A drink driving conviction can lead to a ban, fine, prison sentence, licence endorsement and higher insurance costs.
A drink driving conviction can follow when someone drives, attempts to drive or is in charge of a vehicle while over the alcohol limit or unfit through drink. Related offences include failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
In Great Britain, the main excess-alcohol offences are set out in section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Northern Ireland has separate drink-driving law and licensing arrangements.
The legal drink-drive limits are lower in Scotland than in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is no fixed number of drinks that will keep every person below the limit. Alcohol can affect people in different ways.
The penalty depends on the jurisdiction, the offence, the alcohol reading and the facts of the case.
In Great Britain, driving or attempting to drive while over the limit or unfit through drink can lead to:
The minimum ban can rise to three years for a second conviction within ten years.
Being in charge of a vehicle while over the limit or unfit through drink can lead to up to three months in prison, a fine of up to £2,500 and a possible driving ban.
The court decides the sentence. The official drink-driving penalty guidance explains the main outcomes in Great Britain. The Sentencing Council drink-driving guidance explains how courts in England and Wales approach sentencing.
A court in Great Britain may offer a drink-drive rehabilitation course to someone who is banned for 12 months or more. Completing the course by the deadline can reduce the length of the ban. The course must be offered by the court.
Northern Ireland has separate rules. Driving or attempting to drive while over the limit or unfit through drink can lead to up to six months in prison, a fine of up to £5,000 and a ban of at least 12 months.
A minimum three-year ban can apply following a second conviction within ten years. The Northern Ireland drink-driving penalty guidance explains the possible penalties.
The following GOV.UK codes apply to Great Britain driving records.
Common examples include:
The government’s endorsement code guidance states that DR10, DR20, DR30 and DR31 carry 3 to 11 points. DR40, DR50, DR60 and DR61 carry 10 points, while DR70 carries 4 points.
A court may impose a disqualification rather than penalty points, depending on the offence and circumstances.
On a Great Britain driving record, DR10, DR20, DR30, DR31 and DR61 stay for 11 years from the date of conviction.
DR40, DR50, DR60 and DR70 stay for four years. This runs from the offence date, or from the conviction date where a driving disqualification is imposed.
Northern Ireland driver licensing is administered separately by the Driver and Vehicle Agency. Drivers can check the official guidance on endorsements and disqualifications in Northern Ireland.
The time an endorsement stays on a driving record is not always the same as the time it takes for a conviction to become spent.
In England and Wales, an adult driving endorsement is normally spent five years after conviction. A driving disqualification becomes spent when the ban ends. Other sentences and other UK jurisdictions may result in different rehabilitation periods.
Where several sentences are imposed, the longest applicable period will usually apply. The government’s rehabilitation period guidance provides more detail for England and Wales.
A conviction may reduce the number of insurers willing to offer cover. It can also lead to a higher premium or excess.
The effect will depend on factors such as:
When applying for insurance, answer every question fully and accurately. MoneyHelper’s guidance on insurance and convictions explains that unspent convictions only need to be disclosed when an insurer asks about them.
A conviction received during a policy will usually need to be declared at renewal. However, some policies require earlier notice, so check the policy terms.
Failing to disclose an unspent conviction when asked could lead to the policy being changed, cancelled or treated as invalid. It could also affect a claim, depending on the facts and the relevant insurance law.
An insurer may ask for the conviction code, date, points, ban length, court sentence and details of any rehabilitation course.
We arrange drink driver car insurance through insurers that consider drivers with motoring convictions.
We can help you provide the details an insurer needs and explain the cover, excesses, limits and conditions offered. We arrange insurance through insurers and do not underwrite every policy ourselves.
Cover and price depend on your full details and the insurer’s acceptance criteria. We cannot guarantee that a policy will be available.
You can also read about our wider convicted driver insurance and van insurance.
A drink driving conviction can affect your licence, driving record and insurance for several years. Check the exact offence code, jurisdiction and record period. Give insurers accurate information when asked and read the policy terms before buying cover.
