Compare DR70 Car Insurance Quotes
- Roadside Test Convictions Considered
- Prices Can Ease Over Time
- Three Levels Of Cover
- Compare In One Go
DR70 Preliminary Test Conviction: Points, Ban And Years On Your Licence
Yes, you can look for car insurance with a DR70, through specialist brokers who search for insurers that consider drink and drug-related convictions. MoneyHelper says an unspent conviction will probably mean a specialist or non-standard policy.
- Points 4 Penalty points, unless the court bans you instead.
- On your licence 4 years From the offence date, or from conviction if you're banned.
- Ban Possible Not automatic: the court may disqualify you.
- Insurers may see it 4 years Insurers may be able to find out about it any time in those 4 years.
The maximum fine is £1,000. Prison isn't one of the penalties for a DR70.
What Is A DR70 Motoring Conviction?
DR70 is the endorsement code for failing to co-operate with a preliminary test without a reasonable excuse. A preliminary test is one of the first checks the police can ask for: a breath test, an impairment test or a drug test, given at or near the place the officer asks for it, or in some cases at a police station.
It's listed under both the drink and the drug codes, because the test can be for either. It's separate from failing to provide a specimen for analysis, the later step, which is DR30 or DR60.
DR70 Conviction Penalties In Court
The penalty table in the Road Traffic Offenders Act sets a level 3 fine, which is up to £1,000, and 4 points, and the court can ban you instead of giving points. Unlike most drink codes, it doesn't carry a prison sentence.
4 points still count. 12 or more points within 3 years normally means a ban, and GOV.UK says a new driver's licence is cancelled with 6 or more points within 2 years of passing the test, which means passing the theory and practical tests again.
When The Police Can Ask For A Preliminary Test
A police officer can require you to co-operate with a preliminary test if they reasonably suspect you're, or have been, driving, attempting to drive or in charge of a vehicle on a road or other public place with alcohol or a drug in your body. They can also ask after a traffic offence while the vehicle was moving, or after an accident.
Uniform And Accident Rules
Except after an accident, the officer giving the test must be in uniform. After an accident, the test can be asked of anyone the officer reasonably believes was driving, attempting to drive or in charge of the vehicle.
What A DR70 Doesn't Bring
The drink-drive course can't cut a ban for a DR70, as it isn't one of the offences the course covers. A DR70 on its own also doesn't make you a high risk offender: the refusal triggers cover specimens for analysis, not preliminary tests.
Sources: the law on preliminary tests, the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 and the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999, checked 14 October 2026.
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.
Other Drink And Drug Driving Conviction Codes
Can You Get Car Insurance After A DR70 Conviction?
Yes. A DR70 for failing to co-operate with a preliminary test carries fewer points than most DR codes, though insurers will still ask about it, and some may not quote. Read about drink-drive codes and car insurance for the general rules.
Getting Back On The Road After A DR70 Ban
A DR70 doesn't always mean a ban, but the court can disqualify you. If it does, don't drive until the ban has ended, and have cover in place before your first drive. If you were banned for 56 days or more, you must apply for a new licence before driving again. The next steps are in insuring a car after a ban.
Do You Have To Tell Your Insurer About A DR70?
Yes, whenever the insurer's questions cover it. Give the code, offence date, conviction date and points exactly as your 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 DR70 Conviction?
Car insurance after a DR70 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.
Driving a van or riding a motorbike? Those insurers may ask about a DR70 too, so see van insurance after a DR70 or motorbike cover with a DR70.
Please note that policy features, benefits, terms and conditions vary among insurance providers, so always check the policy wording.
Cover Tip: Check the cover matches how you use the car. MIB says business trips beyond your commute need business use, and making deliveries needs hire and reward cover. If you deliver for a living, see cover for courier work.
Telling Your Insurer About A DR70 Conviction
Insurers may be able to find out about a DR70 for the whole time it's on your record, so answer their conviction questions accurately. For timings, read how long you declare a conviction for.
- 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 DR70 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 from the start, so an ongoing claim is declined.
- When A DR70 Is Spent - In England and Wales, an adult's endorsement is spent 5 years from conviction (2.5 years if you were under 18), and a ban longer than 5 years is spent when it ends. So a DR70 can still need declaring after it leaves your record. MoneyHelper says you don't need to declare a spent conviction when you apply for insurance, even if you're asked.
How Does A Preliminary Test Conviction Affect Your Insurance Price?
There's no single price for car insurance after a DR70. Insurers may charge more for any drink or drug code. These are the things that can shape a quote.
| Key Factor | Impact on your price |
|---|---|
| How recent the DR70 is | A recent conviction may be priced higher. Don't assume the price falls at every renewal, as each insurer sets its own rules. |
| Points or a ban | If the court didn't ban you, you'll have 4 points. If it did, the 4 years on your record run from conviction, not the offence. |
| Other codes on your record | A DR70 alongside another drink or drug code from the same incident, such as DR10, may narrow the choice of insurers and raise the price further. |
| 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: Note two dates and compare again at each: when your DR70 leaves your record after 4 years, and when it's spent, usually 5 years from conviction for an adult in England and Wales. Until it's spent, answer honestly if an insurer asks about it.
How Can You Help Reduce Insurance Costs After A DR70 Conviction?
A DR70 stays in a quote while insurers ask about it, but the details around it are yours to change.
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Ask About A Black Box Policy
Ask whether a black box policy is offered after a DR70. MIB says telematics policies can reward safe driving with lower premiums over time.
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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.
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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.
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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 DR70 Preliminary Test Conviction
A DR70 is one of the lighter drink and drug codes, with 4 points and no prison sentence. But insurers still see a drink or drug code, so it's worth getting the details right when you compare.
A common mix-up is thinking a DR70 counts for less because it's only 4 points. GOV.UK's guide to how long endorsements last says insurers may be able to find out about a 4-year endorsement at any time while it's on your record, and most insurers ask about the last 5 years.
My rule of thumb: check whether your paperwork shows a DR70 on its own or alongside another code, and give every code when an insurer asks.
About this page
This page was written by Susan Difford, Co-Founder and Personal Lines Expert, and reviewed by Ian Beevis, Co-Founder and Insurance Expert. Updated 16 October 2026.
DR70 Preliminary Test Conviction Insurance Questions
Is A DR70 The Same As Refusing A Specimen For Analysis?
No. A DR70 is for failing to co-operate with a preliminary test, the first check. Failing to provide a specimen for analysis is the later step: DR30 if you'd been driving or DR60 if you hadn't.
Will I Be Banned For A DR70?
Not automatically. The court may disqualify you instead of giving 4 points. New drivers can lose their licence if those points take them to 6 or more within 2 years of passing.
Can I Go To Prison For A DR70?
No. The penalty for this offence is a fine of up to £1,000 and 4 points, or a ban instead of points. Prison is not one of the penalties.
Can I Take A Drink-Drive Course After A DR70?
No. The course can only cut a ban for the drink offences the law lists, and failing to co-operate with a preliminary test isn't one of them.
How Long Do I Need To Declare A DR70?
Whenever an insurer's questions cover it, until it's spent. For an adult in England and Wales an endorsement is spent 5 years from conviction, which can be after a DR70 has left your record.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who consider DR70 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 DR70 Conviction
Have these to hand before you get quotes.
- Your DR70 offence date and conviction date
- Any other codes from the same incident
- Your points, and any ban start and end dates
- The car's registration and where it's kept overnight
- Your annual mileage, type of use and claims history
Get Quotes For A DR70 Conviction
Sources For DR70 Preliminary Test Conviction Facts
- GOV.UK: endorsement codes and penalty points - DR70 points and years on your record (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, schedule 2 - the fine, discretionary ban and 4 points (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 6 - when the police can ask for a preliminary test (checked 14 Oct 2026).
- GOV.UK: how long endorsements stay - when insurers may be able to find out about it (checked 14 Oct 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 - 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).
- GOV.UK: rehabilitation periods - when endorsements and bans are spent (checked 15 Oct 2026).