DG10 Drug Driving Conviction: Points, Ban And Years On Your Licence
Yes, you can look for car insurance with a DG10 once your drug driving ban has ended, through specialist brokers who search for insurers that consider drug drivers. GOV.UK says car insurance costs will increase significantly.
- Points3–11Only if the court exceptionally doesn't ban you; normally it records a ban instead.
- On your licence11 yearsFrom the date of conviction.
- Ban1 year+Usually at least 1 year; normally 3+ years after a drink or drug driving conviction in the 10 years before.
- Insurers may see it5 yearsThe first 5 of the 11 years (30 months if you're under 18).
Penalties can also include an unlimited fine, up to 6 months in prison and a criminal record.
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What Is A DG10 Motoring Conviction?
DG10 is the drug driving code for driving, or attempting to drive, with a specified drug in your blood above the legal limit. In everyday terms, it's driving with drugs in your system, even if they hadn't affected your driving.
GOV.UK's guide to drug driving and the law says it's illegal to drive if you're unfit through legal or illegal drugs, or if you have certain levels of illegal drugs in your blood. The DG10 offence is the second of these, and its limits also cover some medicines. People often call both driving under the influence of drugs, but only the unfit offence (DR80) turns on how your driving was affected. The police can also use a roadside drug kit to screen for cannabis and cocaine. The other drug driving codes are explained on our drug driving convictions page.
Prescription Medicines And A Drug Driving Conviction
Taking a prescribed medicine doesn't automatically mean a DG10. GOV.UK names medicines such as diazepam, methadone, morphine and codeine. You can drive after taking them if they were prescribed to you and you followed the advice on how to take them. They also mustn't make you unfit to drive, even if you're above the limit.
The law on driving over a drug limit also gives a medical defence. The drug must have been prescribed or supplied for medical or dental purposes, and you must have taken it as directed, including any advice on how long to wait before driving. GOV.UK adds that the defence applies provided you're not impaired. If you're unsure whether you should drive, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
DG10Drug Driving Limits For A DG10 Conviction
Each of the 17 drugs has its own drug driving limit, measured in microgrammes per litre of blood (µg/L). 8 drugs mostly linked to illegal use have zero-tolerance limits, 8 drugs mostly linked to medical use have risk-based limits, and amphetamine has its own approach. The limits came into force in England and Wales on 2 March 2015, and amphetamine was added on 14 April 2015.
| Drug | Limit (µg/L) |
|---|---|
| Benzoylecgonine | 50 |
| Cocaine | 10 |
| Cannabis (delta-9-THC) | 2 |
| Ketamine | 20 |
| LSD | 1 |
| Methylamphetamine | 10 |
| MDMA | 10 |
| Heroin (6-monoacetylmorphine) | 5 |
| Drug | Limit (µg/L) |
|---|---|
| Clonazepam | 50 |
| Diazepam | 550 |
| Flunitrazepam | 300 |
| Lorazepam | 100 |
| Methadone | 500 |
| Morphine | 80 |
| Oxazepam | 300 |
| Temazepam | 1,000 |
| Amphetamine (separate approach) | 250 |
Source: GOV.UK drug-driving collection, matching the limits in the 2014 regulations as amended in 2015. Scotland has had the same 17 limits since 21 October 2019. The drug driving limit law doesn't cover Northern Ireland, but you could still be arrested there if you're unfit to drive.
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 DG10 Conviction?
Yes. Once your drug driving ban has ended, specialist brokers can look for insurers that consider a DG10. Not every insurer will quote, and prices are likely to be higher while the conviction is recent. Our guide to finding car insurance with a conviction explains the general rules, such as which convictions insurers ask about and for how long.
Getting Back On The Road After A Drug Driving Ban
Don't drive until your ban has fully ended and you're entitled to drive again, and have cover in place before your first drive. The next steps are in our guide to getting insured after any ban.
Company Car Or Fleet Drivers With DG10
If you drive a company car or a work van, your DG10 isn't only between you and your own insurer, because the vehicle belongs to your employer. Ask your employer what their rules are before you drive for work again.
Your employer can see the conviction too. The GOV.UK drug driving law page puts it plainly: if you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction on your licence. You can give them a licence check code from the view or share your driving licence information page on GOV.UK (each code lasts 21 days), and employers that check lots of licences can use a DVLA service to do it in bulk, so a DG10 won't stay hidden. Employers are advised to have a policy that asks staff to report new convictions, so tell yours early, and sort your own cover for any driving outside work.
What Cover Can You Get With A DG10 Conviction?
Drug driving car insurance comes in the same three levels as any car policy: comprehensive, third party, fire and theft, and third party only. Comprehensive cover may still be available through specialist brokers after a DG10. Some insurers may only offer third party, fire and theft or third party only, or may ask for a higher excess or a black box.
Driving a van or riding a motorbike? Those insurers may ask about a DG10 too, so see van insurance with a DG10 or DG10 on a motorbike.
Please note that policy features, benefits, terms and conditions vary among insurance providers, so always check the policy wording.
Cover Tip: Ask for comprehensive quotes as well as third party only when you give your DG10 details. Third party only doesn't always cost less.
Telling Your Insurer About A DG10 Conviction
Answer each conviction question accurately, giving the DG10 code, conviction date and ban length exactly as your court paperwork shows.
- Take Reasonable Care With Your Answers - 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. That duty comes from the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012.
- When A DG10 Becomes Spent - In England and Wales the endorsement is spent 5 years from conviction (2.5 years if you were under 18), though if you got more than one sentence, such as a ban, the one that ends latest decides when it's spent. Once it's spent, MoneyHelper says you don't need to declare it, even if you're asked.
- What Can Happen If An Answer Is Wrong - The Financial Ombudsman says an insurer might charge more, restrict the policy, pay a claim only in part, or cancel the policy as if it never existed, which means any ongoing claim will be declined.
- Your Employer May See It Too - If you drive for work, your employer can check your licence. See the company car and fleet note above, and check your driving-for-work rules.
How Does A Drug Driving Conviction Affect Your Insurance Price?
There's no single price for car insurance after a drug driving ban. Leave out a detail, such as the ban length or another code, and your DG10 quote may not match the cover you end up with.
| Key Factor | Impact on your price |
|---|---|
| How recent the DG10 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 | A longer ban may point to a more serious case. If you were convicted of a drink- or drug-driving offence in the 10 years before this one, the court must normally ban you for at least 3 years. |
| Other codes on your record | A DG10 alongside other endorsements, such as a drink driving code, may narrow the choice of insurers and raise the price further. |
| The car you drive | Its value, power and any modifications all count. A powerful or modified car may be harder to insure after a DG10. |
| Mileage, use and parking | Give a realistic mileage and the right use. Where you park overnight is part of every quote, so give the place the car is usually kept. |
The quotes you get will depend on your own details.
Price Insight: Quote with your exact DG10 conviction date. A conviction from several years ago may be priced differently from a recent one, and each insurer draws its own lines.
How Can You Help Reduce Insurance Costs After A DG10 Conviction?
You can't take a DG10 out of a quote while an insurer asks about it, but you can change the details around it.
Ask About A Black Box Policy
Ask whether a black box policy is available. After a DG10 it records how you actually drive, though not every insurer offers one.
Check The Insurance Group First
Check the insurance group before you buy a car after your ban. A lower-group, unmodified car may be easier to insure with a DG10.
Keep The Excess Affordable
Raise the voluntary excess only to a level you could afford to pay if you claimed. A higher excess may lower the premium.
Pay Annually If You Can
Pay upfront if you can. Monthly instalments may add interest on top of a DG10 premium.
Our Expert On A DG10 Drug Driving Conviction
Getting a DG10 is a serious moment, and it can feel as if every insurer will say no. You're far from alone: THINK!'s drug driving campaign page reports that 21,791 people were convicted of drug driving offences in England and Wales in 2025.
A common mix-up is treating the 11 years on your record as 11 years of the same price. The endorsement stays for 11 years, but GOV.UK's guide to how long endorsements last says the window when insurers may be able to find out about it is the first 5.
My rule of thumb: write down your conviction date, offence date and ban end date before you ask for a single quote, and use the same dates every time. Matching details make quotes you can actually compare.
Insurance Expert & Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
DG10 Drug Driving Conviction Insurance Questions
Will I Lose My Licence For A DG10?
Usually, yes. A DG10 ban is normally at least a year, even for a first offence. If banned for 56 days or more, you must apply for a new licence before driving again.
Is DG10 The Same As Drink Driving (DR10)?
No. DG10 is driving with a specified drug in your blood above the legal limit. DR10 is driving or attempting to drive above the alcohol limit.
Can I Be A Named Driver With A DG10?
Possibly. It depends on whether the main driver's insurer accepts a DG10 on the policy, and it may raise the price.
Can I Get Temporary Cover With A DG10?
Possibly, once your ban has ended, though fewer short-term insurers may accept a drug driving conviction.
Is A DG10 A Criminal Record?
It can be. GOV.UK says you may get a criminal record for drug driving, and may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who consider DG10 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 Drug Driving Conviction
Have these to hand before you get quotes.
- Your DG10 conviction date and offence date
- Your ban start and end dates
- Your points and any other conviction codes
- The car's registration and where it's kept overnight
- Your annual mileage and claims history
Compare DG10 Drug Driving Insurance Quotes
Sources For DG10 Drug Driving Conviction Facts
- GOV.UK - Drug Driving Law - The offence, the penalties and the rules for prescribed medicines (checked 30 Sep 2026).
- GOV.UK - Drug Driving Collection - The 17 drug limits and when they came into force (checked 30 Sep 2026).
- GOV.UK - Endorsement Codes - Points and years on your record for each drug driving code (checked 30 Sep 2026).
- Financial Ombudsman - Misrepresentation - What an insurer can do if an answer is wrong (checked 1 Oct 2026).
- MoneyHelper - Insurance If You Have A Criminal Conviction - Spent convictions (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).
- GOV.UK - Rehabilitation Periods - When endorsements and bans are spent (checked 15 Oct 2026).
- GOV.UK - View Or Share Your Driving Licence Information - The licence check code you can give an employer, valid for 21 days (checked 16 Oct 2026).
- GOV.UK - Employing People To Drive - How employers check driving licence information, including DVLA's bulk Access Driver Data service (checked 16 Oct 2026).
- Driving for Better Business - Drink And Drug Driving Update For Employers - National Highways guidance that employers should have a policy for staff to report convictions (checked 16 Oct 2026).
