Why Compare DR40 Car Insurance?
Insurers Treat "In Charge" Differently
Some insurers see DR40 as significantly less serious than a DR10 driving offence. Others load it almost as heavily. Clean Green Cars connects you with brokers who know which providers price DR40 fairly.
Stop Getting Declined
Standard comparison sites may not distinguish between in-charge and driving offences. Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who understand the difference and accept DR40 endorsements.
Your Circumstances Matter
Sleeping in your car to avoid drink driving is very different from being caught about to drive. Specialist brokers assess the detail behind your DR40, not just the code itself.
DR40 Car Insurance At A Glance
- DR40 means being in charge of a vehicle while your alcohol level is above the legal limit, under Section 5(1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
- It carries a fixed 10 penalty points, a maximum fine of £2,500, and up to 3 months in custody.
- The driving ban is discretionary, not mandatory, and the endorsement stays on your licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
- Need short-term cover? Temporary car insurance with convictions is available while you compare.
- Click the green button above to compare DR40 quotes from specialist brokers.
What Is a DR40 Conviction?
DR40 is an in-charge drink offence, not a driving offence. Understanding the difference could help you when comparing insurance quotes.
DR40 is the DVLA endorsement code for being in charge of a motor vehicle while your alcohol level is above the legal limit. It is issued under Section 5(1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
"In charge" means you were found near or in a vehicle with the means to drive it, such as having the keys, even though you were not actually driving. Common scenarios include sleeping in a parked car after drinking, sitting in the driver's seat waiting for a taxi, or running the engine for warmth.
The prosecution must prove you intended to drive, or that there was a likelihood you would drive while still over the limit. A defence exists if you can show there was no likelihood of driving while your alcohol level remained above the legal limit.
| Penalty | Details |
|---|---|
| Penalty Points | 10 (fixed) |
| Driving Ban | Discretionary (not mandatory) |
| Maximum Fine | Up to £2,500 (Level 4, plus up to 3 months prison) |
| Time on Licence | 4 years from date of offence (or from date of conviction if a disqualification is imposed) |
| Spent After | 1 year from fine date, or 12 months from end of custodial sentence (up to 1 year). Licence endorsement remains for 4 years. |
DR40Can You Get Insurance With a DR40?
Yes, and because DR40 is an in-charge offence rather than a driving offence, some insurers may treat it more favourably than a DR10. Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who handle drink-related conviction codes daily.
A DR40 stays on your licence for 4 years from the date of the offence. Most insurers ask about convictions from the last 5 years. Once the endorsement is removed, your options tend to open up and prices could start to come down.
Whether you received a driving ban matters too. Because a DR40 ban is discretionary, some drivers keep their licence with 10 points endorsed instead. If you were not banned, insurers may view your case more favourably than someone who was disqualified.
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who work with drink-related convictions every day. They could compare quotes from providers experienced with in-charge endorsements, and each clean year you build may help bring your loading down at renewal.
Who Needs DR40 Car Insurance?
Standard insurers often load your price heavily or decline cover entirely after a drink-related conviction. Here is who typically benefits most from comparing DR40 car insurance quotes.
Caught Sleeping in Your Car
You fell asleep in your vehicle after a night out and were found by police with your keys nearby. You were trying to do the right thing by not driving, but the law treated it as being "in charge" of the vehicle.
Waiting for a Lift
You were sitting in the driver's seat keeping warm while waiting for a taxi or a friend. Police found you over the limit and charged you with being in charge of the vehicle.
Engine Running for Warmth
You turned the engine on for the heater but had no intention of driving. The court endorsed your licence with a DR40 and now mainstream insurers are loading your premium.
Discretionary Ban Imposed
The court chose to disqualify you even though the ban was discretionary. You need cover from a broker who understands the difference between a DR40 and a DR10 driving offence.
Renewal Shock After DR40
Your insurer hiked your price or declined to renew after your DR40. You need a specialist quote before your cover runs out.
Worth Knowing: DR40 is an in-charge offence, not a driving offence. Clean Green Cars introduces you to brokers who understand the difference and could find you a more competitive price.
What DR40 Car Insurance Covers
A DR40 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. Because DR40 is an in-charge offence, some providers may be more willing to offer cover than they would for a driving conviction.
Here is what each level of cover could include. Please note that policy features, benefits, terms and conditions vary among insurance providers, so always check the policy wording.
| Feature | Comprehensive | Third Party, Fire & Theft | Third Party Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage to your 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: After a DR40, comprehensive cover could actually cost less than third party only. Specialist brokers who handle drink-related convictions every day know which insurers offer the most competitive rates at each level.
What DR40 Car Insurance May Not Cover
A single exclusion could mean your whole claim gets declined. Here is what DR40 car insurance usually does not cover.
Standard Exclusions
- Undeclared Convictions - If you do not tell your insurer about your DR40 or any other endorsements on your licence, they could invalidate your policy and decline all claims.
- Driving While Disqualified - If you drive during any ban period imposed for your DR40, your insurer may decline any claim and you could face a separate criminal charge.
- Driving Under the Influence - If you cause an accident while impaired by drink or drugs, your insurer could decline your claim.
- 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 your DR40. Check your policy documents before you agree.
- Named Driver Restrictions - Some policies may limit who else can drive your car after a drink-related conviction.
- Vehicle Value Cap - Some convicted driver policies may cap the value of car they will insure.
- Mileage Restrictions - Some specialist policies may impose annual mileage limits as a condition of cover.
Optional Extras Worth Adding
Your standard policy is designed to cover the basics. These extras fill the gaps that matter most after a drink-related 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.
Keeps your discount safe if you make a claim. Worth checking after a conviction, subject to insurer acceptance criteria.
A black box tracks your driving to help demonstrate safe habits after your conviction. Could help reduce your premium over time.
What Affects The Cost of DR40 Car Insurance?
Your quote depends on whether you were banned, the time since your offence, and your overall driving history. DR40 is an in-charge offence and some insurers price it lower than a driving conviction like DR10. It falls under the drink driving convictions category.
Here are the key factors that could affect your price.
| Key Factor | Impact on Your Price |
|---|---|
| Whether you were banned | A DR40 ban is discretionary. If the court did not disqualify you, insurers may view it more favourably than if a ban was imposed. |
| Time since your DR40 | A DR40 endorsement lasts 4 years. Your price could improve each year, and after the 4-year mark the code is removed from your licence. |
| Your alcohol level | A reading just over the limit may be priced lower than a very high reading. Some insurers ask for the exact level even for in-charge offences. |
| Other convictions | A DR40 on top of other motoring convictions could push your price up more than the DR40 alone. |
| Your age | Younger drivers often pay more after a conviction. If you are under 25, the increase could be larger. |
| Your car | Higher insurance group cars cost more to insure, with or without convictions. |
| Where you live | Your postcode affects your base price before any conviction loading is applied. |
| No claims discount | A clean claims history may help offset some of the loading from your DR40. |
Price Insight: A DR40 endorsement lasts just 4 years. Each clean year you build could help reduce your loading at renewal. Specialist brokers who handle drink-related convictions understand how pricing changes as the code ages.
Ways To Cut Your DR40 Car Insurance Cost
A DR40 could push your premium up, but because it is an in-charge offence rather than a driving offence, the impact may be less severe than you expect. Here are some ways to cut what you pay.
Compare Quotes Every Year
Do not auto-renew. Get quotes above to see if a better price is available.
Highlight That You Were Not Driving
Make sure your broker understands that DR40 is an in-charge offence, not a driving offence. Some insurers price the distinction.
Build a Clean Record
Each conviction-free, claim-free year after your DR40 could help reduce your loading at renewal.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
A higher excess could cut your premium. Make sure you can afford it if you need to claim.
Try Telematics Cover
A black box tracks your driving. Consistent safe driving could bring your renewal down.
Pay Annually
Monthly payments often include interest. Paying upfront could reduce what you pay overall.
Choose a Lower Group Car
Cars in lower insurance groups cost less to insure, even with a DR40 on your record.
Saving Tip: Compare quotes above today. Clean Green Cars introduces you to brokers who handle drink-related convictions regularly.
How To Compare DR40 Car Insurance Quotes
Getting quotes after a DR40 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
Add your reg, make, model, and where you park.
Declare Your DR40
Enter the conviction code, date of conviction, and the number of points. If you were banned, include the length. Be honest about any other endorsements too.
Add Your Driving History
Include any other convictions, claims, and your no claims discount.
Choose Your Cover Level
Decide between Comprehensive, TPFT, or Third Party Only.
Compare Your Quotes
Specialist brokers send you quotes based on your details. Pick the one that fits.
What Our Expert Says
DR40 is the in-charge equivalent of DR10. It covers being in charge of a vehicle while your alcohol level is above the legal limit, rather than actually driving while over the limit. This distinction is important for insurance.
The penalties are significantly lower than for a driving offence. The ban is discretionary rather than mandatory, the maximum fine is £2,500 rather than unlimited, and the endorsement lasts 4 years rather than 11. Some drivers receive a DR40 after sleeping in their car or waiting for a taxi, having made the conscious decision not to drive.
From an insurance perspective, DR40 may attract a lower loading than DR10 with some providers. The shorter endorsement period means the code drops off your licence sooner, and if the court did not impose a ban, some insurers may treat the case more leniently.
Specialist brokers who work with convicted drivers every day know which insurers distinguish between in-charge and driving offences. They can usually find cover at all three levels, and pricing could improve steadily as the conviction ages.
Co-founder
Common DR40 Car Insurance Questions
Related Drink Driving Conviction Pages
DR40 is one of several drink-drive endorsement codes used on UK driving licences. Each code relates to a different type of drink-related offence. If you refused to provide a specimen, see DR30 car insurance. Here are the related DR codes.
Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit
Compare DR10 quotesDriving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink
Compare DR20 quotesDriving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis
Compare DR30 quotesDriving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken whilst the driver was incapacitated
Compare DR31 quotesIn charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink
Compare DR50 quotesFailure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive
Compare DR60 quotesRefusing to allow a specimen of blood to be subjected to laboratory analysis when not driving
Compare DR61 quotesFailing to co-operate with a preliminary test
Compare DR70 quotesDriving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs
Compare DR80 quotesIn charge of a vehicle while unfit through drugs
Compare DR90 quotesSearch & compare quotes from UK DR40 Car Insurance Providers
Useful Resources
- GOV.UK - Drink Driving Penalties - Official penalties for drink driving and in-charge offences, including ban lengths and fines.
- GOV.UK - Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Course - How the DDRC works, eligibility, and how it could reduce your ban.
- GOV.UK - Check Your Driving Licence - View your licence online, including endorsement codes and expiry dates.
- Sentencing Council - In Charge Excess Alcohol - Sentencing guidelines for in-charge drink offences.
