Why won't mainstream insurers quote you?
If you have an unspent motoring conviction on your licence, comparison sites and mainstream insurers will often return either no quote at all, or a quote that's so high it's effectively a rejection. This isn't because insurance is impossible — it's because mainstream panels are built for low-risk profiles.
Specialist brokers and underwriters exist precisely for drivers in your situation. They have access to insurance schemes that mainstream comparison sites don't show.
Which conviction codes affect insurance most?
UK driving convictions are recorded as endorsement codes by the DVLA. Each code carries a different insurance impact. The most common:
| Code | Meaning | Points | Stays on licence |
|---|
| SP30 | Exceeding speed limit on public road | 3–6 | 4 years |
| SP50 | Exceeding speed limit on motorway | 3–6 | 4 years |
| CD10 | Driving without due care and attention | 3–9 | 4 years |
| CD20 | Driving without reasonable consideration for others | 3–9 | 4 years |
| DR10 | Driving with alcohol above the limit | 3–11 | 11 years |
| DR20 | Driving while unfit through drink | 3–11 | 11 years |
| DR40 | In charge of vehicle while above alcohol limit | 10 | 11 years |
| DG10 | Driving with drug levels above the specified limit | 3–11 | 11 years |
| IN10 | Using vehicle uninsured against third-party risks | 6–8 | 4 years |
| TT99 | Disqualification (totting up 12+ points) | — | 4 years |
What is the 'spent conviction' rule?
Most motoring convictions are spent after 5 years under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, even if the points stay on your licence longer. Once a conviction is spent, you have no legal obligation to declare it to insurers — even if they ask.
The exception is drink and drug driving (DR and DG codes), which have longer rehabilitation periods. But even these become spent after 5 years for sentences under 6 months — which most are.
If your conviction is spent, declaring it anyway costs you money. Always check before you renew.
The two clocks on a motoring conviction (England & Wales)
| Clock | How long | What it means for you |
|---|
| On your DVLA licence record |
4 years (most codes) or 11 years (DR/DG drink-drug & causing-death codes) |
The endorsement is visible on your driving record for this long. It's the figure shown on your licence check. |
| Declarable to insurers |
Usually 5 years |
Most insurers' application questions ask only about convictions in the last 5 years. |
| Once spent |
From year 5 onwards |
You no longer have to declare it — even if asked — and it's unlawful for an insurer to load your premium because of it. |
Drink and drug codes (DR/DG) stay on the licence for 11 years, but a standard DR10 with a non-custodial sentence is still normally spent at the 5-year mark — see our full guide to DR10 insurance after a drink-driving ban. We also cover TT99 totting-up bans, DG10 drug driving, IN10 uninsured driving and car insurance with points in dedicated guides.
How do you lower your convicted driver premium?
1. Use a specialist broker, not a comparison site
Specialist brokers have access to underwriter panels that mainstream comparison sites don't carry. They quote drivers with convictions every day. Specialist comparison panels include insurers who consider convicted drivers, alongside the mainstream names. The very hardest cases — recent or multiple serious convictions — may still need a specialist broker who isn't on a comparison panel, and we'll say so; but for most convicted drivers this is the fastest route to a real quote.
2. Consider telematics
Several specialist insurers offer black-box policies for convicted drivers. Demonstrating safe driving over 12 months can dramatically reduce future premiums.
3. Check whether your conviction is spent
If it is, stop declaring it. Many drivers continue to declare spent convictions out of habit, costing themselves hundreds of pounds a year.
4. Pay annually, not monthly
Monthly direct debits carry effective interest of 20–25%. If you can pay annually, do.
5. Increase your voluntary excess
For convicted drivers, raising the voluntary excess from £100 to £500 can cut premiums significantly.