A driving ban means you cannot drive until the ban ends and any licence rules have been met.
A driving ban is also known as a driving disqualification. It means a court has stopped you from driving for a set time.
You can be banned if you are convicted of a driving offence. You can also be banned if you get 12 or more penalty points within 3 years.
When you are banned, you must not drive until the disqualification has ended. The Sentencing Council explains that a disqualification stops you driving any motor vehicle on a road used by the public.
Driving while disqualified is a serious offence. It can lead to a further ban, a fine, or in some cases a prison sentence.
The court decides how long the ban should last. This depends on the offence, the facts of the case, and your driving record.
A common type of ban is a totting-up ban. This can happen when a driver reaches 12 or more points for offences committed within 3 years. The usual minimum totting-up ban is 6 months. It can rise to 1 year or 2 years if there have been previous qualifying bans.
Some offences can lead to longer bans. For example, drink-driving can lead to a ban, a fine, or a prison sentence, depending on the offence and the case facts. GOV.UK explains the rules for drink-driving disqualification, including when a course may reduce the length of a ban.
Do not assume you can drive straight away. The next step depends on the type and length of the ban.
If the ban lasted 56 days or more, you must apply for a new licence before you drive again. The court may also order you to retake your driving test or take an extended test. GOV.UK sets out the rules for getting your licence back after a driving disqualification.
If the ban lasted less than 56 days, you do not usually need to apply for a new licence. But you still must not drive until the ban has ended.
Endorsements can stay on your driving record for 4 or 11 years, depending on the offence. GOV.UK explains how long endorsements stay on a driving record.
A driving ban can affect car or van insurance. Insurers may see it as a sign of higher risk. The effect can vary depending on the offence, the date of conviction, the length of the ban, claims history, vehicle, use of the vehicle, and the insurer.
When you buy or renew insurance, you must answer the insurer’s questions with care. The Financial Ombudsman Service says insurers should look at whether questions were clear, whether the answer was wrong or incomplete, and whether the insurer would have acted differently.
MoneyHelper says you only need to disclose convictions if asked, and that spent convictions do not need to be declared when applying for insurance. It also says that if you get a conviction during a policy, you usually do not need to declare it until renewal unless the policy says you must. Read the policy terms and check the insurer’s questions carefully. See MoneyHelper’s guide to getting insurance with a criminal conviction.
Rehabilitation periods can be complex. GOV.UK says adult driving endorsements are usually spent after 5 years from conviction, while a driving disqualification is spent when the ban ends. If more than one sentence or penalty applies, the longest period applies. GOV.UK explains these rehabilitation periods.
The ABI also notes that a driving disqualification will normally involve an endorsement, so it may not be spent for 5 years for an adult. The ABI has guidance on how insurers approach people with convictions and related offences.
We arrange specialist convicted driver insurance through insurers. This can include help for some drivers with past bans, penalty points, claims, or a low no-claims bonus.
We may also be able to help with car insurance or van insurance after a driving ban, depending on the full details.
Cover, price, acceptance, excesses, restrictions, and documents needed will depend on the insurer and the policy. We arrange insurance through insurers. We do not underwrite every policy ourselves.
A driving ban means you cannot drive for the time set by the court. It may follow a serious offence or a build-up of penalty points.
Before looking for insurance after a ban, check your driving record, know the offence dates and codes, and answer insurer questions honestly. This can help avoid problems with your policy later.
