Car insurance for convicted drivers: 13 common questions

Driving

10 min read

If you’ve been convicted of a driving offence, you might find that quotes for car insurance are higher than before. You may struggle to secure an insurance policy at all, never mind pay for it. As providers of insurance to high-risk drivers, , and what to expect when you’re trying to insure your car afterwards.

Driving offences in Ireland

Ireland uses a penalty points system for driving offences. The Gardaí can issue these on the spot, giving as many as five points at a time depending on the severity of the offence. Drivers who rack up 12 points within three years will be banned from driving six months while learner drivers will be banned for six months if they receive seven penalty points within two years.

But for the most serious offences such as dangerous driving and drink driving, you can be arrested. In these cases, the court will decide the number of points you receive, if charged. You may also be sentenced to prison time, and have your license revoked entirely.

Insuring your vehicle with a previous conviction

There are many factors that will impact your insurance. Everything from your claims history to the severity of your offence will affect whether you’re given a policy, as well as how much that policy costs. Here at AbbeyAutoline, we’ve compiled a list of the 13 of the most commonly asked questions we hear convicted drivers ask.

1. How long does a driving ban stay on my licence? 

Regardless of how long your driving ban is for, a record of it will stay on your license for at least seven years and could be longer depending on the circumstances of your conviction.

2. Does a drug driving conviction result in more expensive insurance than drink driving?

Both drink and drug driving can nearly double your insurance premiums, but drug driving is considered higher risk. It also depends on the substance used, with higher premiums for those drugs considered more dangerous.

3. Do I need to disclose a criminal conviction when applying for car insurance?

If you’ve been convicted of a criminal offence, you must disclose it to the insurance company, even if this conviction wasn’t associated with driving. Most insurance companies won’t take on drivers with criminal convictions. And like motoring convictions, they can impact the cost of your insurance premium.

4. Why do I need to disclose a criminal conviction when applying for insurance?

Insurance companies aren’t just insuring the vehicle—they’re also insuring the person. A person with a criminal conviction is simply a higher risk, and the premium must reflect this.

5. How can I reduce the cost of my insurance after a driving ban and/or criminal conviction? 

There are a few different things that will make your premium less costly:

• A full licence. Whether it’s Irish or international, if you’re allowed to drive without restrictions it will contribute to a lower premium.
• A vehicle less than 10 years old. Newer cars generally have better safety features, and so may be considered less risk.
• A clean claims record. Insurance companies favour those with clean claims records as they consider them less likely to claim in the future.
• A vehicle imported from the EU or the UK. These are considered as “parallel imports” in Ireland, with parts and repairs easier to secure.

6. Will my premium come down after the first year?

If you don’t make any claims during that period, your premium could dramatically reduce. In fact, the average premium comes down by 30% after a year of no claims, penalty points, or further convictions.

7. How many penalty points will cause insurers to decline me? 

If you have five or less points on your license, most insurance providers will give you a quote. And if you have two points or less, the price of your premium shouldn’t be affected.

8. Do you insure imported vehicles?

Yes, we insure all types of imported vehicles. This includes left-hand drive vehicles, which generally are not more expensive to insure. However, “grey imports” from outside the EU and the UK will impact the cost of your insurance, with new parts being more difficult to find. They also may not meet the same safety and emission standards as “parallel imports”.

9. Can I get insurance with an international driving licence?

Not all providers provide international license holders with insurance, but AbbeyAutoline do. However, we would advise you to change over to an Irish licence within 12 months of your arrival in Ireland. This goes for drivers from the rest of the EU and the UK, too.

10. Can I get a quote from a different insurance provider if I have an ongoing claim? 

Most insurance providers won’t give you a quote until the claim with the other company is resolved. AbbeyAutoline will consider it, although it will most likely increase the price of your policy.

11. Can I get car insurance if I have been disqualified for the same offence more than once?

Yes, but the rate of the insurance rate would be higher as a result. It’s also worth noting that the excess may be higher than normal, too.

12. Will I lose my no-claims bonus after a driving disqualification?

If your disqualification has caused you to not drive for two years or more, you would lose your bonus. That said, AbbeyAutoline has special agreements with some providers to take your previous driving experience into consideration.

13. Are there any age restrictions for insuring drivers who have been disqualified?

At AbbeyAutoline, we consider previously disqualified drivers between the ages of 19 and 75. Contact us to speak to one of our underwriters today and find out if you’re eligible.