How to Reduce Car Insurance Costs After a Driving Conviction

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  • Discover how a conviction changes the price of your car insurance policy.
  • Explore practical ways to lower insurance costs after a driving ban.
  • Get helpful tips for young drivers, high-risk motorists, and special car insurance policies.

How Driving Convictions Affect Car Insurance Costs

A driving conviction can lead to a big increase in your insurance costs.

Insurance companies view motorists with convictions as more risky. Because of this, convicted driver insurance policies usually cost more.

Type of Conviction Estimated Premium Increase
Speeding 10%–30%
Dangerous driving 100%–300%
Drink or drug driving 150%–350%

The cost of your car insurance depends on:

  • The number of points on your driving licence
  • The seriousness of the offence
  • How long ago the conviction happened

Fact: According to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, driving convictions usually become spent after 5 years. This means these convictions do not impact insurance quotes anymore.

Choose a Lower-Risk Car to Save Money

The type of car you drive can greatly impact your insurance rates.

Cars that belong to lower insurance groups cost less to insure. Keep an eye out for:

  • Smaller engines (less than 1.4L)
  • Basic safety features
  • No changes or tuning
Insurance Group Typical Vehicle
1–10 Small hatchbacks like Ford Fiesta
11–20 Family saloons like Vauxhall Astra
21–50 High-powered cars like BMW 3 Series

If you still have a criminal record, driving a car in a lower insurance group could help you save hundreds of pounds every year.

Choose a Lower-Risk Car to Save Money

Install a Black Box to Prove Safe Driving Habits

A black box insurance policy, known as telematics insurance, tracks your driving habits. It keeps a record of how and when you drive.

Key points insurers measure include:

  • Speed
  • Acceleration
  • Time of day you drive
  • Braking habits

Drivers who drive safely can pay less for insurance over time.

Fact: According to reviews from the Financial Conduct Authority, black box insurance policies can help careful convicted drivers save up to 40% on their premiums.

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Increase Your Voluntary Excess

Raising your voluntary excess is a simple way to lower the price of your insurance policy.

By agreeing to pay more towards a claim:

  • Your insurer thinks you will claim less.
  • Monthly or yearly premiums are lower.

Always choose your voluntary excess at an amount you can pay if you have to make a claim.

Pay Annually Rather Than Monthly

Paying for your insurance all at once instead of every month can help you save some cash.

Monthly payment plans usually have interest rates between 6% and 15% APR. If convicted drivers make a payment just once a year, they can save up to £100, depending on the insurer.

Reduce Your Mileage and Use a Private Driveway

Insurance companies often give discounts to drivers who:

  • Drive less miles each year.
  • Park on a private driveway instead of on the road.
Reduce Your Mileage and Use a Private Driveway

If your driving habits change after you get a conviction, letting your insurer know can help you get a lower price.

Annual Mileage Impact on Premiums
Under 5,000 miles Cheaper premiums
5,001–10,000 miles Standard premiums
Over 10,000 miles Higher premiums

Complete an Advanced Driving Course

Some insurance companies accept advanced driving qualifications.

Completing an approved advanced driving course can:

  • Make it clear that you want to improve.
  • Assist in reducing insurance costs.
  • Create a better driving record.

Check with your insurance provider to see if they give discounts for completing a recognised course.

Fact: Taking an advanced driving course can reduce insurance costs by 5% to 20%. The amount depends on the insurer and the kind of course.

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Work With Specialist Insurers

Specialist insurers help drivers who have been convicted to find better insurance policies.

They offer:

  • Acceptance criteria that are more flexible
  • Policies designed for various conviction codes
  • Better access to options for convicted car insurance

Specialist convicted driver insurance providers know individual situations more deeply than regular insurers.

How Long Will a Conviction Affect Car Insurance?

Driving Conviction Effect on Insurance Time to Become Spent
Minor speeding Small increase 5 years
Dangerous driving Major increase 5 years
Drink or drug driving Major increase 5 years

Insurance companies typically want to know about any driving convictions you have had in the last 5 years. After this period, you are usually seen as a regular driver. This is unless your criminal record includes serious offences.

Does the Type of Conviction Change How Much You Pay?

Not every conviction impacts insurance rates in the same manner.

Convictions are sorted into categories based on how serious they are:

Conviction Code Offence Type Impact on Premiums
SP30 Minor speeding Low
CD10 Careless driving Moderate
DR10 Drink driving High
DD40 Dangerous driving Very high
Does the Type of Conviction Change How Much You Pay

Minor convictions, such as speeding just under 10mph over the limit, often don't affect you much. Major convictions, like dangerous driving, can make your insurance costs double or even triple.

Fact: If you drive without insurance (IN10), it can make your car insurance cost 50% to 150% more than if you have a clean licence.

Is It Better to Declare Spent Convictions Voluntarily?

Once a conviction is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, you do not have to tell insurance companies about it.

However:

  • Telling insurers about your spent convictions can be good for showing honesty.
  • Most insurers only want to know about unspent convictions.

If your insurer asks about convictions, only mention those from the last 5 years. You can leave out any older offences.

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Why Insurers See Convicted Drivers as High Risk

Insurers figure out insurance costs by looking at how likely claims are to happen. Drivers who have been convicted usually make more claims or have claims that are worth more.

Factors considered by insurers:

  • Number of penalty points
  • Type of car
  • Severity of the offence
  • Date of the conviction
  • Driving habits after the ban or offence

A single driving offence can show that a person has risky behaviour. This leads insurance providers to charge higher premiums.

How Often Should You Compare Insurance After a Conviction?

You should look at different convicted driver insurance policies.

  • At every renewal
  • Every 6 to 12 months
  • Whenever your situation changes (such as finishing a driving course)

New specialist insurers usually have better deals for motorists who have older driving convictions. By shopping around regularly, you can find the best value coverage.

How to Choose the Best Policy After a Conviction

The best policy after a conviction depends on your situation.

Look for policies that offer:

  • Basic third-party cover is the cheapest option you can get.
  • Choose third-party, fire, and theft for more security.
  • A fully comprehensive plan is good if you can find rates that are affordable.

Some drivers with convictions may find that fully comprehensive cover is cheaper. This is because it shows insurance companies that you are less likely to take risks.

Tips for Young Drivers With Driving Convictions

Young drivers already pay more for car insurance. A conviction makes it even tougher to find cheap car insurance.

How to Choose the Best Policy After a Conviction

Tips for young convicted drivers:

  • Use black box insurance to show you are a safe driver.
  • Choose to drive a smaller, weaker car.
  • Add a more experienced driver as a named driver, not the main driver.
  • Reduce the number of miles you drive each year.
  • Park in a garage or on a private driveway at night.

Choosing these strategies can help young drivers who have driving convictions save a lot of money each year.

FAQs About Reducing Insurance Costs After a Conviction

Use a comparison site that connects to specialist insurers. Search for black box insurance and select a car that is low-risk.

The more penalty points you have, the higher your insurance costs will be.

Yes. A telematics policy and setting a limit on yearly mileage can help young drivers save money.

Unspent convictions usually raise costs. This is true, especially when they relate to dangerous driving or drink driving.

Pick the right type of cover. Raise your extra cost that you pay. Work with a special insurer.

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Page last updated on: 22/09/2025

Page reviewed by: Shay Ramani

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