Why Compare Careless Driving Insurance?
CD Codes Cover a Wide Range of Offences
Careless driving can mean anything from a momentary lapse in concentration to using a mobile phone while driving. Recent official statistics show a sharp rise in mobile phone convictions between 2023 and 2024. Insurers price each CD code differently. Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who help ensure your specific situation is assessed fairly.
Not Every Insurer Penalises Equally
Some insurers treat a CD10 (driving without due care) very differently from a CD20 (driving without reasonable consideration). The loading on your premium could vary significantly between providers. Clean Green Cars introduces you to brokers who know which insurers are competitive for each code.
Your Premium Could Improve Over Time
Careless driving convictions stay on your licence for 4 years and may affect insurance for around 5. Each clean year should bring your premium closer to standard rates. Clean Green Cars introduces you to brokers who can help you compare at every renewal to catch that improvement.
Careless Driving Convictions At A Glance
- Around 42,700 careless driving cases were dealt with in England and Wales in 2022, a 589% increase from 2012 (as at RAC Foundation analysis). If you have a CD code, specialist cover is available.
- Most insurers still offer cover for lower-level CD codes like CD10 and CD20. Comparing could help you find a competitive price.
- Mobile phone convictions now carry 6 points. Specialist brokers know which insurers price these fairly alongside CD endorsements.
- Your premium could return closer to standard rates within a few clean years. Comparing at renewal catches the improvement.
- Visit the convicted driver insurance hub if you have other endorsements alongside a CD code. See the full list of convicted driver insurance.
- One form, multiple specialist quotes. Click the green button above to get started.
Careless Driving Penalties
Careless driving offences vary in severity. The penalties reflect the level of harm caused and the nature of the driving behaviour.
| Offence | Code | Points | Maximum Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving without due care and attention | CD10 | 3-9 | £5,000 |
| Driving without reasonable consideration | CD20 | 3-9 | £5,000 |
| Driving without due care or consideration (NI) | CD30 | 3-9 | £5,000 |
| Causing death by careless driving | CD40 | 3-11 | Unlimited |
| Causing death by careless driving when unfit | CD50 | 3-11 | Unlimited |
| Causing death by careless driving with alcohol | CD60 | 3-11 | Unlimited |
| Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply specimen | CD70 | 3-11 | Unlimited |
| Causing death by careless driving with drug level above limit | CD80 | 3-11 | Unlimited |
| Causing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured | CD90 | 3-11 | Unlimited |
Find Your Careless Driving Code
Each careless driving conviction carries a specific code. Choose yours below for detailed insurance guidance.
Driving without due care and attention. The most common careless driving code.
Compare CD10 quotesDriving without reasonable consideration for other road users.
Compare CD20 quotesDriving without due care or reasonable consideration (NI).
Compare CD30 quotesCausing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.
Compare CD40 quotesCausing death by careless driving when unfit through drink or drugs.
Compare CD50 quotesCausing death by careless driving with alcohol above the limit.
Compare CD60 quotesCausing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen.
Compare CD70 quotesCausing death by careless driving with drug level above the limit.
Compare CD80 quotesCausing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured.
Compare CD90 quotesWhat Our Expert Says
Careless driving is one of the broadest offence categories in UK motoring law. A CD10 for momentary inattention and a CD40 for causing death are worlds apart, yet both fall under the same heading. This matters for insurance because the range of premium impact is equally wide.
For CD10 and CD20 codes with 3 to 6 points, most mainstream insurers will still quote you. The loading is typically moderate and similar to a mid-range speeding conviction. It is the higher-point endorsements and the more serious CD codes from CD40 onwards that push you toward specialist cover.
The rise in mobile phone prosecutions has brought more drivers into the careless driving category. If your conviction relates to phone use, it is worth knowing that some insurers now have specific rating factors for this type of offence rather than treating it as generic careless driving.
Insurance Expert & Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
Common Careless Driving Insurance Questions
Can You Get Car Insurance With a Careless Driving Conviction?
Yes. A careless driving conviction does not prevent you from getting car insurance. Some mainstream insurers may increase your price, but specialist brokers work with insurers who accept CD codes regularly. Clean Green Cars introduces you to brokers who handle careless driving convictions.
How Long Does a Careless Driving Conviction Stay on Your Licence?
A careless driving conviction stays on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence. This applies to both CD10 (driving without due care and attention) and CD20 (driving without reasonable consideration for other road users). After 4 years, the endorsement is removed from your DVLA record.
How Many Points Do You Get for Careless Driving?
Careless driving carries 3 to 9 penalty points. The exact number depends on the severity of the offence and the court’s decision. In some cases, a court may offer a discretionary disqualification instead of points. The number of points you received could affect your insurance price.
What Is the Difference Between CD10 Conviction and CD20 Conviction?
CD10 means driving without due care and attention – your driving fell below the standard expected of a competent driver. CD20 means driving without reasonable consideration for other road users – your driving specifically inconvenienced or endangered someone else. Both carry 3 to 9 points and a 4-year endorsement.
How Much Does Careless Driving Increase Insurance?
The increase varies depending on your points, your driving history, and your insurer. There is no fixed percentage. A driver with 3 points from a CD10 may see a smaller increase than someone with 9 points. Comparing quotes from specialist brokers is the most reliable way to find out what your conviction could cost.
Do I Have to Declare a Careless Driving Conviction to My Insurer?
Yes. You must answer your insurer’s questions truthfully, which usually means declaring a careless driving conviction for as long as it appears on your licence (4 years from the date of offence) and for as long as your insurer asks about convictions, often up to 5 years. Failing to declare could invalidate your policy, meaning any claim you make may be declined.
What Is the Difference Between Careless Driving and Dangerous Driving?
Careless driving (CD10, CD20) means your driving fell below the standard of a competent driver. Dangerous driving (DD40, DD60) means your driving fell far below that standard and was obviously dangerous. Dangerous driving carries heavier penalties – up to 11 points, a mandatory ban, and potentially a prison sentence. Careless driving carries 3 to 9 points with no mandatory ban.
Can You Lose Your Licence for Careless Driving?
A court may impose a discretionary disqualification for careless driving, but it is not mandatory. If you already have points on your licence and a careless driving conviction takes your total to 12 or more, you could face a totting-up disqualification of at least 6 months. New drivers (within 2 years of passing) lose their licence if they reach 6 points.
Can I Get a Careless Driving Conviction Reduced?
If you plead not guilty, the court decides based on the evidence. There is no rehabilitation course equivalent to the drink-drive course for careless driving. However, if the prosecution offers a fixed penalty notice (3 points and a fine) instead of a court summons, that may result in fewer points than a court would impose.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who accept careless driving convictions. After you submit the form, brokers who handle your specific CD code will come back with quotes. You can compare prices and choose the cover that suits you. There is no obligation to buy, and your details are handled in line with UK data protection rules.
How Careless Driving Affects Your Premium
The impact of a careless driving conviction on your premium depends heavily on which CD code you have. A CD10 for momentary inattention is treated very differently from a CD40 for causing a fatality.
For lower-level offences like CD10 and CD20, the premium impact is typically moderate. Many mainstream insurers will still offer cover, though at a higher price. For more serious codes from CD40 onwards, you may need specialist cover.
Mobile phone offences are increasingly common and now carry 6 points. If this is your only conviction, most insurers will still offer cover, but the loading on your premium could be noticeable. Comparing at renewal is particularly important in the first two years after conviction.
Telematics car insurance could help demonstrate improved driving after a careless driving conviction. New drivers with a CD code may benefit particularly from comparing through specialists. If you need short-term cover, temporary car insurance for convicted drivers is also available. See the full list of convicted driver insurance for reference.
Search & compare quotes from UK Careless Driving Car Insurance Providers
Useful Resources
- GOV.UK – Penalty Points – Find out when your points expire and how the totting-up system works.
- DVLA – Check Your Licence – View your current points and convictions online.
- GOV.UK – Driving Disqualifications – Official guidance on when you could be disqualified from driving and how to get your licence back.
- Road Traffic Act 1988 – Section 3 – The legislation that defines careless and inconsiderate driving offences.
