Do I Need to Tell My Insurance Company About a DR20 Conviction?

Yes. If you have a DR20 conviction, you should answer your insurer’s conviction questions honestly when you take out cover or renew your policy. If you get the conviction during an existing policy, you will usually only need to tell your insurer at renewal unless your policy wording says you must report it sooner. Once the conviction becomes spent, you usually do not need to disclose it for insurance purposes. At Got You Covered, we help drivers with past motoring convictions understand what they need to declare and find cover that fits their situation.

What a DR20 conviction means

A DR20 means driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink. It is a serious drink-driving endorsement and it carries 3 to 11 penalty points. A DR20 endorsement also stays on your driving record for 11 years from the date of conviction.

The penalties can be severe. For driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink, the court can impose up to 6 months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, and a driving ban of at least 12 months. The Sentencing Council guideline for being unfit through drink or drugs shows that the sentence and length of ban depend on how serious the case is, with disqualification ranges increasing well above the legal minimum in more serious cases.

When you need to tell your insurer

The key rule is simple. When you buy or renew insurance, you must give accurate answers to the questions you are asked. Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, you must take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation. The Financial Ombudsman’s guidance on misrepresentation and non-disclosure explains that, if a relevant fact was not disclosed, an insurer may charge more, change the terms, settle a claim proportionately, or avoid the policy altogether.

If you receive a DR20 while your policy is still running, you do not usually have to tell your insurer straight away unless your policy specifically says you must. MoneyHelper’s guidance on insurance and convictions says that if you get a conviction during a policy, you normally do not need to declare it until renewal, unless the terms and conditions say otherwise. That is why it is important to read your schedule, statement of fact and policy wording carefully.

It is also worth being clear about the risk of staying silent. If you deliberately do not disclose a conviction when asked, MoneyHelper says your insurance could be invalid. If that leaves you driving without valid cover, you may then face the penalties for driving without insurance, including a fixed penalty, points, a court fine, disqualification, and the vehicle being seized in some cases.

How a DR20 can affect insurance and price

A DR20 can make insurance more expensive and reduce the number of insurers willing to quote. GOV.UK states that a conviction for drink-driving means your car insurance costs will increase significantly. MoneyHelper also says that mainstream insurers typically refuse cover to people with unspent convictions, so the cheapest comparison-site options may not be available.

There is no single price increase that applies to everyone. Insurers look at the exact conviction code, how long ago it happened, the sentence, whether you were disqualified, your claims history, your car, where it is kept, and how you use it. Financial Ombudsman decisions show that insurers and brokers often ask about motoring convictions within the last five years, and that some insurers would not have offered cover at all if a recent drink-driving conviction had been properly disclosed. In other cases, the insurer may still offer cover, but only at a higher premium or on different terms.

That is where specialist help can matter. At Got You Covered, we arrange cover for drivers with drink-driving and other motoring convictions through our drink driver insurance and convicted driver insurance services. If standard routes are giving you poor results, a specialist broker can often help you find a more suitable market.

How long a DR20 matters for insurance and your licence

This is the part that often causes confusion. A DR20 stays on your driving record for 11 years, but that does not always mean you must disclose it for insurance for the full 11 years. GOV.UK’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act says that a road traffic endorsement is a sentence for the purposes of the Act and may become spent after 5 years for an adult. The same guidance also says that where the court imposes more than one sentence or penalty, the longest rehabilitation period applies.

In practical terms, that means many adult DR20 convictions will need to be disclosed for 5 years from the date of conviction, even though the endorsement can still appear on the driving record for 11 years. But this is not a blanket rule for every case. If the court imposed another penalty or sentence with a longer rehabilitation period, that longer period can control when the conviction becomes spent. MoneyHelper and GOV.UK both say that once a conviction is spent, you usually do not need to disclose it for insurance purposes.

The safest approach is to separate two questions. First, is the DR20 still showing on your licence? Second, is it still unspent for disclosure purposes? Those are not always the same thing. If you are unsure, ask the insurer or broker exactly what period or type of conviction they want declared before you complete the quote.

What to prepare before you apply and how to improve your chances

Before you ask for quotes, it helps to have the basics ready: your conviction code, conviction date, details of any ban, the date your licence was returned or reissued, your claims history, your no-claims bonus proof if you still have one, and the normal details about your vehicle and use. On our blog, we explain how to get car or van insurance after a drink-driving conviction, what to do after a previous motoring conviction, and how no-claims discount can affect price.

If you were disqualified, you must not drive again until the legal process is complete. GOV.UK says that you must apply for a new licence after disqualification, and you cannot drive until the disqualification period is over. If you are classed as a high-risk offender, DVLA guidance says you are not eligible to drive until a new licence has actually been issued.

It can also help to show that you have moved on from the offence. If the court offers you a drink-drive rehabilitation course, completing it can usually reduce the ban by a quarter. It will not guarantee cheaper insurance, but it may still help your overall profile with some insurers. Beyond that, the practical steps are the same as for any higher-risk motor quote: keep a clean record, be accurate on every answer, and think carefully about the car you insure and how you use it.

Getting insured with Got You Covered

At Got You Covered, we know a DR20 can make insurance harder, but it does not automatically mean you are uninsurable. We help drivers who have drink-driving convictions, recent bans, a low or zero no-claims bonus, or trouble finding sensible quotes online. Our goal is to help you find cover that fits your circumstances and explain the process clearly along the way.

If you need help now, you can look at our drink driver insurance page, learn more about our convicted driver insurance, or contact us to speak to our team. If you are still comparing your options, our guide on insurance after a drink-driving conviction is a useful next read.

FAQ

Do I have to tell my insurer about a DR20 straight away?

Usually only when you take out cover or renew, unless your current policy says you must report convictions during the policy term. Check the wording of your policy and statement of fact.

How long does a DR20 stay on my licence?

A DR20 stays on your driving record for 11 years from the date of conviction.

How long do I usually need to declare a DR20 for insurance?

In many adult cases, the endorsement becomes spent after 5 years, so that is often the practical disclosure period. But if another part of the sentence has a longer rehabilitation period, the conviction may stay unspent for longer.

Can I still get car insurance with a DR20?

Yes, often through specialist insurers or brokers, although prices can be higher and your choice may be narrower at first.

Do I need a new licence after a drink-driving ban?

Yes. If you were disqualified, you must apply for a new licence before driving again. If you are a high-risk offender, you cannot drive until DVLA has issued that new licence.

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