The best sources of support for convicted drivers

If you’ve been convicted of a driving offence that’s resulted in points on your licence, a fine or even a driving ban, you’re certainly not alone. Hundreds of thousands of motorists in the UK get caught breaking driving laws every single year.
 
In fact, recent years have seen driver offender numbers rise. Last year, around 691,000 people in the UK were prosecuted for driving offences, as revealed by figures from the Ministry of Justice. In 2017, that figure stood at 670,000.
 
Actual driving convictions and sentences increased to 619,000 in 2018 from 600,000 in 2017. More than half (52%) of motoring prosecutions in 2018 were due to offences related to speed limits and vehicle insurance.
 
Whether you were caught speeding, using your phone at the wheel or driving without cover, you could find it difficult securing competitive car insurance. But perhaps not if you choose Insurance Factory. We specialise in finding you convicted driver insurance, and have access to a panel of providers to help you find cover for a good price.
 
 We’ll treat you as an individual, considering your personal circumstances before comparing convicted drivers insurance quotes on your behalf. Rest assured, getting a good deal on car insurance needn’t be a thing of the past!

 

Getting convicted driver support

Insurance Factory can support you by finding you convicted driver insurance, but you may wish to seek further support with your conviction. Thankfully, there are a handful of online resources that provide advice to convicted drivers and can help to settle any concerns you might have. Here are some websites that are worth a visit:
 

Unlock

Unlock is perhaps the most well-known online support network. It’s actually an independent, award-winning national charity that provides support to people with convictions who may be facing stigma and challenges because of their situation.
 
Unlock runs a number of websites offering different types of services and support. They are:
 
  • theInformationHub is the most comprehensive source of practical self-help information on a range of conviction-related topics.
  • theHelpline offers confidential peer support on overcoming the effects of convictions (in particular criminal convictions)
  • theCalculator is a handy online tool to help you calculate when your convictions become ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In the majority of cases, a spent conviction means you no longer need to disclose the offence.
  • theForum is a self-support community which enables law-abiding people with convictions to share their experiences and advice with one another.
  • theRecord is Unlock’s online magazine which features news, views and personal stories about living with convictions.
 

Guide to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

We briefly touched on this above, but the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 is essentially a piece of legislation that allows people with ‘spent’ convictions and cautions not to disclose them when applying for the majority of jobs and insurance.
 
Aside from people who have been given prison sentences of over four years because of their offences, the majority of people with convictions will benefit from the Act at some point during their lifetime.
 
The actual Rehabilitation of Offenders Act is a wordy document, so read Unlock’s useful guide instead. It outlines the benefits of the Act, what it does and doesn’t cover, rehabilitation periods for specific sentences, and shares a list of resources where you can find more practical, self-help information.
 

Gov.UK

Gov.UK is the go-to website for keeping track of your driving conviction. You can use the service to:
 
  • View your driving record and find information like the vehicles you’re legally allowed to drive.
  • Check your penalty points and driving disqualifications (and when they expire).
  • Create a licence ‘check code’ so that you can share your driving record with others, for instance a car hire company. This code will be valid for three weeks.
 
You’ll need some information to be able to use the tool, including your:
 
  • Driving licence number
  • National Insurance number
  • Postcode on your driving licence
 

Drink Driving forum

If you’ve been convicted of a drink driving offence, of whatever level, speaking with people in a similar position can be really helpful.
 
The Drink Driving forum tackles topics like legal advice, convicted driver insurance, rehabilitation courses, DVLA medical discussions and more. The DrinkDriving.org website, in general, has lots of useful information and advice on drink driving, from sentencing guidelines and police procedures, to re-applying for your driving licence and re-taking your driving test.
 

How Insurance Factory can help when your driving ban is over

Hopefully, the above links will allow you to find all the information you need about your driving conviction, helping you to deal with it until your ban is over.
 
When your driving ban is lifted, we can help you to get back on the road with our convicted driver insurance, offered by our panel of specialist providers. We understand that the past is the past, which is why we’ll strive to get you back behind the wheel with as little hassle as possible.
 
Convicted driver insurance policies arranged through Insurance Factory still offer the benefits featured in standard car insurance. We’ll take the time to understand your  needs before comparing quotes to find you the right policy.
 
We consider a range of driving convictions, including:
 
  • IN10 – Convicted of driving without insurance
  • DR10 – Convicted of driving or attempting to drive with a blood alcohol level exceeding allowable limits
  • DR20 – Convicted of driving or attempted to drive while unfit through drink
  • DR30 – Convicted of driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis
  • DR40 – Convicted of being in charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit
  • DR50 – Convicted of being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink
  • DR60 – Convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive
  • CD10 – Convicted of driving without due care and attention
 
We’ve got more than 20 years of experience in helping drivers with previous convictions get back behind the wheel. When you’re ready to get back on the road, get a free, no-obligation quote with Insurance Factory.