Drink Driving Insurance

Drink driving insurance is a specialist form of policy that takes into consideration drivers who have a DR code in relation to drink driving offences. Those who have been caught drink driving will have a conviction code such as a DR10 and will have drink driving bans.

If you have a DR conviction code on your licence, it means you will have been caught with over 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. Understanding the legal alcohol limit is crucial, as exceeding it can lead to severe penalties and affect your ability to obtain drink driving insurance.

Policies are versatile but found through more niche insurance providers who are often not on price comparison services.

A drink driving conviction is a formal judgment or sentence given to an individual who has been found guilty of driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. This conviction is typically recorded on the individual’s driving licence and can have significant consequences.

Not only can it lead to increased car insurance premiums, but it can also result in fines, a driving ban, or even imprisonment. Having a drink driving conviction on your record can make it more challenging to find affordable car insurance, as insurers often view convicted drivers as higher risk.

Your drink driver car insurance quotes include and insure the same things as standard car insurance.

There are plenty of options for convicted drink drivers, but you should be aware that they may have specific terms, higher premiums and exclusions.

Having a drink driving conviction on your record can impact how simple it is to get insurance on your vehicle, but it doesn’t necessarily make it impossible.

When considering your personal vehicle insurance you should also think about things like HGV insurance, courier insurance and taxi insurance if you drive for work. You will also need to make your employer aware of this if it needs to be specified on the company fleet policy.

In the UK, the legal alcohol limits for drivers vary slightly depending on the region.

For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the limits are set at:

• 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath
• 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood
• 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine

Scotland, however, has stricter limits:

• 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath
• 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood
• 67 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine

It’s crucial to stay informed about these limits and remember that the safest approach is to avoid drinking any alcohol if you plan to drive.

When caught and convicted of drink driving, you will receive an endorsement on your drivers licence. Endorsements related to alcohol and drink driving will begin with a ‘DR’. The full list is:

• DR10 – Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol above the limit
• DR20 – Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink
• DR30 – Driving or attempting to drive and refusing or failing to supply a specimen
• DR40 – In charge of vehicle with an alcohol level above the limit
• DR50 – In charge of vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs
• DR60 – Failure to provide a specimen for analysis other than driving
• DR70 – Failure to provide a specimen for a breath test

In addition to receiving an endorsement, you are likely to face or will have faced:

• An unlimited fine
• A driving ban with a minimum term of a year
• Up to 11 points added to your licence
• A possible 6 months imprisonment

These penalties will escalate in the event of having anything above a DR10. The magistrates court will look at each and every case, making a decision based on their findings.

If you have different codes to those above, you may want to checkout our convicted driver insurance page.

Being caught drink driving could pose you as a higher risk driver, that said, your driving record generally is still taken into account. Things like your years experience in driving all have an impact.

However, there are a few things you can do to reduce these insurance costs if they are high. Depending on your conviction code, these actions may change which policies are available. Consulting with drink drive insurance specialists can help you find tailored policies and potentially lower your premiums.