Getting car insurance after a driving ban

Have the conviction details ready

Insurers may ask for offence codes, conviction dates, length of ban, points and other details. Gather the information before starting applications so that your answers are consistent.

Your previous insurer may not be the best fit

A company that was competitive before the ban may no longer be interested in the risk. The market can become smaller, which is why specialist convicted-driver providers sometimes appear in searches.

The car choice matters even more. A powerful or expensive car can compound the effect of a recent ban. If you have not yet bought a replacement vehicle, insurance quotations can be worth checking before committing to the car.

Be exact about dates

Don't round dates or assume that an old conviction no longer needs to be mentioned. Use the time periods in the insurer’s questions.

Look at the whole policy

When choices are limited it is tempting to take the first acceptable premium. Still check excesses, use restrictions, mileage, named drivers and the level of cover before paying.