 100% to 300%.
  • Few insurer choices – Many insurance companies will not cover drivers with a DR10 – DR70 conviction.
  • Increased voluntary excess needs – Some insurers might only offer third-party coverage if you accept a high excess.
  • Black box insurance policies – A few insurers may require you to have a telematics policy to monitor your driving habits.
How a Drink or Drug Driving Conviction Affects Car Insurance

Estimated Cost Increase for Drink or Drug Driving Car Insurance

Conviction Type Average Monthly Premium Before Conviction (£) Average Monthly Premium After Conviction (£) Percentage Increase
Standard UK Driver (No Convictions) £40 - £90 £80 - £180 100% - 150%
Convicted Driver (DR10, DR20, DR70) £60 - £140 £150 - £300 150% - 250%
Convicted Driver (DR30, DR40, DR50, DR60, DR61) £120 - £200 £250 - £450 200% - 300%

Tip: A smart way to lower insurance costs after a drink driving conviction is to look at policies from brokers who specialise in high-risk drivers.

How the Date of Conviction Affects Insurance Premiums

The date of conviction is key when deciding car insurance costs. A recent drink driving or drug driving conviction can result in a higher premium. Insurance providers view this as a bigger risk.

How Long Does a Drink Driving Conviction Affect Car Insurance?

A DR conviction stays on a driving licence for 11 years, but most insurers only consider it for 5 years when calculating premiums.

Age of Conviction Insurance Impact Availability of Best Deals
Less than 1 year old Highest increase (150% - 300%) Limited insurer options, best price unavailable
1 - 3 years old Moderate increase (80% - 150%) More insurers available, but high premiums
3 - 5 years old Mild increase (40% - 80%) Possible to find better deals
5+ years old Minimal increase (10% - 40%) Best deal available, some insurers may ignore conviction

Tip: The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act says that drivers must share a drink driving conviction when applying for car insurance. They need to do this for five years. However, the conviction will stay on their driving record for 11 years.

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How Mileage and Personal Circumstances Affect Car Insurance Costs

Your personal situation, like mileage, how often you use your vehicle, and what type of insurance you have, can greatly impact your car insurance quotes after a disqualification. If you have a conviction, you can sometimes lower your insurance premiums by changing some of these factors.

How Different Factors Affect Insurance Costs

Factor Impact on Insurance Premiums
Mileage Higher mileage increases risk, leading to higher premiums
Third-party only insurance Often cheaper for convicted drivers, but provides less coverage
SORN declaration Declaring a car as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) means no insurance is required
Careless driving history Any previous careless driving offences raise premiums further
Alcohol limit exceeded Higher alcohol levels at conviction may result in longer bans and higher premiums
How Mileage and Personal Circumstances Affect Car Insurance Costs

How SORN Affects Insurance for Convicted Drivers

A Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) is a statement from the DVLA. It shows that a vehicle is not being used. This means the vehicle does not need insurance or road tax. A SORN can help drink drivers who cannot drive right now but wish to insure their vehicle in the future.

Fact: If you have a SORN vehicle, you do not need insurance. But, if you want to drive again, you have to inform the DVLA. You also need to get a new insurance policy before driving your car on public roads.

How a Drink or Drug Driving Conviction Compares to Other Offences

Conviction Code Offence Penalty Points Impact on Insurance Premium
DR10 Driving with alcohol level above legal limit 3 - 11 150% - 250% increase
DR30 Driving while unfit through drugs 3 - 11 200% - 300% increase
IN10 Driving without insurance 6 - 8 50% - 100% increase
SP30 Speeding 3 - 6 10% - 50% increase
DD40 Dangerous driving 3 - 11 100% - 200% increase

Tip: If a driver doesn't take a breath test or blood sample, they may receive a DR70 or DR61 endorsement. This can cause their insurance costs to increase even more.

How to Get Car Insurance After a Drink or Drug Driving Conviction

Drivers with a drink driving or drug driving conviction can still find convicted driver insurance. Yet, they must take some extra steps to improve their chances of getting affordable coverage.

Steps to Reduce Car Insurance Costs After a Drink or Drug Driving Conviction

  • Compare insurance providers for convicted drivers – Some companies specialise in high-risk drivers.
  • Take a drink driving rehabilitation course – This can help you reduce a driving ban and save on insurance costs.
  • Choose black box insurance – A telematics policy allows insurers to assess your risk by how you drive.
  • Raise voluntary excess – A higher excess may lower your insurance rates.
  • Avoid more driving offences – Keeping a clean driving record after a conviction will help you find a better deal.
  • Think about a third-party policy – Some insurers only offer third-party cover for drivers with endorsements.

Fact: A driving rehabilitation course can reduce a drink driving ban by up to 25%.

FAQs About Drink and Drug Driving Car Insurance

Yes, but you will need to work with insurance providers that help high-risk drivers.

A DR10 conviction can increase your insurance premiums by 150% to 250%. How much it goes up depends on the seriousness of the offence.

A drink driving conviction will stay on your driving record for 11 years. However, insurance companies often consider it for only 5 years.

Some insurance companies will offer you lower rates if you complete a rehabilitation course and stay out of trouble.

Yes, temporary car insurance for drink drivers is more expensive than regular policies.

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Page last updated on: 15/05/2025

Page reviewed by: Shay Ramani

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