Car Insurance After a Driving Ban: What You Need to Know

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  • Find out how to get driver insurance after a ban ends.
  • Understand how your driving record affects car insurance costs.
  • Learn tips to find the best value driver car insurance after disqualification.

How a Driving Ban Affects Your Car Insurance

A driving ban makes it harder to get car insurance. Insurance companies see banned drivers as a bigger risk. This is because they may have serious offences, like dangerous driving or several penalty points.

Most car insurers will:

  • Raise the premiums a lot.
  • Request complete information about your driving convictions and the date of the conviction.
  • At first, limit your cover options to only the basic levels.
Factor Impact on Car Insurance
Driving ban Up to 200% higher premiums
Dangerous driving offence Specialist insurance needed
Recent conviction Higher insurance costs

Fact: A ban can make your insurance costs go up. Even small things like speeding can increase your premiums more than they were before.

When Can You Reapply for Your Driving Licence?

After your disqualification period is over, you will need to reapply for your driving licence through the DVLA.

You may also need to:

  • Take your driving test again (especially if you were disqualified for dangerous driving).
  • Turn in a medical examination for high-risk offences.

Driving in the UK without a valid licence or insurance after being banned is against the law. This action can lead to a new ban or a criminal offence.

When Can You Reapply for Your Driving Licence

How Driving Convictions Impact Your Insurance Costs

A previous driving conviction will still impact your insurance costs even after your ban is over.

Insurance companies will look at:

  • The level of the offence
  • When the offence happened
  • If it is a spent or unspent conviction
Severity of the Offence Typical Impact
Minor offence (e.g., speeding) 20%–50% increase
Serious offence (e.g., drink driving) 100%–200% increase
Dangerous driving 200%–300% increase

Fact: Most driving convictions remain on your licence for 4 years. However, some, such as dangerous driving, can stay on your licence for 11 years.

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How Long Do Driving Convictions Stay on Your Licence?

The amount of time a driving conviction stays on your driving licence depends on what type of offence it is.

Offence Type Time on Licence
Minor offences (e.g., speeding) 4 years
Serious offences (e.g., drink driving, dangerous driving) 11 years

Points might go away after a few years, but endorsements remain visible to insurers. This can influence your car insurance costs.

Difference Between Spent and Unspent Convictions for Insurance

Difference Between Spent and Unspent Convictions for Insurance

A spent conviction under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not need to be mentioned after a certain time. However, an unspent conviction must be declared when you apply for driver insurance.

Status Do You Have to Tell Insurers?
Spent conviction No
Unspent conviction Yes

Fact: Before applying for new car insurance after a driving ban, always check if your conviction is finished.

Insurance Options for Drivers After a Ban

You have several choices to find the best policy even after a ban:

  • There are specialist insurers for convicted drivers.
  • Black box insurance helps track driving habits.
  • Third party cover can be a starting option.
  • Limited mileage policies can help lower costs.

Some insurance companies might provide cheap car insurance if you choose a car that is not very expensive.

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Does the Type of Car Affect Post-Ban Insurance Costs?

The type of car you drive has a big impact on your insurance premium after a ban.

Insurers prefer:

  • Smaller engine size (less than 1.4L)
  • Basic safety features
  • Cars in low insurance groups

Avoid:

  • Fast cars
  • Altered vehicles
  • Luxury models

Picking the right type of car shows that you care about good driving habits after your ban.

What Happens if You Get Another Conviction After a Ban?

If you get caught committing another driving offence after you receive your licence back:

  • Your insurer can cancel your driver car insurance policy right away.
  • You might get another driving ban if you get too many penalty points.
  • The prices for new insurance quotes will go up even more.

Keeping a clean driving record is very important. Doing so helps keep your insurance costs low once a ban is over.

What Happens if You Get Another Conviction After a Ban

Do Unspent Convictions Still Affect Car Insurance?

Yes, you must always mention unspent convictions when you apply for car insurance quotes.

An unspent conviction includes:

  • A ban that ended recently
  • A driving offence that has not yet passed the time limit set by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

Failing to tell about an unspent conviction could result in:

  • Cancelling a policy
  • Claims that were denied
  • New legal fines

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How to Get the Best Value on Car Insurance After a Driving Ban

Finding the best value after a ban requires some careful steps:

  • Look at several insurance companies.
  • Mention all the endorsements.
  • If needed, get temporary insurance.
  • Keep your driving record clean.
  • Use a SORN if you are not driving.

Fact: Some drivers can lower their premiums by as much as 30% during the first year after a ban. They can do this by installing a black box and showing that they drive safely.

Specialist Insurers for Banned Drivers

After a ban, regular insurers may not provide coverage. However, specialist insurers concentrate on helping banned drivers and those with serious offences.

They usually offer:

  • Flexible cover choices for various types of convictions.
  • A higher required excess can help reduce monthly payments.
  • Customised policies for different levels of offenses.

Using a specialist can be a great way to get car insurance quotes that fit your driving history.

FAQs About Car Insurance After a Driving Ban

Most car insurance companies will look at a ban for 5 years from the date of the conviction. However, serious offences may remain on your record for up to 11 years.

Yes. Choosing black box insurance, raising your voluntary excess, and selecting the right type of car can help reduce your premium.

Using specialist insurers that cover banned drivers is often the easiest way. They know about driving convictions and provide customised policies.

Black box insurance keeps an eye on how you drive. If you are a safe driver, you could get lower rates when you renew after the first year.

If your car is not being used, you need to register a SORN with the DVLA. This will help you avoid paying for insurance and tax.

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Page last updated on: 25/09/2025

Page reviewed by: Shay Ramani

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