Drink Driving Insurance

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What is Drink Driving Insurance?

Drink driving insurance is a specialist form of policy that takes into consideration drivers who have a DR code in relation to drink driving offences. Those who have been caught drink driving will have a conviction code such as a DR10 and will have drink driving bans.

If you have a DR conviction code on your licence, it means you will have been caught with over 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. Understanding the legal alcohol limit is crucial, as exceeding it can lead to severe penalties and affect your ability to obtain drink driving insurance.

Policies are versatile but found through more niche insurance providers who are often not on price comparison services.

What Is A Drink Driving Conviction?

A drink driving conviction is a formal judgment or sentence given to an individual who has been found guilty of driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. This conviction is typically recorded on the individual’s driving licence and can have significant consequences. Not only can it lead to increased car insurance premiums, but it can also result in fines, a driving ban, or even imprisonment. Having a drink driving conviction on your record can make it more challenging to find affordable car insurance, as insurers often view convicted drivers as higher risk.

Compare Drink Drivers Insurance Quotes

We know how difficult comparing policies can be. That’s why our trained team are here to help you find dedicated brokers who want to quote you.

Our service is free and impartial with no obligation to buy.

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What our Comparison Expert Says

‘Been caught drink driving? Don’t worry, the specialist brokers we work with are experienced in finding drivers insurance who have been caught over the limit. They will look at your overall driving history and find you a quote that is right for you at the right price!’

‘Comparing quotes from various insurers can help you find cheap car insurance, even if you have a drink driving conviction.’

- Michael Tribe

How our process works

We’ve worked hard to refine our process and keep it as quick, easy and simple as possible for our customers.

Complete Our Quick Quote Form

Provide us with a small amount of information on our quick and easy form. If you don’t want to fill out our form, simply give us a call instead and 1 of our agents will do it for you!

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We look at your individual needs and find you brokers who can save you the most and offer you the best value for money.

You Receive Drink Driving Insurance Quotes

You’ll receive multiple quotes tailored specifically to your own insurance needs.

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Once you have all the quotes you’d like, you pick the right policy for you at the best price.

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What’s Covered By Car Insurance For Drink Drivers?

Your drink driver car insurance quotes include and insure the same things as standard car insurance.

Windscreen Cover

If your windscreen receives a chip or requires complete replacement. Windscreen cover is there to cover the cost of such repairs.

Breakdown & Recover

Should you breakdown at the side of the road, you will need a plan to get going again. Having breakdown and recovery insurance can better insure that you keep moving when you need it most.

Courtesy Car Cover

Courtesy car cover is there to provide you with an alternative vehicle in the event yours is not useable.

No Claims Discount Cover

Even though you will have a major conviction on your drivers licence, if you did not have a crash, you will still have a no claims record that you may wish to protect.

Motor Legal Protection

Motor legal protection is an insurance cover that pays for your legal fees in the event you are involved in a claim and it goes to court.

Wrong Fuel Cover

No one intentionally puts the wrong fuel in their car. If they do though, wrong fuel cover is there to help recover you and sort the problem out.

Can I Get Car Insurance With A Drink Driving Conviction?

There are plenty of options for convicted drink drivers, but you should be aware that they may have specific terms, higher premiums and exclusions.

Having a drink driving conviction on your record can impact how simple it is to get insurance on your vehicle, but it doesn’t necessarily make it impossible.

When considering your personal vehicle insurance you should also think about things like HGV insurance, courier insurance and taxi insurance if you drive for work. You will also need to make your employer aware of this if it needs to be specified on the company fleet policy.

Drink Driving in The UK

Drink driving is a huge problem in the UK, with almost a fifth of fatalities on UK roads being caused by people driving under-the-influence.

Exceeding the legal limit for alcohol can have severe consequences, including higher insurance premiums and potential legal penalties.

Despite these worrying statistics and the many Government campaigns educating drivers on the danger of drink driving, 5% of drivers still admit to drink driving at least once. This may sound small but there are 50,000,000 registered drivers in the UK and if 1 in 20 are drink driving, this is a huge problem.

With these statistics in mind, it’s not too surprising that one of the most common hurdles for those struggling to insure their vehicles is having a previous drink driving conviction on their record. This can make it more difficult to correctly insure a vehicle, and often there is a lot of work to be done with an insurance broker or comparison site to find a policy that works.

Understanding The Law For Drink Driving

The law does allow for a small amount of alcohol to be present but it is only a very low level. It is always the safest policy to not drink at all if you intend to drive. However, below are the conviction codes that make up a drink drive conviction.

If you have different codes to those below, you may want to checkout our convicted driver insurance page.

These drink driving convictions codes are:

DR10 – Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol above the limit
DR20 – Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink
DR30 – Driving or attempting to drive and refusing or failing to supply a specimen
DR40 – In charge of vehicle with an alcohol level above the limit
DR50 – In charge of vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs
DR60 – Failure to provide a specimen for analysis other than driving
DR70 – Failure to provide a specimen for a breath test

What Are The Drink Driving Alcohol Limits In The UK?

In the UK, the legal alcohol limits for drivers vary slightly depending on the region. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the limits are set at 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, and 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine. Scotland, however, has stricter limits: 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, and 67 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine. It’s crucial to stay informed about these limits and remember that the safest approach is to avoid drinking any alcohol if you plan to drive.

How To Reduce Insurance Cost If You Have A Drink Driving Conviction

Being caught drink driving could pose you as a higher risk driver, that said, your driving record generally is still taken into account. Things like your years experience in driving all have an impact.

However, there are a few things you can do to reduce these insurance costs if they are high. Depending on your conviction code, these actions may change which policies are available. Consulting with drink drive insurance specialists can help you find tailored policies and potentially lower your premiums.

Attend a drink driving rehabilitation course

For convictions over 12 months, the court can offer an opportunity to take a course. These courses are designed to educate drivers convicted of drink driving with the aim of them avoiding future offences. There is a cost for this course that is usually in the region of £250. These courses can reduce the length of your ban and lower the cost of future insurance policies.

Increase your excess

Increasing your voluntary excess can help to lower premiums. You should be careful that this excess remains affordable otherwise you could face difficulty if you ever need to make a claim.

Fit a black box

A telematics box or black box is popular for younger drivers who often face higher premiums. These boxes allow insurers to set curfews, monitor speeds and driving in general. This data is sent back to the insurer and can reduce the cost of premiums if the driving is found to be safe. The same rules can apply to those convicted of drink driving.

Consider vehicle options

Some vehicles will sit in lower insurance bands than others. Having a drink driving conviction can impact how affordable these policies are if they sit in higher bands. Choosing a car in a lower band, opting for a model with better security features, or even reducing your annual mileage can make a big difference to the premium you pay for drink driver insurance.

Compare insurance brokers

It can be hard to identify which insurers are best without seeking out specialists. You can easily compare drink driving insurance policies or speak to a broker who can help you understand your options.

Finding the Right Insurance Provider

Finding the right car insurance provider when you have a drink driving conviction can be a daunting task, but it’s not impossible. Here are some steps to help you find a specialist drink driving insurance provider:

Research Online: Start by looking for insurance providers that specialize in car insurance for drink drivers. Check their websites for information on their services and read customer reviews to gauge their reputation.
Compare Quotes: Obtain car insurance quotes from multiple providers to compare prices, coverage options, and terms. Be honest about your drink driving conviction and driving history to get accurate quotes.
Check Experience: Opt for insurance providers with experience in handling drink driving convictions. These providers are more likely to understand your situation and offer suitable coverage.
Verify Ratings: Look up the insurance provider’s ratings with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and other regulatory bodies. This will give you an idea of their financial stability and reliability.
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the policy details, coverage, and any exclusions. Ensure you fully understand the terms before committing to a car insurance policy.

By following these steps, you can increase your chances of finding a specialist drink driving insurance provider that meets your needs and offers the best possible coverage. Remember, while it may take some effort, securing the right insurance is crucial for your peace of mind and financial protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Need To Declare A Drink Driving Conviction For?

A drink driving conviction needs to be declared for 5 full years. After this period, it can be declared as ‘spent’. The conviction will remain on your record for 11 years.

Insurers cannot use a conviction older than 5 years to increase the premiums on your policy. After this 5 year period you will be able to access “normal” insurance policies without the heightened premiums. Insurers may still ask you about your convictions but it cannot be used to increase costs.

You should always read the small print on insurance policies as some insurers may insert clauses to cover themselves in the case of drink drivers who still have recorded convictions.

How Does A Drink Driving Conviction Impact Cost?

Drink driver insurance policies are almost always more expensive than standard policies, even more so if you are searching for insurance following a second offence.

The best way to find a policy that is both affordable and provides the cover you need is to look via a broker or comparison site. Your existing insurer may still be willing to insure you but in most cases, premiums will be higher – even double in some scenarios.

Do I Need To Tell My Insurer About A Drink Driving Conviction?

Yes. You need to make your insurer aware of any changes. This includes any convictions, bans, penalty points and even minor things like changing address. Failing to inform your insurer of these changes can void your policy and mean you aren’t properly covered should you need it.

Does Drink Driving Make My Insurance Invalid?

Accidents caused by drink driving or whilst under the influence can alter your cover. Some policies state that only third party costs are covered in the event of drink driving. Your policy provider may even try to recoup these costs from you and you could end up footing the bill for your own damages and any caused. This can also include payment for injury.

Can I Get Cheap Drink Drivers Insurance?

It is unrealistic for those caught drink driving to expect to get a really cheap policy straight away. Even more so if it is a second offence. What we can do those is compare specialist providers who will work hard to reduce your costs.

We help you find the specialist insurance brokers that you need in order to get sensible insurance premiums.

If you are desperate to get a cheap drink drivers insurance quote. You should take part in rehabilitation courses and working hard to not gain any penalty points. Your registered office will be able to help you find these courses.