Introduction
A driving conviction doesn't need to mean the end of affordable cover, but it does mean insurers will price your policy differently, and failing to declare one can undermine a claim just when you need it most. Understanding what the codes mean and how the disclosure process works helps you find accurate, suitable cover.
This guide explains the most common conviction codes, how they affect premiums, and when a conviction becomes spent. It pairs well with our guides on car insurance cancellation and driving without insurance.
Key Terms Explained
- Unspent Conviction
- A conviction that still legally must be declared, as the applicable rehabilitation period has not yet passed.
- Spent Conviction
- A conviction that no longer needs to be declared once its rehabilitation period under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 has ended.
- Conviction Code
- A short code such as SP30 or DR10 used on a driving licence to identify the type of offence committed.
- Endorsement
- A record added to a driving licence following a conviction, typically including penalty points.
- Non-Disclosure
- Failing to inform your insurer of a material fact, such as an unspent conviction, which can affect a claim's validity.
- Specialist Convicted Driver Insurer
- An insurer that focuses on providing cover for drivers with unspent convictions, often more accurately priced than mainstream declines.
Common Conviction Codes
Conviction codes group offences by type, and each carries a different level of severity in the eyes of insurers. The most common codes drivers encounter include:
| Code | Offence Type |
|---|---|
| SP | Speeding |
| CD | Careless or inconsiderate driving |
| DR | Drink driving |
| DG | Drug driving |
| IN | Driving without insurance |
| CU | Using a vehicle in an unsafe condition |
| AC | Accident offences, including failing to stop or report |
Why Insurers Treat Codes Differently
Insurers assess conviction codes based on what they reveal about future risk. A single speeding conviction is generally treated as a lower risk indicator than drink or drug driving, which are strongly associated with a higher likelihood of future claims.
Common Situations
Convictions From Before Passing Your Test
Convictions are generally tied to your driving record after passing your test, so an offence from before you passed typically doesn't need declaring, though you should confirm this directly with your insurer if you're unsure which applies to your circumstances.
Multiple Convictions
Holding more than one unspent conviction narrows the number of insurers willing to offer cover and typically increases the premium further, though it's rare for a driver to become completely uninsurable as a result.
Recent Convictions
A conviction from the last twelve months tends to carry more weight than an older one, as insurers view recent offences as a stronger indicator of current risk.
Convictions Alongside a Clean Recent History
An older unspent conviction combined with a clean record since often results in a smaller premium impact than a recent conviction, since insurers weigh the overall trend as well as the individual offence.
How Convictions Affect Your Premium
Offence Severity
More serious codes, particularly DR, DG, and IN, generally lead to larger premium increases or a decline from mainstream insurers than lower-severity codes like SP.
Time Since Conviction
Premiums are typically highest immediately after a conviction and tend to reduce over time as the offence recedes further into your driving history, even before it becomes fully spent.
Declaring a Conviction Correctly
- Check your licence for the exact code and date. Accuracy matters when declaring.
- Confirm whether the conviction is spent. Check current rehabilitation periods if unsure.
- Declare all unspent convictions when quoting. Don't wait to be asked directly.
- Compare mainstream and specialist insurers. Pricing can vary considerably.
- Keep confirmation of what you declared. Useful if a dispute arises later.
This applies specifically to actual convictions and points. A speed awareness course is a genuinely different situation, since it carries no conviction and no points; see our Speed Awareness Courses and Car Insurance UK guide for how that's treated instead.
When Convictions Become Spent
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 sets out when certain convictions become spent, after which they generally no longer need to be declared to insurers. Rehabilitation periods vary depending on the offence and any sentence imposed, so it's worth checking current guidance rather than assuming a fixed timeframe applies to every conviction. Insurers may still ask specifically about unspent convictions, so declaring accurately based on current status remains essential at every renewal or new policy application.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a conviction is spent without checking
- Not declaring a conviction because points have reduced
- Only checking with one insurer before assuming cover isn't available
- Forgetting to declare a conviction at renewal, not just at initial quote
- Confusing penalty points with the conviction code itself
- Not keeping records of what was declared and when
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance With Convictions
Do I have to declare a conviction if points have already been removed from my licence?
You generally only need to declare unspent convictions, so once a conviction is spent under the relevant rehabilitation periods, it typically doesn't need to be declared.
Will a speeding conviction always increase my premium?
In most cases yes, though the size of the increase depends on the specific code, number of points, and your overall driving history.
What is the difference between SP30 and other speeding codes?
SP30 is the standard speeding code, while other codes reflect specific circumstances such as speeding on a motorway or exceeding a temporary limit.
Can I get insurance with a DR (drink driving) conviction?
Yes, though standard insurers may decline or charge significantly more, so specialist convicted driver insurers are often more suitable.
Do I need to declare a conviction from before I passed my test?
Generally no, since convictions are tied to your driving record after passing your test, though you should confirm this with your insurer if unsure.
How long do convictions typically stay on my licence?
This varies by offence type, but many convictions remain on your licence for around four years, with more serious offences lasting longer.
Does the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 apply to driving convictions?
Yes, it sets out when certain convictions become spent, though insurers may still ask about unspent convictions specifically.
Will not declaring a conviction void my policy?
Yes, non-disclosure of a material fact like an unspent conviction can lead to a claim being reduced, rejected, or the policy being cancelled.
Are specialist convicted driver insurers more expensive?
Not necessarily more than a mainstream insurer would charge for the same risk, and they're often better placed to price convictions accurately.
Can multiple convictions make me uninsurable?
It's rare to be completely uninsurable, though multiple or serious convictions may significantly narrow the number of insurers willing to offer cover.
Conclusion
Declaring unspent convictions accurately, understanding what each code means, and knowing when a conviction becomes spent all help you find fairly priced, valid cover. Where mainstream insurers offer limited options, specialist convicted driver insurers can often provide more suitable pricing and terms.