What Points, Bans and Claims Do to Your Premium
Every insurer prices your record — but not equally, and not forever. This is what each common conviction and claim typically adds, how long you must declare it, and the one rule that towers over the rest: never leave anything out, because an undeclared conviction voids the policy that was supposed to protect you.
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- Q2 2026 premium data
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Premium data: Quotezone Car Insurance Price Index, Q2 2026 · updated July 2026 · quotes via Quotezone (FCA FRN 313860)
Typical premium impact, offence by offence
Indicative loadings against a clean-record premium — individual insurers vary widely, which is precisely why comparing matters more with points than without.
| On your record | Code | Typical premium impact | Declare for |
|---|---|---|---|
| One speeding fixed penalty (3 points) | SP30 | +5–15% | Usually 5 years |
| Two speeding offences (6 points) | SP30 ×2 | +20–40% | Usually 5 years |
| Using a phone at the wheel (6 points) | CU80 | +25–50% | Usually 5 years |
| Careless driving | CD10–30 | +30–60% | Usually 5 years |
| Drink or drug driving ban | DR10 / DG10 | 2–4× for the first years | 5 years (11 on the licence) |
| Driving uninsured | IN10 | +50–100%+ | Usually 5 years |
| One fault claim, no conviction | — | +20–30%, fading over 3–5 yrs | Usually 5 years |
| Non-fault claim | — | 0–10% | Usually 5 years |
Declaring: the part that actually protects you
The loading is survivable. The consequences of hiding things are not.
Undeclared points void policies
Insurers check the DVLA record at claim time via your licence number. A conviction you didn't declare is grounds to void the policy from inception — you become retrospectively uninsured, personally liable for third-party costs, and carry a "policy voided" flag that prices worse than the points ever did.
Mid-term convictions: check your policy wording
Most policies require new convictions to be declared at renewal; some require notification immediately. Read yours — and when in doubt, tell them. A mid-term premium adjustment beats a voided claim.
Courses instead of points don't declare
A speed-awareness course taken instead of a fixed penalty is not a conviction, and the standard insurer question ("any motoring convictions?") doesn't capture it. A minority of insurers ask specifically about courses — again, answer the question asked.
The specialist market exists for a reason
For DR10s, bans and multiple offences, mainstream panels load hard or decline — specialist convicted-driver insurers price the risk properly and often beat them by hundreds. Compare the broad market first, then the specialists.
Compare what points, bans and claims do to your premium quotes
One short form, quotes from 130+ UK insurers through our comparison partner Quotezone — and the reg box below starts it with your car's details already filled.
What Points, Bans and Claims Do to Your Premium — frequently asked questions
How much does car insurance go up with 3 points?
A single SP30 typically adds around 5–15% — often less than people fear, and some insurers barely move for one offence. The spread between insurers widens with points on the licence though, so the same record can price very differently across the market. Compare rather than accept the renewal.
Do I have to declare speeding points to my insurer?
Yes — for as long as the insurer's question covers, which is almost always five years from conviction. They can verify against DVLA records via your licence number, and an undeclared conviction discovered at claim time can void the policy entirely.
How much does insurance go up after an accident or claim?
A fault claim typically adds 20–30% at the next renewal, decaying over three to five years. Even non-fault claims can add a little. Protected no-claims bonus softens the discount loss but not the base-premium rise.
Does car insurance cover drink-driving accidents?
Your third-party liabilities are still met (the law protects victims), but insurers routinely exclude your own damage when you're convicted of drink-driving over the incident — and they can pursue you to recover what they paid out. Afterwards, expect the DR10 loading above.
Which insurers don't ask about convictions?
None you'd want. Every mainstream insurer asks about motoring convictions in the last five years; "spent" convictions beyond the question's window genuinely don't need declaring. Anything marketed as "no questions asked" deserves deep suspicion — the questions come at claim time instead.
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