Car Insurance After Licence Points
Few things hit harder than that sinking feeling when a fine lands on the doormat; closely followed by those dreaded points on your licence. Whether it was a flash of a speed camera or a moment's distraction at a red light, the impact doesn't stop with the DVLA. It rolls right into your car insurance.
So what happens next? Will insurers see you as a reckless menace? Will your premium triple overnight? Not always. But it does get trickier. The key is knowing what to expect; and how to bounce back without paying over the odds.
Do Penalty Points Affect Car Insurance?
Yes, absolutely. Points are one of the red flags insurers use to assess how risky you are to cover. Even a minor endorsement can cause a spike in your premium, especially if you're a newer driver or already in a high-risk category.
Just imagine: someone gets caught doing 34 in a 30. Three points. Standard stuff. But when renewal time comes, their quote jumps by 150 pounds; and that's on a clean driving record otherwise. Painful? Yes. Uncommon? Not really.
How Much More Could You Pay?
The jump in cost depends on several things:
- The number of points - More points, more risk (in the insurer's eyes).
- The offence code - Speeding (SP30) is seen as less serious than driving without insurance (IN10).
- Your driving history - A clean record before the points can soften the blow.
- Your age and experience - Younger drivers get penalised harder. Unfair? Maybe. But it's how the algorithms roll.
Minor offences might push your quote up by 10 - 30%. More serious ones can double it; or worse. And if you've racked up six or more points, especially in your first two years, some insurers won't quote at all.
Do You Have to Tell Your Insurer?
Yes. Always. If you get points during your policy term, you must declare them as soon as your policy terms require. For most people, that's either immediately or at renewal - check the small print.
Failing to declare them can invalidate your insurance. That means if you have an accident and your insurer finds out about undeclared points, they can refuse to pay out. Not a situation anyone wants to be in.
How Long Do Points Stay on Your Record?
Points typically stay on your driving licence for four years - but insurers may ask about any points within the last five. So even when they've "expired" for legal purposes, they might still affect your premium.
What Can You Do to Lower the Cost?
All is not lost. You've got options - especially if you're smart about how you handle things post-points.
- Shop around - Some insurers are more forgiving than others when it comes to points.
- Look at specialist providers - Some companies focus on covering drivers with endorsements.
- Take a driver awareness course - In some cases, this helps avoid points in the first place. If it's already too late, it still shows you're proactive.
- Add an experienced named driver - This can sometimes reduce your risk profile.
- Consider a black box policy - Prove you're a safe driver now, and insurers may give you a break.
One driver with six points for a mobile phone offence thought they'd be priced off the road. But after reviewing what each insurer is offering - including with a provider that specialises in higher-risk drivers, they found a policy just 300 pounds more than before. Not ideal, but better than expected.
Be Honest, Be Strategic
Don't try to hide your points. Insurers always find out eventually - usually at the worst possible moment. Own the mistake, compare carefully, and consider changing how you approach cover moving forward. It's a bump in the road, not the end of the journey.
Click here to compare car insurance quotes for drivers with points, see what's out there and get back on track with the right cover for your current situation.