How will the cost of my car insurance change after a drink driving ban?
By MAJ Law on 01 August 2024
Have you recently received a drink driving ban and you're wondering how it will affect your future car insurance premiums? It goes without saying that drink driving is a serious offence, and depending on the circumstances there could be major consequences, even resulting in a prison sentence.
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So how much are we talking?
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The circumstances in which you received your driving ban will play a big part in how expensive your car insurance will become. The worse the offence, the higher the expense. You are likely to receive a driving ban for every level of drink driving. Here are the different types of punishments you can expect to see:
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In charge of a vehicle while above the limit or unfit through drink: possible 3-month imprisonment, up to £2,500 fine, and a possible ban.
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Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit: possible 6-month imprisonment, unlimited fine, driving ban for at least 1 year (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years).
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Refusing to provide a specimen: possible 6-month imprisonment, unlimited fine, driving ban for at least 1 year.
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Causing death by careless driving when under the influence: possible life imprisonment, unlimited fine, driving ban for at least 5 years, extended driving test before licence is returned.”
According to the Independent and MoneySuperMarket "drink drivers are likely to pay over 80% more on their car insurance premiums. Some insurers will refuse your application altogether, others may offer fewer policies and higher premiums, and some may offer a convicted driver insurance policy" . With a drink driving ban attached to your name, insurers will automatically class you as high risk and it will be increasingly difficult to find insurance quotes at a reasonable price, but drivers are encouraged to still shop around to find the best deals as some companies are more lenient than others.
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To give you an idea, confused.com have put together a table which shows an average of how much someone with a drink driving conviction can expect to pay, depending on the offence committed. (Table is a guideline only based on confused.com data).
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Conviction Code
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Conviction Description
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Average quoted price*
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DR20
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Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink
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£1,747
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DR30
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Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis
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£2,338
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DR31
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Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity
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£1,656
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DR40
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In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit
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£1,804
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DR50
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In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink
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£1,400
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DR60
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In charge of a vehicle and or refusing a specimen for Analysis
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£2,000
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DR61
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Failure to provide a specimen for drug analysis in circumstances other than driving or Attempting to drive
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£1,799
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DR70
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Failing to provide specimen for breath test
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£2,011
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The average price for car insurance in the UK is currently around £561 a year. This means a person with a DR30 drink driving conviction could see an increase of £1,777 in insurance premiums, a whopping 316%! Which is a considerable amount.
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How can I lower my car insurance after a drink driving ban?
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While car insurance premiums will increase after a conviction for drink driving, there are certain things you can do to try and improve the situation, some of these may include:
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Completing a drink-driving rehabilitation course
You will be offered a drink drive rehabilitation course if you are found guilty of a drink driving offence, or you receive a driving ban of 12 months or more. The course can cost up to£250, but it will reduce the driving ban by a quarter if you complete it within a certain amount of time.
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Shopping around and comparing quotes
Some insurance companies are more lenient than others when it comes to driving convictions. It is always worth shopping around to get the best deal.
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Considering a black box insurance policy
A black box uses a type of technology to track and record a policyholder's driving behaviour over time. The idea is that the insurance premiums should be a reflection of how good/safe the driver is. The riskier the driving manner, the higher the premiums will be.
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Increasing your voluntary excess
Paying a higher voluntary excess is likely to reduce your insurance premium, but always make sure the excess is affordable for you if you find yourself in a situation where you need to pay it.
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Adding an experienced named driver
Adding an experienced named driver to an insurance policy is a good way to bring costs down, as long as the other person has no previous driving convictions and has a safe driving history.
Discover your likely punishment with MAJ Law Calculator
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If you’ve been charged with drink driving and you’re unsure what your next steps are, we can help you in just a couple of steps.
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By using our drink driving calculator, you can find out what your potential punishment will be. Once you’ve entered your details, the calculator will provide instant results. Find it here: https://www.majlaw.co.uk/tools/calculators/drink-driving-ban-calculator/
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Next, get in touch with MAJ Law on 0151 422 8020.
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Our experienced team of solicitors have worked with hundreds of individuals in the same position as you, so please don't hesitate to give us a call and one of our experienced legal professionals will be happy to help.