What Affects The Cost?
Several factors influence how much you’ll pay post-ban:
- Length of the ban and the specific conviction code (e.g. DR10, DR20)
- Time since your disqualification ended
- Your age and driving history
- Type of car you’re insuring (performance cars may cost more)
- Level of cover (comprehensive vs third party)
How To Lower The Cost Of Insurance After A Ban
It won’t be cheap, but there are ways to reduce the cost:
- Compare specialist car insurance providers that cater to convicted drivers
- Choose a lower-risk car in a lower insurance group
- Limit your mileage if possible
- Add a named experienced driver to the policy
- Opt for a higher voluntary excess, if you can afford it
You can compare convicted driver insurance quotes to see which providers are more affordable and offer flexible cover.
Before You Compare: What To Have Ready
You can't drive while the ban runs. GOV.UK says: "You cannot drive anywhere in the UK if you’ve been banned by any UK court because of drink driving." So any cover you arrange to drive needs to start once the ban is over and you're allowed back on the road.
Have these ready, and use the same details on every quote:
- Your conviction code, such as DR10. GOV.UK says DR10 stays on your driving record "for 11 years from the date of the conviction".
- Your offence date and conviction date. They aren't the same thing, so check both rather than guessing.
- Your ban end date and licence status. GOV.UK says: "If you’re disqualified for 56 days or more you must apply for a new licence before driving again."
- Course details, if you did one. A drink-drive course is about the ban, not the premium. If you finish it in time, GOV.UK says: "The ban is usually reduced by a quarter."
- Any DVLA medical letters. If you're a high risk offender, GOV.UK says "you will not get your new licence until you can prove you’re fit to drive again."
How Long Will A Drink Driving Conviction Affect My Insurance?
There's no set number of years that every insurer uses. It comes down to what the insurer asks, and whether your conviction is spent. The law says: "It is the duty of the consumer to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation to the insurer." So answer each question carefully.
In England and Wales, GOV.UK says an adult's driving endorsement is spent "5 years from the date of conviction", and a ban is spent when "the period of the disqualification has passed". If you got both, government guidance says "the longest rehabilitation period determines when the conviction may become spent". Once it's spent, the same guidance says: "If your conviction is spent, you do not have to disclose it to insurers."
The DR10 itself stays on your driving record for 11 years. GOV.UK says insurers may be able to find out about it "during the first 5 years of an 11-year endorsement".
Can I Drive While Waiting For My Licence To Be Returned?
Check before you do. After a drink-driving ban, GOV.UK says: "You’ll need to apply for a new licence after your disqualification ends." If you're a high risk offender, it says "you will not get your new licence until you can prove you’re fit to drive again." If you're not sure where your application stands, ask DVLA before you drive.
Will I Need Specialist Insurance?
Quite possibly, while the conviction is unspent. MoneyHelper says: "Mainstream insurers typically refuse to cover those with unspent convictions." It adds that with an unspent conviction "you’ll probably need a specialist or ‘non-standard’ policy".
Is Third Party Insurance Cheaper After A Ban?
Not always. MoneyHelper says of third party cover: "Just because it’s the least amount of cover you can have, doesn’t mean it’s the cheapest." So compare each level of cover rather than assuming.
