Driving offences can affect your motor insurance, often leading to increased premiums or even policy cancellations.
In this article the Business Choice Direct (BCD) team explores some of the most common driving offences, such as driving under the influence, driving without insurance, speeding, distracted driving, and how these could affect your insurance costs and cover.
If you’re struggling to find cover because of convictions, contact BCD today. We specialise in Convicted Driver Insurance tailored to suit our customers
Drug driving overtakes drink driving
According to the road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, the number of drug driving offences has now overtaken drink driving offences.
Figures recorded for 2025, show that drug driving offences have risen by 28% from 2022 to 2025, with 23,981 offences registered in 2022, and 30,707 recorded in 2025.1
Meanwhile 29,769 drunk driving offences were recorded in 2025 compared to 35,976 in 2022, a positive development showing a decrease of 17%.2
What are the consequences of drug driving?
The penalties for drug driving and drunk driving are the same. If you’re convicted of either type of offence you could face:
- Up to six months imprisonment
- An unlimited fine
- A minimum of a one year driving ban
- A record on your driving licence which lasts for 11 years, showing you were convicted of drug driving
- If you kill someone while drug or drink driving, you could face life imprisonment 3
All the above consequences can also lead to:
- Your insurance costs increasing (sometimes doubling or tripling)
- Your employer being aware of this conviction which if your job is driving, could affect the chances of you getting hired
- Issues with travelling abroad (for example, to the USA)
At BCD, we understand that as a driver you still need cover to get on the road. So, we work hard, searching from a wide panel of insurers to provide insurance for convicted drivers that is competitively priced and suitable for you.
If you have been convicted of driving under the influence, talk to us about finding appropriate cover for you and your vehicle.
Driving Without Insurance
Driving without insurance is illegal in the UK.
If the vehicle is insured but you’re not insured to drive it, you could be seen by the police and your insurer to be driving without insurance.
Similarly, if you are using your van or car for business purposes and you don’t have the appropriate insurance to cover you, you could face serious problems should you need to make a claim.
Impact on Insurance:
Driving without insurance is the most expensive driving offence in relation to hiked up insurance costs.
It is considered even more serious than some of the other driving offences which could potentially cause injury or death.
If you’re caught without insurance, your current insurer may cancel your policy. This could make finding new insurance challenging and expensive.
Distracted Driving: Driving Whilst Using a Phone
Distracted driving involves any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating, talking to passengers, or fiddling with the stereo or navigation system.
The rise of smartphones has made distracted driving one of the leading causes of accidents.
Impact on insurance
If you’re caught whilst using your mobile phone and driving, your insurance could increase dramatically.
This rise in cost reflects the fact that insurers consider distracted driving a major risk and cause of accidents.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the most common driving offences.
It involves driving at a speed that goes above the legal limit set for a particular road or area.
Impact on Insurance
Speeding tickets almost always result in increased insurance premiums. Insurers view speeding as a sign of reckless behaviour, potentially increasing the risk of accidents.
Depending on the severity and frequency of speeding violations, the increase in premiums can range from moderate to high.
Reckless or Dangerous Driving
Reckless driving is a broad term that can include a variety of unsafe driving behaviours, such as:
- Aggressive driving
- Tailgating
- Making unsafe lane changes.
It is generally defined as driving with a wilful disregard for the safety of people or property.
Impact on Insurance
Reckless driving is a serious offence that can lead to significant insurance consequences.
Insurers see reckless drivers as high-risk individuals, and a conviction can result in a sharp increase in premiums.
How BCD can help you
If you have driving offences on your record, own a high-performance vehicle, or work in a job which insurers see as high risk, get in touch.
We can help find Convicted Driver Insurance, searching from a panel of leading insurers to source a policy that is affordable and tailored to suit you.
1-2 www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/drug-driving-prosecutions-overtake-drink-driving-for-the-first-time