DR50 Car Insurance: Car Insurance After a DR50 Conviction

What a DR50 conviction means

If you have a DR50 conviction, you may be wondering whether DR50 insurance is available and how much car insurance after a DR50 conviction may cost. In many cases, you can get insured again, but your choice of insurers may be smaller, and your premium may be higher. At Got You Covered, we help drivers in this position every day, including people who need specialist Drink Driver Insurance and Convicted Driver Insurance after a serious motoring conviction.

A DR50 is the DVLA endorsement code for being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink. This is different from offences such as DR10 or DR20, which relate to driving or attempting to drive. A DR50 is an “in charge” offence. This means someone may be convicted even if they were not actually driving at the time.

That is one reason a DR50 can be confusing. The issue is not always whether the car was moving. It is whether the person was treated as being in control of the vehicle while unfit through drink. For example, someone may still face this type of offence if they were in the driver’s seat with access to the keys, even if the vehicle was not being driven at that moment.

A DR50 is still a serious motoring conviction. It can affect your driving record, the number of insurers willing to offer cover, and the price you may be asked to pay once you are back on the road. At Got You Covered, we understand that drivers with convictions often need a more specialist and non-judgemental approach than standard comparison sites can offer.

What penalties can apply for a DR50?

A DR50 offence carries 10 penalty points on your driving licence record.

In England and Wales, the Sentencing Council guideline for unfit through drink or drugs while in charge of a vehicle shows that the court should consider disqualification or 10 points. If no disqualification is imposed, the guideline points to 10 penalty points.

The same guideline shows the offence is dealt with in the magistrates’ court and can lead to:

• A fine
• A possible driving disqualification
• Up to 3 months’ custody in the most serious cases

The final sentence can vary depending on the facts. The court may look at things such as the level of impairment, the risk to the public, and how likely it was that the person would have driven.

For insurance purposes, the key point is that a DR50 is treated as a drink-related conviction. Even where the circumstances were different from a DR10 or DR20, many insurers may still see it as a serious risk factor.

Can you get car insurance after a DR50 conviction?

Yes, in many cases, you can get car insurance after a DR50 conviction. The main issue is usually not whether cover is available, but how many insurers will consider the risk and what premium they may charge.

If a disqualification was part of the sentence, insurance is only relevant after the ban has ended and once your licence has been properly restored. You cannot legally drive while disqualified, and in some cases, you may need to reapply for your licence after disqualification before getting back on the road.

Many mainstream insurers may treat a DR50 as a higher-risk case. Some may decline to quote. Others may offer cover, but on stricter terms or at a higher price. This is why many drivers look for specialist Convicted Driver Insurance instead of relying only on standard comparison sites.

At Got You Covered, we work with drivers who need help after drink-related convictions, previous claims, or a lower no-claims bonus. We aim to make the process clearer and more practical, so you know what insurers may ask and what options may still be available.

Why DR50 insurance can cost more

A DR50 conviction can change how insurers view the risk. That often means fewer quotes, stricter acceptance criteria, or higher premiums.

The conviction itself is only one part of the picture. Insurers may also look at:

• Your postcode.
• Where the car is kept overnight.
• Your annual mileage.
• Your job.
• Your claims history.
• Gaps in cover.
• The make, model, value, and engine size of the vehicle.
• Your no-claims bonus position.

That means two drivers with the same DR50 conviction may still get very different prices.

You may often find that the wider details of the risk matter just as much as the conviction code itself. A driver with a modest car, low mileage, and a clean recent claims record may look very different to an insurer than someone with a more expensive vehicle and a more complex history.

If you want a broader look at how insurers work out quotes, read our guide on What Affects Your Car Insurance Premium.

How long does a DR50 stay on your driving record?

A DR50 stays on your driving record for 4 years from the date of the offence, or 4 years from the date of conviction if a disqualification is imposed.

GOV.UK also explains that a 4-year endorsement is valid for the first 3 years, although it remains on the driving record for the full endorsement period.

This matters because drivers often assume that once the points are no longer active, the conviction no longer affects insurance. In practice, insurers may ask their questions in different ways. Some ask about convictions within a set number of years. Others may ask for more detail depending on the type of offence.

If you are not sure what is still showing, you can view your driving licence information online. This can help you give the correct code and dates when you apply for cover through Got You Covered.

How long do you need to declare a DR50 to insurers?

There is no single rule used by every insurer. Many insurers ask about motoring convictions within the last 5 years, but some may ask about a longer period.

You usually only need to disclose convictions when an insurer asks about them. When you are asked, the details need to be accurate. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains that consumers must take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation when taking out or renewing insurance. Getting the conviction code and dates right can help avoid delays when applying for DR50 insurance.

The safest approach is simple:

• Answer the insurer’s exact question.
• Give the correct conviction code.
• Use the right dates.
• Do not guess; check first.

If you are unsure, it is worth using the official service to check your penalty points and disqualifications before you apply. Giving accurate information when getting a quote is vital; if you fail to do so, your insurance policy may be void.

What should you have prepared when applying for DR50 insurance?

Before applying for car insurance after a DR50 conviction, it helps to have the details insurers often ask for ready. This may include:

• Your conviction code
• The date of the offence or conviction
• Whether you received points, a ban, or both
• The length of any disqualification
• The date your ban ended
• Confirmation that your licence has been restored, where relevant
• Your vehicle details
• Your mileage
• Where the vehicle is kept overnight
• Your no-claims bonus details
• Any recent claims or other convictions

Having this information ready can make the process simpler and reduce the risk of mistakes. It can also make it easier for us at Got You Covered to help find the most suitable option for your circumstances.

If you have had a gap in insurance or you are not sure whether an old no-claims bonus can still be used, it may help to read our guide on What is a No Claims Discount (NCD) and Where Can You Access it?.

Can a drink-drive rehabilitation course help?

In some cases, yes. If you are banned for 12 months or more, the court may offer you a drink-drive rehabilitation course. If you complete it in time, it will usually reduce your ban by up to a quarter.

Completing the course does not guarantee cheaper DR50 insurance, but some insurers may view it positively as part of the wider picture. It can also help you get back on the road sooner if it reduces the length of your disqualification.

For many drivers, the course is more about getting back on track and moving forward. Anything that helps present a clearer and more responsible overall picture may be useful when insurers assess the risk.

Does a DR50 affect getting your licence back?

It can. If you were disqualified, you may need to wait until the ban ends and then take the right steps to get your licence back.

You can check when your disqualification ends on GOV.UK. In some drink-driving cases, the DVLA may also treat someone as a high-risk offender, which can mean a medical process before a new licence is issued.

This matters for insurance. If your DR50 led to a ban, cover should only be arranged for when you are legally allowed to drive again, and your licence has been properly restored.

How to improve your chances of getting cheaper DR50 insurance

There is no guaranteed way to reduce the cost of DR50 insurance, but some steps can help.

Choose a car that is cheaper to insure. Lower-value and lower-performance cars often cost less to cover than more powerful or more expensive models.

Keep your details accurate when you apply. Clear and correct disclosure can help prevent delays, cancellations, or problems later.

Work on rebuilding your no-claims bonus where possible. A stronger no-claims discount can often help reduce premiums over time, although this varies by insurer.

Think about the wider risk profile too. Mileage, overnight parking, previous claims, and other convictions can all affect price. Our article on What Affects Your Car Insurance Premium explains this in more detail.

If you need more extensive information in this area, read How to Get Car or Van Insurance After a Drink Driving Conviction UK. If you also need cover for a work vehicle, our Van Insurance page may be useful too.

Getting insured again with Got You Covered

If comparison sites are not giving you many options, specialist help can make a real difference. At Got You Covered, we help drivers with convictions, previous claims, and more complicated insurance histories access cover through insurers that understand non-standard cases.

We know that a DR50 conviction can make the process feel frustrating. We also know that many drivers simply want a fair chance to get insured again once they are legally able to drive. That is why we focus on keeping things clear from the start.

We can help you understand what information insurers may need, check that the right conviction code is being used, and guide you towards the most suitable route for your circumstances. Where standard routes are limited, our experience with more specialist cases can be especially useful.

Our Drink Driver Insurance and Convicted Driver Insurance pages are a good place to start. If you want to understand more about pricing before you apply, you can also read What Affects Your Car Insurance Premium. If you would rather speak to us directly, you can Contact Us and we will talk you through the next steps.

FAQ: DR50 insurance and DR50 convictions

Is a DR50 a serious driving conviction?

Yes. A DR50 is generally treated as a serious conviction because it is alcohol-related and can affect how insurers assess risk.

Does DR50 mean I was caught drink driving?

Not in the same way as DR10 or DR20. A DR50 is the code for being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink. It does not always mean the vehicle was being driven at the time.

How many points do you get for a DR50?

A DR50 carries 10 penalty points.

Can I get insurance straight after my ban ends?

In many cases, yes. But that assumes your disqualification has ended and your licence has been properly restored where needed. You must be legally entitled to drive before using the vehicle on the road.

Do I need to tell every insurer about a DR50 forever?

No. You need to answer the insurer’s actual question truthfully. Some insurers ask about the last 5 years, while others may ask for a longer history.

Can I still use my old no-claims discount after a ban?

Sometimes, but not always. Some insurers may accept older proof of no-claims discount, while others may not if there has been a long gap in cover.

Is DR50 insurance always very expensive?

Not always, but it is often more expensive than standard cover. The final premium can depend on the conviction, how recent it is, the vehicle, your address, your mileage, your claims history, and the insurer’s own underwriting criteria.