60-second summary:
Just want the headlines? Here’s what you need to know about how criminal convictions can affect van insurance:
Van drivers with a criminal conviction may find it harder to find cover or could be charged higher premiums for their van insurance.
You must declare any unspent convictions if asked about them by an insurance provider.
Even if you’re not explicitly asked, check the conditions of cover for any mention of convictions to make sure your policy is valid.
You don’t need to declare any spent convictions.
If you’re struggling to find cover as a convicted van driver, a specialist broker may be able to help you find a policy that works for you.
Criminal convictions and van insurance
Any type of criminal conviction is likely to affect the cost of your van insurance. Insurance providers may see drivers with a criminal conviction as more likely to be in an accident and make a claim.
Some insurance providers may refuse to cover you if you have an unspent criminal conviction. Others may reflect this added risk in the form of a higher premium.
Especially if your conviction was linked to motoring, you can expect to pay more for van insurance. If you’re finding it hard to get van insurance from regular providers after a driving conviction, you might need to find a specialist insurance policy.
Did you know?
If you’ve been banned from driving and want to take your van off the road, you’ll need to declare a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). While your van is declared SORN, you won’t need to tax it or have insurance. Just make sure it’s parked off the road, on a driveway, private land or kept in a garage.
What qualifies as a criminal conviction?
A criminal conviction is when a court of law finds you guilty of a crime. Convictions can be anything from failing to pay a fine for littering, to speeding, to violent offences.
If asked, you’ll need to tell a van insurance provider about any unspent convictions you have. Convictions that are considered ‘spent’, under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974, do not have to be disclosed.
Most criminal convictions become spent after a specified amount of time. There are a few exceptions including prison sentences of more than four years for a serious, violent, sexual or terrorist offence. These types of convictions are never spent.
Reprimands, final warnings and cautions are spent immediately and don’t have to be disclosed. The charity Unlock has a calculator that lets you know when convictions are spent. Or you can also check on GOV.UK.
What counts as a driving conviction?
In the UK, there are over 70 types of motoring offences you could be convicted for.
If you commit a motoring offence, you’ll be penalised according to how serious the offence is. At the very least, you could receive a fine and often penalty points on your driving licence.
Here are some of the most common driving offences you could be convicted for:
Speeding: the minimum penalty is three penalty points and a £100 fine (unless you’re given the option to attend a speed awareness course).
Using a mobile phone while driving: this offence could get you a £200 fine and six penalty points – you’d also lose your licence if you passed your test in the last two years.
Ignoring traffic light signals or running a red light: you could get three penalty points and a £100 fine.
Driving without insurance: you could be landed with six penalty points and fined £300. If the case goes to court, this could end up being an unlimited fine (one with no specific upper limit) and you might even be banned from driving.
Drink driving: 3-11 penalty points. You may also get an unlimited fine, a minimum 12-month driving ban and up to six months’ imprisonment. If you were to cause someone’s death while driving under the influence, you could end up with life imprisonment.
How do van driving convictions work?
If you commit an illegal offence on the road, the courts can fine you and ‘endorse’ your driving record. There are two elements to this: endorsement codes and penalty points.
Endorsement codes indicate what your offence was – for example, BA10 is the code for driving while disqualified.
Each endorsement comes with penalty points – if you collect 12 points within three years, you’re very likely to be banned from driving for at least six months. If you get six points within two years of passing your test, it’s likely you’ll be disqualified from driving. You’d then have to apply for a new provisional licence and pass your theory and practical driving tests again.
Driving endorsements stay on your criminal record for five years from the date of conviction if you’re over 18, or for two and a half years if you’re under 18. These periods are known as the ‘rehabilitation period’, after which your conviction is considered ‘spent’.
However, an endorsement can stay on your driving record for longer than on your criminal record – for a period of either four or 11 years, depending on how serious your offence was.
Insurers and employers may be able to find out that you have an endorsement:
Any time during a four-year endorsement
During the first five years of an 11-year endorsement, or the first 30 months if you’re under 18.
Do I have to declare convictions when getting a van insurance quote?
If asked, you must tell your van insurance provider about any unspent convictions you have.
Even if you’re not explicitly asked, it’s worth checking the conditions of the policy for any exclusions surrounding convictions, to make sure your cover is valid.
How long you’ll need to continue declaring an unspent conviction for depends on the length of the sentence – the rehabilitation period typically begins from the day the sentence is completed, including any licence period:
Sentence type/length | Over 18s | Under 18s |
|---|---|---|
Community order/Youth rehabilitation order | Until the last day of your order | Until the last day of your order |
One year or less | One year | Six months |
Between one and four years | Four years | Two years |
More than four years (where not convicted of a schedule 18 offence) | Seven years | Three and a half years |
The charity Unlock has a calculator that helps you work out when convictions are spent. But do note that requirements around disclosure may differ depending on where you live in the UK.
How will a driving conviction affect my van insurance?
If you’re convicted of a driving offence it may be difficult to find van insurance.
If it’s a serious offence, for example drink driving, some insurance providers may refuse to cover you altogether. And it’s not just driving convictions; any criminal offence, even a minor one, can have an impact on finding affordable van insurance.
If you can find cover, expect to pay more. This is because you’ll be considered a higher claims risk.
What can I do to reduce the cost of my convicted driver van insurance?
If you’re a convicted driver, there are things you can do to help reduce the cost of your van insurance:
Telematics – black box insurance could help reduce your premium by showing that you’re a safe and responsible driver. An app, or device fitted to your van, records how you drive and sends the information to your insurance provider.
Increase your voluntary excess – the excess is the amount you have to pay when you make a claim. Your policy will come with a compulsory excess, and you can add a voluntary excess as well. The higher the excess, the less you’ll pay for your premium. Just make sure you can afford to pay both in the event of a claim.
Cut down your mileage – driving less and avoiding rush-hour traffic lowers the risk of being involved in an accident. Keeping your annual mileage down could help reduce the cost of your premium.
Choose a smaller van – if you’re in the market for a new van, choosing a smaller, safer model could mean a lower quote.
Up your van’s security features – installing an alarm or immobiliser could reduce the risk of theft. Let your insurance provider know about any security features, as you might be offered a discount.
Comparing van insurance quotes for convicted drivers
Van insurance providers take different approaches to adjusting premiums for those with driving and/or non-driving convictions. So, it’s worth running a full price comparison to help you find van cover that meets your needs.
Do make sure you answer questions about any past driving convictions accurately and in full when comparing van insurance quotes. Failing to disclose any unspent convictions when asked by an insurance provider could result in a further conviction and invalidate your cover.
And because insurance providers share information with one another, you might find it harder to secure cover in the future too.
If you’re finding it hard to get van cover, there are specialist providers and brokers of van insurance. The charity Unlock offers support for people with convictions and might be able to help you with more information and advice.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
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