Can I Get Car Insurance if I’ve Been Disqualified from Driving?
Caeva O'Callaghan | November 7th, 2023
Once you’re disqualified, car insurance may be the last thing on your mind. But it’s important to sort it out – so can you even get insured while you are disqualified?
Yes, as long as your disqualification isn’t permanent. If you are disqualified from driving for a set period, we will be able to help you find car insurance for when you get back on the road.
The price may vary according to the type of conviction you have. But, the good news is it’s entirely possible to still get a good deal.
In this article, we’ll cover questions such as:
- Will a conviction stop me getting car insurance?
- Do I need car insurance if I’m a disqualified driver?
- Do non-motoring offences affect my car insurance?
If you’ve committed driving offences in the past, buying car insurance products will be a little more complex. Give us a call – we have experience in this area, and are happy to help.
Will a conviction stop me getting car insurance?
No matter if your conviction is in relation to motoring or non-motoring offences, this will affect your car insurance – but unless you’ve been permanently banned from driving, you’ll most likely still be able to get insured.
Specialist convicted driver insurance is available for drivers who have been convicted or who have open claims. Of course, we can help find you the best car insurance in these circumstances.
Committing a motoring offence, especially within the last 5 years, will put most mainstream insurers off from giving you a quote. And even if they do quote, the price may be prohibitively expensive.
It really depends on the insurance provider. Some are concerned only with offences in the last five years, others the last ten years, and others will turn you down if you have ever had a conviction in the past.
As an additional note, many car insurance providers will not cover you if you have convictions for more than one of the same type of offence.
Do I need car insurance if I’m a disqualified driver?
You need to inform your current provider immediately if you have been disqualified from driving. If you halt your insurance, you may save money – although cancelling your policy may also incur a fine.
Additionally, if your policy runs out while you are disqualified, you want to make sure you’re adequately covered for when you return to the road. Failing to do so may lead to delays and more trouble for you down the line.
Get your affairs in order as soon as you receive the disqualification to help out your finances and stay in the best standing you can with your insurance provider. Ring us up, and we’ll be able to advise on next steps.
We have access to special insurance markets for people who have the following:
- 2 or more speeding offences
- 2 or more sign and signal offences
- Any motoring offence
- A poor history of motoring convictions, penalty points or disqualifications
- Non-motoring (criminal) offences
- Drink driving convictions
We do need to know the date of the offence and the penalty you received. Don’t forget, if you were disqualified from driving for more than 2 years, you will have lost your no claims bonus.
Do non-motoring offences affect my car insurance?
Yes, they do. If you have a criminal conviction for any kind of offence, you need to tell your car insurance company right away, as not going so can create a lot of problems later on.
Any convictions spent under the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 do not need to be disclosed. Further information on spent convictions is available on www.citizensinformation.ie. Or, you can check with your local Garda station if your conviction is considered spent under the Criminal Justice Act 2016.
Where there are driving convictions, disqualifications and/or penalty points declared we may require written confirmation of driving record from the NDLS. This is for any driver with an offence on their record. This document can be requested by sending an e-mail to info@ndls with your relevant Driver Number. As long as the driver requests a reply by email, the NDLS will respond at no cost.
Talk to our car insurance experts today about your disqualification.
If you have any questions about driving disqualifications and insurance? No problem – just give us a call, and we can help you sort it all out. We are available anytime Mon-Fri between 8.30am and 5.30pm on 0818 224433 or 042 9359051.