Why Compare CU40 Car Insurance?
Specialist Brokers Who Understand CU40
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers experienced with CU40 convictions for causing danger through defective vehicle parts. They may be able to find cover where standard insurers might decline.
Premiums Can Vary Significantly
A CU40 conviction carries 3 penalty points, but the premium impact could differ widely between providers. One insurer may load your quote heavily while another could offer a more competitive price for the same level of cover.
One Form, Multiple Broker Quotes
Rather than contacting brokers individually to explain your CU40 conviction each time, Clean Green Cars lets you complete one form and receive quotes from several specialist brokers with no obligation to proceed.
CU40 Car Insurance At A Glance
- Defective Steering Conviction – CU40 means using a vehicle with defective steering under Section 41A of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
- 3 Points, 4 Years – the endorsement stays on your licence for 4 years from the date of offence, though most insurers ask about the last 5 years.
- Loadings May Ease Over Time – each clean year after your CU40 could help reduce what you pay at renewal, as brokers factor in your recent driving record.
- Click the green button above to compare CU40 quotes from specialist brokers.
What Is a CU40 Conviction?
CU40 is a statutory offence under Section 41A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 – using a vehicle with defective steering on a public road. Here’s how the law defines it:
- Who it applies to – Any driver or person in charge of a motor vehicle on a road whose steering mechanism fails to comply with the Construction and Use Regulations. The steering system must allow the driver to control the direction of the vehicle safely at all times.
- What counts as defective steering – Worn track rod ends, a failing power steering pump or rack, excessive play at the wheel, seized or loose steering components, leaking hydraulic lines, or any fault that compromises directional control.
- How the duty arises – Automatically, the moment the vehicle is used on a public road. The driver is expected to notice symptoms like wandering, heavy steering, or unusual noises and take the vehicle off the road for repair.
| Penalty | Details |
|---|---|
| Penalty Points | A CU40 carries 3 penalty points. These points appear on your driving licence for the full 4-year endorsement period. |
| Duration on Licence | 4 years from the date of the offence. Most insurers ask about convictions from the last 5 years. |
| Maximum Fine | Up to £2,500 for private vehicles. Unlimited for goods vehicles. |
| Driving Ban | Discretionary. Rarely imposed for a first offence involving a single steering defect. |
| Legislation | Section 41A, Road Traffic Act 1988 |
CU40Can You Get Insurance With a CU40?
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 – 3 penalty points are added to your licence, with a discretionary driving ban that is rarely imposed for a first offence involving a single steering defect.
- 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 CU40 is spent 1 year after conviction under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- Disclosure still matters – Non-disclosure can invalidate the policy and lead to a claim being declined, even though CU40 is a mechanical defect rather than a behavioural offence.
- Treated less harshly than behavioural codes – A single defective steering conviction on an otherwise clean licence typically results in a moderate loading rather than a refusal to quote.
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers experienced with Construction and Use convictions. If you need short-term cover while comparing, temporary car insurance with convictions may bridge the gap.
Who Needs CU40 Car Insurance?
A defective steering conviction affects different drivers in different ways. Here is who typically benefits most from comparing CU40 car insurance quotes.
Fault Developed After Your Last MOT
The car passed its test. Weeks or months later, a steering component failed or degraded, and you were left holding a conviction for something that did not exist when the MOT said all clear.
Heard A Noise But Delayed The Repair
Something sounded wrong. You booked a garage appointment but drove in the meantime, and a check or incident happened before the repair date arrived. The delay turned a concern into a conviction.
Power Steering Failed Suddenly
One moment the wheel felt normal, the next it was impossibly heavy. A sudden hydraulic or electric failure left you struggling to control the car and facing questions about vehicle condition.
Older Vehicle With Known Wear
The car has years and miles on it. You knew some components were aging but believed they were still functional. An inspection disagreed, and a worn part crossed the line into defective.
Accident Revealed A Pre-Existing Defect
After a collision, the investigation found a steering fault that existed before the crash. You are now facing both the aftermath of the accident and a conviction for a defect you never knew was there.
Worth Knowing: Steering faults often develop gradually, without obvious warning signs. Clean Green Cars connects you with brokers who understand that a CU40 does not always mean negligence.
What CU40 Car Insurance Covers
A CU40 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, but specialist brokers can usually find you cover at every level.
Here is 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 |
| Personal belongings | Sometimes included | No | No |
Cover Tip: A steering fault that developed gradually and one caused by neglect both produce the same CU40 code on your licence. Specialist brokers understand the difference and could help match you with an insurer who prices your individual circumstances fairly.
What CU40 Car Insurance May Not Cover
A single exclusion could mean your whole claim gets declined. Here is what CU40 car insurance usually does not cover.
Standard Exclusions
- Undeclared Convictions - If you do not tell your insurer about your CU40 or any other convictions, they could invalidate your policy and may decline all claims.
- Driving Under the Influence - If you cause an accident while impaired by drink or drugs, your insurer could decline your claim regardless of any other conviction on your record.
- Undeclared Vehicle Modifications - If your vehicle has been modified and you have not told your insurer, they could treat a claim differently or decline it.
- Using Your Car for Undeclared Purposes - If you use your car for business or hire without declaring it, your insurer may not cover a claim.
- Known Defects After CU40 - If you continue driving with a known steering fault after receiving a CU40, an insurer could decline a related claim.
- Unlicensed Drivers - If someone without a valid licence drives your car and causes damage, your insurer may decline the claim.
- Wear and Tear - General wear and tear, mechanical breakdowns, and gradual deterioration are typically not covered under motor insurance policies.
Important Limitations
- Named Driver Age Limits - Some policies apply minimum and maximum driver age limits. Drivers outside those limits may not be covered even if listed on the policy.
- Passenger Number Restrictions - Some policies cap the number of passengers you can carry. Check the condition before driving with a full car.
- Courtesy Car Limits - A courtesy car may not be provided in every claim scenario, and where offered it may be a smaller category of vehicle than your own.
Optional Extras Worth Adding
Your standard policy is designed to cover the basics. These extras fill the gaps that matter most after a construction and use 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 cover the cost of replacing your keys if they are lost or stolen, subject to policy limits and conditions.
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 help cover the cost of repairing or replacing your windscreen without affecting your no claims discount, depending on your policy terms.
What Affects the Cost of Car Insurance With a CU40 Conviction?
Your quote depends on your penalty points, your overall driving history, and whether you have any other convictions. A CU40 tells insurers you were caught driving with defective steering, which they treat as a vehicle maintenance risk.
Here are the key factors that could affect your price.
| Key Factor | Impact on Your Price |
|---|---|
| Your CU40 conviction | CU40 is a 3-point endorsement for defective steering. It may result in a moderate premium loading. |
| Time since offence | Your price could drop each year as the CU40 ages. A conviction from several years ago may cost less to insure than a recent one. |
| Other convictions on your licence | A CU40 on top of other motoring convictions may increase your premium further. |
| Your vehicle | Higher insurance group cars cost more to insure. A lower-group vehicle could help offset any conviction loading. |
| Your age and experience | Younger or less experienced drivers may face higher premiums, especially with a conviction on their record. |
| Where you live | Your postcode affects your premium. Areas with higher claim rates typically cost more to insure. |
| Annual mileage | Lower mileage could mean a lower premium. Only declare what you expect to drive. |
Price Insight: CU40 carries 3 points, the same as most construction and use codes. Insurers may still add a loading, but specialist brokers often find that the impact is moderate compared to higher-point convictions like CU80 (6 points).
Ways to Cut Your Car Insurance Cost
A CU40 could push your premium up, but there are practical steps that could help bring it down.
Compare at Every Renewal
Do not auto-renew. Your CU40 loading could reduce each year as the conviction ages. Get quotes above to check.
Keep Your Vehicle Well Maintained
Regular servicing with documented steering checks shows insurers the fault was a one-off. Keep receipts - some brokers ask for evidence of ongoing maintenance.
Choose a Lower Insurance Group Car
Cars in lower insurance groups cost less to insure. If you are changing vehicles, checking the group first could help offset your CU40 loading.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
A higher excess could lower your premium. Only offer what you could genuinely afford if you needed to claim.
Build a Clean Record
Each conviction-free, claim-free year after your CU40 shows insurers the steering fault was an isolated incident, not a pattern.
Reduce Your Annual Mileage
Lower mileage means lower risk in the eyes of most insurers. Only declare what you realistically expect to drive.
Saving Tip: A mechanical fault you could not have predicted should not define your insurance future. Compare quotes above to find specialist brokers who price CU40 convictions based on your full record, not just the endorsement code.
How to Compare CU40 Car Insurance Quotes
Getting quotes after a CU40 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 registration, make, model, and where you park overnight.
Add Your Personal Details
Enter your name, address, date of birth, and occupation.
Declare Your CU40
Select the CU40 conviction code, enter the date of offence, and the number of points. Declare any other endorsements too.
Compare Your Quotes
Review the quotes from specialist brokers and choose the cover that suits your needs.
What Our Expert Says
Steering faults rarely announce themselves. A slight pull, an odd noise, a vague feeling through the wheel — and then suddenly you are dealing with a conviction code for something that crept up without warning.
CU40 covers driving with defective steering, and it catches drivers off guard because the MOT does not test every steering component under load. A fault can develop between tests and remain invisible until a roadside inspection or, worse, an accident. Penalties include 3 points and a fine, with more serious cases reaching court.
Specialist brokers see CU40 cases where the driver had no reasonable way of knowing about the defect. They work with underwriters who weigh the circumstances, not just the code on your licence.
Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
Common CU40 Car Insurance Questions
Related Construction and Use Codes
CU40 sits within the construction and use family of endorsement codes.
You may also want to consider temporary car insurance for convicted drivers if you need short-term cover.
Using a vehicle with defective brakes
Compare CU10 quotesCausing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or parts in dangerous condition
Compare CU20 quotesUsing a vehicle with defective tyre(s)
Compare CU30 quotesCausing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers
Compare CU50 quotesBreach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, mobile telephones etc
Compare CU80 quotesSearch & compare quotes from UK CU40 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 – If Your Vehicle Fails Its MOT – What happens when your vehicle fails its MOT test, including dangerous and major defects.
- DVSA – Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency – The agency responsible for roadside vehicle inspections and MOT standards.
