Having a drink driving conviction can be a hindrance to getting car insurance at a reasonable price. This doesn’t have to be the case though. Below is a guide to help you out.

Why does a drink driving conviction affect the cost of car insurance?

The reason that a drink driving car insurance policy costs more is simply because insurance providers always factor in risk when coming up with a price. The more likely a person is to make a claim, the more the policy will cost. Even if you know you’ll never drink drive again, you’re still in a group that’s statistically more likely to make a claim and therefore you can expect to pay more for you insurance.

Do I have to declare my conviction?

Whether or not you need to declare your conviction to insurance providers will depend on whether your conviction is spent or unspent. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, certain convictions become spent after a given period of time. This means you’re no longer obligated to declare your conviction if it’s spent.

Click here to see when your conviction will become spent.

What other things affect the cost of car insurance?

Some other things that affect the cost of car insurance are –

• Your age – Your age is certainly a big factor when it comes to the cost of car insurance. If you’re under the age of 25 and you have a drink driving conviction then your insurance is going to cost considerably more than a person who is over 25 and has a clean criminal record.
• The value of your vehicle – The value of your vehicle will of course have a big impact on cost too. The more your vehicle is worth, the more you can expect to pay for cover. If you have a drink driving conviction and you want to keep your insurance affordable then, it’s a good idea to get a modestly priced vehicle.
• Where it’s parked – Where your vehicle is parked will certainly affect how much you pay for car insurance. If you have a locked garage to keep your car in then this is ideal since it keeps it safe from thieves and vandals. If you have to park your car on a public street then this will unfortunately make insurance costlier.
• How secure the vehicle is – If you want to reduce the cost of car insurance then you should take any steps you can to make your vehicle more secure.
• What level of cover you get – The level of cover you get will affect how much car insurance costs too.