Penalty Points and the Effect on Car Insurance
Let’s face it, it’s easy to find yourself doing 35 miles per hour in a 30 zone. Few of us can claim never to have accidentally broken the speed limit or committed some other road offence, but when you find yourself with penalty points it can have an effect on your car insurance.
When you should tell an insurer about driving convictions
If you’re about to renew an existing policy, or you’re asking for a quote from a new insurer, you should tell them about any “unspent” driving convictions. Our guide to driving endorsements tells you how long each motoring offence lasts before it becomes spent.
Will attending a speed awareness or driver improvement course increase my premium?
Sometimes you can bypass a motoring conviction by attending a speed awareness / driver improvement course instead. Not all insurers ask drivers to declare if they’ve attended such a course, but some do interpret it as a higher risk indicator and want to be informed.
It’s possible that your premium could increase as a result of going on one of these courses.
Why does an insurer need to know about penalty points and convictions?
The cost of insurance is based on many factors which build up a picture of the risk that you and your car present. Your driving history is an important part of that picture, including details of penalty points and convictions.
Will an insurer check my driving record?
Insurance companies are now able to check a central DVLA database to get up-to-date information about your driving history. If you haven’t been entirely honest in answering their questions, their database check will show it.
To do this, they’ll ask you for your driving licence number. You’re not legally obliged to provide this information, but the insurance provider can decide not to insure you, or quote you a higher premium if you choose not to.
Will points affect my insurance?
Not always. It depends on the seriousness of the offence and the number of points. Every insurer has their own rules when dealing with drivers who have points and convictions; honesty is always the best policy.
With many years’ experience of this specialist market, Insure Your Motor can find great quotes for drivers in this situation.
