CD33 Serious Injury By Careless Driving Conviction: Points, Ban And Years On Your Licence
Yes, you can look for car insurance with a CD33 once your ban has ended, through specialist brokers who search for insurers that consider serious careless driving convictions. MoneyHelper says an unspent conviction will probably mean a specialist or non-standard policy.
- Points3–11Only if the court exceptionally doesn't ban you; normally it records a ban instead.
- On your licence4 yearsFrom conviction when you're banned, the usual outcome.
- Ban1 year+At least 12 months; 2 years after two or more bans of 56 days+ in the 3 years before.
- Insurers may see it4 yearsAny time while it's on your record.
A court can also give up to 2 years in prison and a fine.
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What Is A CD33 Motoring Conviction?
CD33 is the endorsement code for causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving. It's a newer offence: the Road Traffic Act has included causing serious injury by careless driving since 28 June 2022. Serious injury means harm that amounts to grievous bodily harm in England and Wales, or severe physical injury in Scotland.
The driving is the same kind as a CD10, CD20 or CD30: without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other road users. The difference is that someone was seriously hurt. Causing serious injury by dangerous driving has a separate code, DD10.
CD33 Penalties: Prison, A Ban And A Fine
The Sentencing Council guideline for causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving gives a maximum of 2 years' custody, with sentences from a community order up to 2 years. A CD33 can be heard in the magistrates' court or the Crown Court.
The court must ban you for at least 12 months unless it finds special reasons, or 2 years if you've had two or more bans of 56 days or more in the 3 years before the offence. It can also order that you pass an extended driving test before you drive again. If it also gives immediate custody, it must extend the ban to take account of the time in custody, but not for a suspended sentence.
GOV.UK's endorsement code list keeps a CD33 on your record for 4 years from the offence, but where the court bans you, the 4 years run from the date of conviction instead.
CD33How Courts Sentence A CD33
The court looks at how bad the driving was (culpability) and how serious the injury was (harm). The higher harm category covers particularly grave or life-threatening injuries, and injuries that are permanent or need lifelong care. These are the guideline's starting points for adults.
| Culpability | Examples from the guideline | Higher harm | Other cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Driving just below the threshold for dangerous driving | 1 year's custody | 26 weeks' custody |
| B | An unsafe manoeuvre, a brief but avoidable distraction, a speed that's wrong for the conditions, or driving impaired by drink, drugs, a known medical condition or lack of sleep | 26 weeks' custody | High level community order |
| C | Driving just over the threshold for careless driving, or a momentary lapse of concentration | High level community order | Medium level community order |
Getting Your Licence Back After A CD33 Ban
If you're banned for 56 days or more, you must apply for a new licence before driving again. If the court ordered an extended test, you'll need a new provisional licence and to pass the theory test and the extended practical test, which GOV.UK says lasts at least 60 minutes and has higher fees.
Sources: the Sentencing Council guideline (in force from 1 July 2023), GOV.UK driving disqualifications and GOV.UK disqualification until you pass a test, checked 14 October 2026. Endorsement codes and processes in Northern Ireland are different.
This information is based on our understanding of current law and insurance practice at the time of writing. Rules, penalties and rehabilitation periods can change and may apply differently depending on individual circumstances.
Can You Get Car Insurance After A CD33 Conviction?
Yes, once your ban has ended. Specialist brokers can look for insurers that consider a CD33, though not every insurer will quote and prices are likely to be higher while it's recent.
Getting Back On The Road After A CD33 Ban
Don't drive until your ban has ended, and have cover in place before your first drive. If you need a new licence or an extended test first, time the policy to start when you can legally drive again.
Do You Have To Tell Your Insurer About A CD33?
Yes, whenever the insurer's questions cover it, until the CD33 is spent. Give the code, offence date, conviction date and ban dates exactly as your court paperwork shows. If you get it during a policy, MoneyHelper says you don't have to declare it until you renew, unless your policy says you must.
What Cover Can You Get With A CD33 Conviction?
Car insurance after a CD33 comes in the same three levels as any policy: comprehensive, third party, fire and theft, and third party only. Comprehensive may still be available through specialist brokers, though some insurers may only offer the lower levels or ask for a higher excess.
Going back to a van or a motorbike? Those insurers may ask about a CD33 too, so see van insurance after a CD33 or motorbike cover with a CD33.
Please note that policy features, benefits, terms and conditions vary among insurance providers, so always check the policy wording.
Cover Tip: If your CD33 involved an accident, declare it as well as the conviction, even if you didn't claim. MoneyHelper says an undeclared accident can mean a future claim is reduced or rejected.
Telling Your Insurer About A CD33 Conviction
Insurers may be able to find out about a CD33 for the whole time it's on your record, so answer their conviction questions accurately. For timings, read how long you declare a driving conviction.
- Answer The Conviction Questions Accurately - Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, what an insurer can do about a wrong answer depends on whether it was careless, or deliberate or reckless. MoneyHelper says an insurer can reject a claim if it has reason to believe you didn't take reasonable care to answer its questions truthfully and accurately.
- Insurers May Be Able To See It For 4 Years - GOV.UK says insurers may be able to find out about an endorsement any time during a 4-year endorsement. That's the whole time a CD33 stays on your record. Most insurers' questions go back further, to the last 5 years.
- What Can Happen If Details Are Wrong - The Financial Ombudsman says an insurer might charge more, restrict the policy, settle a claim only in part, or cancel the policy as if it never existed, which means any ongoing claim will be declined.
- When A CD33 Is Spent - In England and Wales, the endorsement is spent 5 years from conviction (2.5 years if you were under 18), and a ban when it ends. A prison sentence, including a suspended one, is spent 12 months after it ends if it was 1 year or less, or 4 years after it ends if it was longer. A ban until you pass a test isn't spent until you pass it. The longest period decides. Once it's spent, MoneyHelper says you don't need to declare it, even if you're asked.
How Does A CD33 Conviction Affect Your Insurance Price?
There's no single price for car insurance after a CD33. Insurers look at the detail behind it, not just the code. These are the things that can shape a quote.
| Key Factor | Impact on your price |
|---|---|
| How recent the CD33 is | A recent conviction may be priced higher. Don't assume the price falls at every renewal, as each insurer sets its own rules. |
| Length of your ban | The minimum is 12 months, or 2 years after earlier bans. A longer ban may narrow the choice of insurers. |
| Any accident or claim | A CD33 means someone was seriously injured by the driving. Any claim linked to it may count towards your price as well as the conviction. |
| The car you choose | Its value, power and any modifications all count. MIB says unmodified cars are generally cheaper to insure. |
| Mileage, use and parking | Give a realistic mileage, the right type of use and where the car is kept. MIB says wrong or out-of-date details can leave you uninsured without realising. |
The quotes you get will depend on your own details.
Price Insight: Work out the date your CD33 is spent from the longest part of your sentence, not just the endorsement. Until then, answer honestly if an insurer asks about it, and compare again once it's spent.
How Can You Help Reduce Insurance Costs After A CD33 Conviction?
While it's unspent, a CD33 stays in a quote when insurers ask about it, but the details around it are yours to change.
Ask About A Black Box Policy
Ask whether a black box policy is offered with a CD33. MIB says telematics policies can reward safe driving with lower premiums over time.
Check The Insurance Group First
Check the group before you buy a car. MIB says lower-group cars are typically smaller, cheaper to repair and more affordable to insure.
Keep The Excess Affordable
Raise the voluntary excess only to a level you could pay if you claimed. MIB says a higher excess can reduce the premium.
Quote Before You Need Cover
MIB says quotes are likely to be lowest 20 to 26 days before your renewal is due, and starting early leaves time to compare.
Our Expert On A CD33 Serious Injury By Careless Driving Conviction
A CD33 is a heavy thing to carry, because someone was badly hurt, and that stays with everyone involved. It doesn't stop you getting insured again once the ban is over.
A common mix-up is the date the 4 years start from. GOV.UK's code list says 4 years from the offence, but GOV.UK's guide to how long endorsements last also says an endorsement stays 4 years from conviction when the offence results in a ban, and a CD33 ban is obligatory unless the court finds special reasons.
My rule of thumb: work out your spent date from the longest part of the sentence, whether that's the endorsement, the ban or any custody, and keep that date with your insurance papers.
Insurance Expert & Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
CD33 Serious Injury By Careless Driving Insurance Questions
Is CD33 The Same As CD10?
No. Both involve careless or inconsiderate driving, but a CD33 is for causing serious injury by it. A CD10 carries 3 to 9 points and a possible ban. A CD33 carries an obligatory ban of at least 12 months and up to 2 years in prison.
Will I Lose My Licence For A CD33?
Almost always. The court must ban you for at least 12 months unless it finds special reasons, or for at least 2 years if you've had two or more bans of 56 days or more in the 3 years before the offence. It can also order an extended driving test.
Can A CD33 Mean Prison?
It can. The maximum is 2 years' custody. The guideline's starting points range from a community order up to a year in custody, depending on how bad the driving was and how serious the injury was.
What Is The Difference Between CD33 And DD10?
Both are for causing serious injury by driving. CD33 is where the driving was careless or inconsiderate. DD10 is where it was dangerous, which is a more serious offence.
Can I Be A Named Driver With A CD33?
Possibly, once your ban has ended. It depends on whether the main driver's insurer accepts a CD33 on the policy, and it may raise the price.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who consider CD33 convictions. They contact you with quotes based on your details, and you're under no obligation to accept any quote.
What To Have Ready Before Comparing Quotes With A CD33 Conviction
Have these to hand before you get quotes.
- Your CD33 offence date and conviction date
- Your ban start and end dates, and any test you must pass
- Details of any accident or claim linked to it
- The car's registration and where it's kept overnight
- Your annual mileage, type of use and claims history
Compare CD33 Serious Injury By Careless Driving Car Insurance Quotes
Sources For CD33 Serious Injury By Careless Driving Facts
- GOV.UK: endorsement codes and penalty points - CD33 points and years on your record (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- Sentencing Council: causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving - the maximum sentence, starting points and minimum ban (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 2C - the offence and what serious injury means (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- GOV.UK: how long endorsements stay on your record - when the 4 years start and when insurers may see it (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- GOV.UK: rehabilitation periods - when endorsements, bans and custody are spent (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- Financial Ombudsman: misrepresentation - what an insurer can do if an answer is wrong (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- MoneyHelper: insurance if you have a criminal conviction - specialist policies, spent convictions and convictions you get during a policy (checked 15 Oct 2026).
- MoneyHelper: if your insurance claim is rejected - when an insurer can reject a claim over an answer given without reasonable care (checked 15 Oct 2026).
- MoneyHelper: car insurance - what you need to know - declaring accidents (checked 15 Oct 2026).
