Car Insurance With Points on Licence UK (2026)

What this document is

Penalty points, sometimes called endorsements, are recorded on your driving licence when you're convicted of a motoring offence or accept a fixed penalty. Common examples include speeding (SP codes), careless driving (CD codes), using a mobile phone at the wheel (CU80), or driving without insurance (IN10).

Each offence carries a set number of points and a code that stays on your licence for a defined period, typically four or eleven years depending on the offence, even though the points themselves only count towards a totting-up disqualification for three years. When you apply for car insurance, the insurer asks about any points or convictions within a specified window (usually the last five years).

This isn't optional disclosure. Giving incorrect or incomplete information can void your policy and leave you uninsured at the worst possible moment. Insurers use the offence codes, the number of points, and how recent they are to price your premium. More points, more serious offences, or multiple endorsements generally push the price up, sometimes sharply.

How to use this document

1. Check exactly what's on your licence. Before you request quotes, log in to the View Driving Licence service on gov.uk to see the endorsement codes, the number of points, and the date each conviction will no longer need to be declared. Insurers ask precise questions, and guessing can cause problems later. Having the details in front of you makes the application accurate from the start. 2. Disclose every endorsement honestly. Tell the insurer about every conviction they ask about, even if you think it's minor or you're hoping they'll miss it. Non-disclosure is treated as a misrepresentation, and insurers can refuse claims or cancel cover on that basis. A cancelled policy becomes something you then have to declare for years afterwards, making future cover even more expensive. 3. Compare mainstream and specialist insurers. Standard comparison sites will give you a baseline, but insurers who focus on convicted drivers sometimes price more competitively once you have several points or a more serious offence on record. Get quotes from both types. Don't assume the cheapest headline price on a comparison site is actually the best option for your specific profile. 4. Adjust the variables you can control. Consider a higher voluntary excess, a lower annual mileage estimate (if genuinely accurate), a more secure parking location, or adding a named driver with a clean record. Telematics or black box policies can also bring premiums down significantly for drivers with points, as they let the insurer assess how you actually drive rather than relying solely on your history. 5. Review your cover each year. Points fade in relevance as they age, and after the declaration period passes you no longer need to mention them. Set a reminder for the date each endorsement drops off and reshop your cover at renewal. Loyalty rarely pays in motor insurance, and the market for drivers with an older conviction is very different from the market for drivers with a fresh one.