Why Compare MS90 Car Insurance?
Six Points Makes MS90 the Heaviest MS Code
MS90 carries 6 penalty points, more than any other MS-category endorsement. That puts drivers halfway to a totting-up ban with a single offence. Specialist brokers find insurers who price 6-point convictions without excessive loadings.
The Offence May Not Reflect Your Driving
MS90 is about failing to identify who was driving, not about dangerous behaviour on the road. Specialist brokers explain this distinction to insurers who might otherwise treat it the same as a driving offence.
Mainstream Insurers Often Overcharge
Standard insurers may see 6 points and apply a blanket loading without considering the circumstances. Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who assess MS90 cases individually and could find a fairer price.
MS90 Car Insurance At A Glance
- MS90 means you were convicted of failing to give information as to the identity of a driver when required under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
- The penalty is 6 points on your licence and a fine of up to £1,000. The endorsement stays on your licence for 4 years from date of offence.
- MS90 carries double the points of a typical speeding offence – 6 points compared to the 3 you would usually receive for speeding (GOV.UK, as at March 2026).
- Click the green button above to compare MS90 quotes from specialist brokers.
What Is an MS90 Conviction?
MS90 is a statutory offence under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 – failing to give information as to the identity of the driver when required. Here’s how the law defines it:
- Who it applies to – The registered keeper of a vehicle, or any other person who can reasonably be required, to give information identifying the driver at the time of an alleged road traffic offence.
- What counts as failing to identify – Not responding to a Notice of Intended Prosecution within the 28-day deadline, ignoring the request, or providing incomplete or evasive information about who was driving. Typically follows a speed camera or similar offence.
- How the duty arises – When the police issue a Section 172 request, usually by post to the registered keeper, after an offence has been detected. MS90 carries 6 fixed penalty points, making it more serious than most MS codes.
| Penalty | Details |
|---|---|
| Penalty Points | 6 (fixed – not variable) |
| Driving Ban | Discretionary |
| Maximum Fine | Up to £1,000 |
| Time on Licence | 4 years on licence from date of offence |
| Spent After | Depends on sentence under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A fine becomes spent 1 year from the date of conviction under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 |
Can You Get Insurance With an MS90?
Yes, but the market is narrower than for a standard policy, and you’ll almost always need a specialist broker. Here’s what to know before you compare:
- Points and ban – 6 fixed penalty points are added to your licence, with a discretionary driving ban possible, particularly if the points push your total to 12 or more.
- Time on your record – 4 years on the DVLA endorsement, and most insurers ask about convictions in the last 5 years.
- When it’s spent – A fine-only MS90 is spent 1 year after conviction under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- Disclosure always matters – Non-disclosure can invalidate the policy. Insurers often treat MS90 seriously because the underlying offence is unknown, so full disclosure is essential.
- Cautious treatment by insurers – Many insurers apply a higher loading for MS90 than for a standard 3-point code because they cannot see what the original offence was. Specialist brokers have access to insurers who assess each case individually.
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers experienced with failure to identify driver convictions. If you need short-term cover while comparing, temporary car insurance with convictions may bridge the gap.
Who Needs MS90 Car Insurance?
Standard insurers often load your price heavily or decline cover entirely after a failure to identify driver conviction. Here’s who typically benefits most from comparing MS90 car insurance quotes.
Genuinely Could Not Remember Who Was Driving
Weeks passed between the camera flash and the notice arriving. You share the car with family, friends, or colleagues, and honestly cannot recall who had it that Tuesday afternoon. Being punished for an imperfect memory feels deeply wrong.
Company Car With Multiple Drivers
The car is registered to your company or in your name, but several people drive it. The notice came to you as the registered keeper, the admin trail broke down, and 6 points landed on your licence for someone else's speed.
Missed The Section 172 Notice Entirely
The letter went to an old address, got lost in a pile of post, or arrived while you were away. By the time you saw it - if you ever did - the 28-day deadline had passed. A piece of lost mail became 6 points on your licence.
Did Not Recognise The Photo Or Location
The camera image was blurry, the location unfamiliar, and you genuinely could not identify the driver. You were not being obstructive - you simply did not have the answer they needed. The system treated honesty as non-compliance.
Family Member Was Driving But You Took The Points
You know who was driving. Maybe it was your partner, your child, or a parent. Nominating them felt impossible for personal reasons, and now you are carrying their points. The emotional weight of that decision sits alongside the insurance consequences.
What MS90 Car Insurance Covers
An MS90 on your licence does not change what your policy is designed to cover. It changes how much you pay and which insurers will quote you. Some standard insurers may decline drivers with 6 points from a single endorsement, but specialist brokers can usually find you cover at every level.
Here’s what each level of cover could include. Please note that policy features, benefits, terms and conditions vary among insurers, so always check the policy wording.
| Feature | Comprehensive | Third Party, Fire & Theft | Third Party Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage to your own vehicle | Yes | No | No |
| Fire and theft protection | Yes | Yes | No |
| Damage to other people's property | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Injury to other people | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windscreen cover | Often included | Rarely | No |
| Courtesy car | Sometimes included | Rarely | No |
Cover Tip: Six points from a single MS90 can make some mainstream insurers cautious, but all three cover levels could still be available through specialist brokers. Always compare.
What MS90 Car Insurance May Not Cover
A single exclusion could mean your whole claim gets declined. Here’s what MS90 car insurance usually does not cover.
Standard Exclusions
- Undeclared Convictions - If you do not tell your insurer about your MS90 or any other endorsements, they could invalidate your policy and may decline all claims.
- Failing to Identify a Driver Again - If you receive another Section 172 notice and fail to respond, you could face a further MS90 conviction. Your insurer may decline any related claim.
- Driving Under the Influence - If you cause an accident while impaired by drink or drugs, your insurer could decline your claim regardless of your MS90.
- Wear and Tear - Gradual damage to your car, like worn tyres or rust, is not covered by any motor policy.
Important Limitations
- Higher Excess - Your insurer may set a higher compulsory excess because of the 6 points from your MS90. Check your policy documents before agreeing.
- Named Driver Restrictions - Some policies may limit who else can drive your car after a 6-point conviction.
- Totting-Up Risk Conditions - If your MS90 brings your total close to 12 points, some insurers may impose additional conditions or decline to quote.
- Vehicle Value Cap - Some specialist policies may cap the value of car they will insure after a conviction carrying 6 points.
Optional Extras Worth Adding
Your standard policy is designed to cover the basics. These extras fill the gaps that matter most after a failure to identify driver conviction.
May help cover roadside assistance if your car breaks down, subject to policy limits and conditions.
May help cover your legal costs if you need to dispute fault after an accident, depending on your policy terms.
May help you recover losses from a non-fault crash, subject to policy limits and conditions.
May pay a set amount if you are hurt in a crash and cannot work, depending on your policy terms.
May be needed if you have built up years of no claims and want to keep your discount safe after a claim, subject to insurer acceptance criteria.
May help cover the cost of replacing your keys if they are lost or stolen, subject to policy limits and conditions.
What Affects the Cost of Car Insurance with a MS90 Conviction?
Your quote depends on the number of points on your licence, any other convictions, and your overall driving history. An MS90 carries 6 points from a single offence, which is significant. Here are the key factors that could affect your price.
| Key Factor | Impact on Your Price |
|---|---|
| Your MS90 conviction (6 points) | Six points is a significant loading trigger for most insurers. It puts you halfway to a totting-up ban, which raises your perceived risk. |
| Time since conviction | Your price could drop each year as the MS90 ages. After 4 years, it leaves your licence and should no longer affect your premium. |
| Other convictions or points | An MS90 on top of other motoring convictions could push your total close to 12 points, significantly increasing your price. |
| Whether a ban was imposed | If the court imposed a discretionary ban alongside your MS90, insurers may view the offence more seriously and price higher. |
| No claims discount | A long no claims history could help offset some of the loading from your 6-point endorsement. |
| Your car | Higher insurance group cars cost more to insure. Choosing a lower group vehicle could help reduce your overall premium. |
| Where you live | Your postcode affects your base price before any conviction loading is applied. |
| Annual mileage | Lower mileage usually means lower risk. An accurate estimate could help keep your price down. |
Price Insight: The mismatch between MS90 and the underlying offence is well known in the insurance industry. Specialist brokers know which insurers assess the context rather than just counting points.
Ways to Cut Your Car Insurance Cost
An MS90 could push your premium up sharply, but there are steps you could take to bring it down. Here are some ways to cut what you pay.
Compare at Every Renewal
Six points could add a heavy loading, but it reduces each year. Do not auto-renew - your insurer may not pass the reduction on. Get quotes above.
Build a Clean Record
Each conviction-free, claim-free year after your MS90 could help reduce the loading at renewal. The MS90 itself expires after 4 years.
Respond to Future NIPs Promptly
A second MS90 would be devastating. Respond to any Notice of Intended Prosecution within the 28-day deadline, even if it means nominating another driver.
Consider a Telematics Policy
A black box could prove you drive safely. After 6 points from a single endorsement, providing evidence of careful driving could make a real difference at renewal.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
A higher excess could reduce your premium. Make sure it is an amount you could afford if you needed to claim.
Pay Annually If You Can
Monthly payments include interest charges. On a heavily loaded premium, paying upfront could save you a meaningful amount.
Park Off the Street
Off-street parking is lower risk. If you have a driveway or garage, make sure your insurer knows about it.
Saving Tip: Six points for not returning a form feels harsh, especially when the underlying offence was probably minor. Specialist brokers know which insurers price MS90 proportionately. Compare above.
How To Compare MS90 Car Insurance Quotes
Getting quotes after an MS90 does not take long. Clean Green Cars connects you with brokers who cover convicted drivers every day. Get started above when you are ready.
Enter Your Vehicle Details
Start at the top of this page. Add your registration, make, model, and where you park overnight.
Declare Your MS90
Enter the conviction code, date of conviction, and the 6 penalty points. Be honest about any other endorsements too.
Add Your Driving History
Include any other convictions, past claims, and your no claims discount.
Choose Your Cover Level
Decide between comprehensive, TPFT, or third party only.
Review Your Quotes
Specialist brokers send you quotes based on your details. Compare prices and cover levels, then pick the one that fits.
What Our Expert Says
An MS90 can feel like one of the deepest injustices in motoring law. You may not have been the one driving. The camera flash went off, a notice arrived, and for whatever reason - a house move, a busy week, genuine confusion about who had the car - you did not respond in time. Now you are carrying 6 points for an offence that might not even be yours.
MS90 relates to failing to give information as to the identity of a driver when required under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The penalty is 6 points and a fine of up to £1,000. That is double the points the actual speeding offence would have carried - and there is no speed awareness course option.
The mismatch between the underlying offence and the punishment is what makes MS90 so difficult to accept. Specialist brokers handle these cases constantly and know which insurers take a proportionate view of a 6-point administrative failure rather than treating it like dangerous driving.
Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
Common MS90 Car Insurance Questions
How Long Does an MS90 Stay on Your Licence?
Four years from the date of offence. Most insurers ask about the last 5 years.
Is MS90 a Criminal Conviction?
It is a motoring endorsement, not a criminal conviction in the traditional sense. It is unlikely to appear on a standard DBS check.
How Much Does MS90 Increase Car Insurance?
No fixed amount, but 6 points from a single endorsement could add a significant loading. Comparing reveals which insurers take a proportionate view.
Can I Avoid MS90 by Nominating Another Driver?
Yes. If someone else was driving, nominating them within 28 days transfers the responsibility. You must respond to the NIP even if you were not the driver.
What If the NIP Went to the Wrong Address?
You are responsible for keeping the DVLA updated with your current address. However, a solicitor may be able to challenge the conviction if you can prove non-receipt.
Is MS90 Worse Than a Speeding Conviction?
In points terms, yes. MS90 carries 6 points compared to 3 for most speeding offences. The underlying driving may have been minor.
Can I Get Comprehensive Cover With MS90?
Usually yes, through specialist brokers. Six points may limit some mainstream options but specialists know which providers still offer full cover.
Do New Drivers Lose Their Licence With MS90?
Potentially. Six points within the first 2 years triggers automatic licence revocation under the New Drivers Act 1995.
Can I Appeal an MS90?
You may be able to appeal if you can show you did not receive the NIP or had a reasonable excuse. Seek legal advice within 21 days of conviction.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
A specialist broker contacts you directly with quotes. There is no obligation to buy.
Related Conviction Codes
Looking for information about other conviction codes? Browse related offences below, or visit the Miscellaneous Offences hub for the full list.
Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position
Compare MS10 quotesUnlawful pillion riding
Compare MS20 quotesMotor racing on the highway
Compare MS50 quotesOffences not covered by other codes
Compare MS60 quotesDriving with uncorrected defective eyesight
Compare MS70 quotesRefusing to submit to an eyesight test
Compare MS80 quotesSearch & compare quotes from UK MS90 Car Insurance Providers
Useful Resources
- GOV.UK – Penalty Points and Endorsements – How the penalty points system works, including endorsement codes and expiry dates.
- GOV.UK – View Your Driving Licence – Check your licence online to see your current points and convictions.
- GOV.UK – Change Address on V5C – Update your vehicle logbook address to make sure future NIPs reach you.
- GOV.UK – Change Address on Driving Licence – Update the address on your driving licence. This is a legal requirement when you move.
