Drink and Drug Car and Van Insurance

How can we help?

Drink and drug driving convictions are a serious offence and can cause you problems for a long time after they are received. When you are convicted of a drink or drug driving offence, it is guaranteed to have an impact on your car insurance. Premiums are going to be increased, and some insurance companies may refuse to insure you completely. Drink and drug car insurance is often a complicated subject to understand. However, there are some things that you can do to keep your premiums reasonable.

As soon as you have a drink or drug driving conviction code against your licence, insurance companies will see you as a far higher risk. They will increase your premiums dramatically in order to combat this risk or not insure you at all. When you are looking for drink and drug car insurance it is difficult to know what to look out for and how to find the best deal Our expert guide explains what drink and drug car insurance is, how it works, and how convicted drivers can keep their costs down.

What Is Drink And Drug Car Insurance?

Drink and drug car insurance refer to specific coverage that is designed for drivers who have been convicted of drink or drug driving. Sometimes referred to as convicted driver insurance, it is often offered by specialist insurance companies that focus on this area.

Drivers with drink and drug convictions are more likely to be accepted for car insurance when they choose a specific drink and drug car insurance. This is because the insurance provider is experienced in handling these situations. Premiums with drink and drug car insurance will almost always be higher than getting insurance with no driving convictions, however by choosing a specialist insurance company; they will have the tools to keep costs to a minimum.

About Drink And Drug Driving Offences

When it comes to drink driving or drug driving, it isn’t as straight forward as just being caught under the influence. There are various things to consider, including the conviction type you receive for your offence, which will have an impact on drink and drug car insurance. For drink and drug driving, there are various different conviction codes that you could get.

Codes including DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31 and DR61 are all offences that refer to a drink or drug drinking incident. CD40, CD50, CD60 or CD70 crimes all refer to careless driving involving drugs or alcohol. Specific drug driving endorsement codes include DG10, DG40, DG60, DR80 and DR90.

When it comes to drug driving, it is not just illegal and banned substances that can land you with a conviction and penalty points. Some over the counter and prescription medications can also result in a drug driving conviction if they impair your ability to drive in any way. The government has given some prescription drugs legal limitations, so it is vital that you check with your doctor if you are safe to drive on your medication. Prescription drugs with limitations include

 Clonazepam
Diazepam
Flunitrazepam
Lorazepam
Methadone
Morphine
Oxazepam
Temazepam.

If you do receive a conviction for drug or drink driving, the penalties will depend on the severity of the situation. Generally, the penalty will be a minimum of a one-year driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000 and a criminal record. If the case is particularly severe, then you could be given a prison sentence as well. The different convictions you can get will have a different impact on your drink and drug car insurance, and all have a different level of severity.

Any penalty points that you receive as a result of these convictions will stay on your licence for 11 years from your conviction date. For these 11 years, you can expect your insurance premiums to be affected.

How To Reduce The Cost Of Drink And Drug Car Insurance?

There are a few things you can do as a driver to reduce your premiums for drink and drug car insurance. At MyFirst, we specialise in providing car insurance policies to convicted drivers, and our team of experts can offer advice on how to keep your premiums as low as possible. To help reduce the cost of drink and drug car insurance, you can:

Get A Dash Cam:

Fitting your vehicle with a dash cam will give you an added level of protection. You will have evidence at hand if any incidents or accidents should occur on the road, and insurance companies will see you as less of a risk. By reducing the risk involved, your drink and drug car insurance premiums are likely to be lower. Many insurance companies will include the cost of a dash cam within your insurance policy if they are willing to reduce the premiums.

Improve Your Driving:

If you show an insurance company that you are not a risky driver, they will offer you lower premiums than if they think you are high risk. While having any kind of drug or drink driving convictions will make you a high-risk customer, there are some things you can do to reduce this perception. You can attend rehabilitation courses that are designed to educate drivers with drink and drug convictions. Upon completion of these kinds of courses, your insurance company is more likely to reduce your premiums.

Increase Your Excess:

When it comes to drink and drug car insurance, you can reduce your premiums by increasing the amount of excess you are willing to pay. By increasing the excess, the insurance company will have less to pay out in the event of a claim being made, which will make your premiums cheaper. It is important to remember that this excess must still be affordable, as otherwise, you may find yourself in a position where you can’t afford to make a claim.

Reduce Your Mileage

 The less you drive, the less your insurance premiums will be as you are less likely to get into an accident. If it is possible for you to lower your mileage, then this can make a big difference to the cost of your drink and drug car insurance. Be careful not to lie about the amount of mileage you do. If you need to claim and your mileage is more than you have said, then your insurance could be invalidated.

If you are looking for drink and drug car insurance, then MyFirst can help. Get in touch today to discuss your needs and we’ll find the coverage to suit your requirements.