Why Compare MS70 Car Insurance?
Eyesight Convictions Alarm Many Insurers
An MS70 suggests a physical limitation that could affect driving safety. Mainstream insurers may add a heavy loading or decline entirely. Specialist brokers find insurers who assess corrected eyesight cases individually.
Corrected Vision Changes Everything
If you have since corrected the defect with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery, your risk profile looks very different. Specialist brokers present this context to insurers who understand the distinction between past and present eyesight.
Avoid Paying for a Resolved Issue
Once your vision is corrected, an MS70 from years ago should not define your premium forever. Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who factor in your current eyesight status when sourcing quotes.
MS70 Car Insurance At A Glance
- MS70 means you were convicted of driving with uncorrected defective eyesight, contrary to Section 96 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
- The penalty is 3 points on your licence and a fine of up to £1,000. The court may also impose a discretionary driving ban. The endorsement stays on your licence for 4 years from date of offence.
- The legal standard requires you to read a number plate from 20 metres. If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet this standard, you must wear them every time you drive (GOV.UK, as at March 2026).
- Click the green button above to compare MS70 quotes from specialist brokers.
What Is an MS70 Conviction?
MS70 is a statutory offence under Section 96 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 – driving with uncorrected defective eyesight. Here’s how the law defines it:
- Who it applies to – Any driver who drives a motor vehicle on a road when their eyesight does not meet the required standard, or when they cannot meet it without glasses or contact lenses but are driving without them.
- What counts as defective eyesight – Being unable to read a standard car number plate from 20 metres away in good daylight, with glasses or contact lenses if you need them. The standard also covers visual acuity and, in many cases, adequate field of vision.
- How the duty arises – Every time you drive. If you need corrective lenses to meet the legal standard, you must wear them throughout the journey. Eyesight can change gradually, so drivers are expected to have it checked regularly.
| Penalty | Details |
|---|---|
| Penalty Points | 3 |
| Driving Ban | Discretionary |
| Maximum Fine | Up to £1,000 |
| Time on Licence | 4 years on licence from date of offence |
| Spent After | Depends on sentence under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A fine becomes spent 1 year from the date of conviction under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 |
MS70Can You Get Insurance With an MS70?
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 possible depending on the circumstances.
- 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 MS70 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 for a relatively minor 3-point endorsement.
- Eyesight-specific treatment – Some insurers ask about the underlying vision issue. If your eyesight is now corrected and meets the legal standard, many insurers will treat the risk as resolved and apply a modest loading rather than declining.
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers experienced with miscellaneous motoring convictions including eyesight offences. If you need short-term cover while comparing, temporary car insurance with convictions may bridge the gap.
Who Needs MS70 Car Insurance?
An MS70 is a relatively minor endorsement in terms of points, but the eyesight element may concern some insurers. Riders can also compare convicted driver motorbike insurance. Here is who typically benefits from comparing MS70 car insurance quotes.
Failed A Roadside Number Plate Test
An officer asked you to read a plate from 20 metres and the letters would not come into focus. It happened without warning, and the realisation that your eyesight had changed was almost as unsettling as the conviction itself.
Glasses Prescription Was Out Of Date
You have worn glasses for years and assumed your prescription was still good enough. It was not, and the gap between your last eye test and the roadside check is now a conviction on your licence.
Drove Without Realising Your Eyesight Had Changed
You genuinely did not know. The change was so gradual that you adapted without noticing - sitting closer to signs, squinting at distant objects. Finding out through a police stop feels like the worst possible way to learn.
Contact Lens Fell Out During A Drive
One lens shifted or fell out mid-journey. You were trying to get home safely, and being stopped in that moment meant failing a test you would normally pass with ease. The timing feels cruelly unlucky.
Condition Developed Between Eye Tests
Your last eye test was clear. A condition developed in the months since - perhaps quickly, perhaps triggered by medication or health changes. The conviction arrived before your next routine appointment could have caught it.
What MS70 Car Insurance Covers
An MS70 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. With only 3 points, most insurers will still offer you cover, though some may ask questions about the circumstances.
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 |
Cover Tip: With only 3 points from an MS70, all three cover levels should still be available. Do not assume your options are limited - compare all three.
What MS70 Car Insurance May Not Cover
A single exclusion could mean your whole claim gets declined. Here is what MS70 car insurance usually does not cover.
Standard Exclusions
- Undeclared Convictions - If you do not tell your insurer about your MS70 or any other endorsements, they could invalidate your policy and may decline all claims.
- Driving With Uncorrected Eyesight Again - If you drive without wearing your prescribed glasses or lenses and cause an accident, your insurer could decline the claim.
- Driving Under the Influence - If you cause an accident while impaired by drink or drugs, your insurer could decline your claim regardless of your MS70.
- Wear and Tear - Gradual damage to your car, like worn tyres or rust, is not covered by any motor policy.
Important Limitations
- Higher Excess - Your insurer may set a higher compulsory excess because of your MS70. Check your policy documents before agreeing.
- Named Driver Restrictions - Some policies may limit who else can drive your car after an eyesight conviction.
- Eyesight Condition Disclosure - Some insurers may require proof that your eyesight now meets the legal standard before offering cover.
- Vehicle Value Cap - Some specialist policies may cap the value of car they will insure after a conviction.
Optional Extras Worth Adding
Your standard policy is designed to cover the basics. These extras fill gaps that could matter after a defective eyesight 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 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 be needed if you have built up years of no claims and want to keep your discount safe after a claim, subject to insurer acceptance criteria.
May help cover the cost of replacing your keys if they are lost or stolen, subject to policy limits and conditions.
What Affects the Cost of Car Insurance with a MS70 Conviction?
Your quote depends on the number of points on your licence, any other miscellaneous offence convictions, and your overall driving history. An MS70 carries 3 points, which is at the lower end. Here are the key factors that could affect your price.
| Key Factor | Impact on Your Price |
|---|---|
| Your MS70 conviction | An eyesight conviction signals a potential safety concern to insurers. The loading could be significant if uncorrected. |
| Whether your eyesight is now corrected | If you now wear glasses, contact lenses, or have had corrective surgery, some insurers may view you more favourably than someone whose eyesight remains uncorrected. |
| Time since conviction | Your price could drop each year as the MS70 ages. After 4 years, it leaves your licence entirely. |
| Other convictions | An MS70 alongside other motoring convictions could push your price up more sharply than the eyesight offence alone. |
| Your age | Younger and older drivers may both face higher premiums. Age-related eyesight changes could concern some insurers. |
| Your car | Higher insurance group cars cost more to insure regardless of convictions. A modest vehicle could help offset your loading. |
| Where you live | Your postcode affects your base price before any conviction loading is applied. |
| Claims history | A clean claims record could help offset some of the loading from your MS70. |
Price Insight: An eyesight conviction feels personal, but insurers treat it as a standard 3-point endorsement. If you have corrected the defect, your loading could be on the lower side.
Ways to Cut Your Car Insurance Cost
An MS70 may add a modest loading to your premium, but there are steps you could take to keep the cost down. If you need short-term cover, temporary car insurance for convicted drivers is available. Here are some ways to cut what you pay.
Compare at Every Renewal
Your MS70 loading could reduce each year. Do not auto-renew without checking - your insurer may not pass the improvement on. Get quotes above.
Get Your Eyesight Corrected
If you have fixed the defect since your MS70, tell your insurer. Some may reduce the loading once they know your vision now meets the legal standard.
Build a Clean Record
Each conviction-free, claim-free year after your MS70 could help reduce your premium at renewal. Time works in your favour.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
A higher excess could cut your premium. Make sure it is an amount you could afford if you needed to claim.
Pay Annually If You Can
Monthly payments include interest charges. Paying upfront could save you more on a loaded premium.
Choose a Lower Insurance Group Car
Lower-group vehicles cost less to insure. If you are changing cars, checking the group first could reduce your conviction-loaded premium.
Park Off the Street
Off-street parking is lower risk. A driveway or garage could help reduce your premium - make sure your insurer knows.
Saving Tip: An eyesight conviction does not define you as a driver. If you have corrected the problem since, specialist brokers could find insurers who take that into account. Compare above.
How To Compare MS70 Car Insurance Quotes
Getting quotes after an MS70 does not take long. Clean Green Cars connects you with brokers who cover convicted driver insurance every day. Get started above when you are ready.
Enter Your Vehicle Details
Start at the top of this page. Add your registration, make, model, and where you park overnight.
Declare Your MS70
Enter the conviction code, date of conviction, and the 3 penalty points. Be honest about any other endorsements too.
Add Your Driving History
Include any other convictions, past claims, and your no claims discount.
Choose Your Cover Level
Decide between comprehensive, TPFT, or third party only.
Review Your Quotes
Specialist brokers send you quotes based on your details. Compare prices and cover levels, then pick the one that fits.
What Our Expert Says
Eyesight changes gradually. One day you can read every sign clearly, and then slowly, so slowly you do not notice, things start to blur. Being told your vision is not good enough to drive is worrying - not just because of the conviction, but because it raises questions about every journey you made before someone caught it.
MS70 relates to driving with defective eyesight, tested by the ability to read a number plate from 20 metres. The penalty is 3 points and a discretionary disqualification. For many drivers, the real fear is not the points but the implication - that their independence behind the wheel might be slipping away.
Specialist brokers understand that MS70 often reflects a gradual change rather than wilful neglect. They work with insurers who weigh the fact that the driver has since addressed the problem - new glasses, updated prescription, or a confirmed eye test pass - rather than treating the code as a permanent mark against them.
Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
Common MS70 Car Insurance Questions
How Long Does an MS70 Stay on Your Licence?
Four years from the date of offence. Most insurers ask about the last 5 years.
How Many Points Is an MS70?
Three points. This is at the lower end for motoring endorsements.
What Is the Legal Eyesight Standard for Driving?
You must read a standard number plate from 20 metres. If you need glasses or lenses to do this, you must wear them every time you drive.
Does MS70 Mean I Cannot Drive?
No. It means you were driving without adequate correction, not that you are unfit to drive. With the right glasses or lenses, you can continue driving.
How Much Does MS70 Increase Insurance?
Usually a modest amount. Three points is at the lower end, and the increase could reduce each year.
Is MS70 a Criminal Conviction?
Technically yes, but dealt with by fixed penalty it is unlikely to appear on a standard criminal record check.
What Is the Difference Between MS70 and MS80?
MS70 is for driving with uncorrected eyesight. MS80 is for refusing the eyesight test itself.
Will Getting Laser Eye Surgery Help?
It could. If your eyesight now meets the standard, telling your insurer could help reduce the loading. The endorsement itself remains.
Can I Get Comprehensive Cover With MS70?
Usually yes. Three points is minor and most cover levels should still be available.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
A specialist broker contacts you directly with quotes. There is no obligation to buy.
Related Conviction Codes
Looking for information about other conviction codes? Browse related offences below, or visit the Miscellaneous Offences hub for the full list.
Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position
Compare MS10 quotesUnlawful pillion riding
Compare MS20 quotesMotor racing on the highway
Compare MS50 quotesOffences not covered by other codes
Compare MS60 quotesRefusing to submit to an eyesight test
Compare MS80 quotesFailure to give information as to identity of driver etc.
Compare MS90 quotesSearch & compare quotes from UK MS70 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 – Driving Eyesight Rules – The legal eyesight standards you must meet to drive, including the number plate test distance.
