Help - when can DP take a driving conviction off his insurance?

[LEMisafucker]

Sorry, not AIBU but need quick answers

Just renewing DP's insurance policy - he has a conviction for driving uninsured (due to oversight on his part,but not relevant). The offence happened in Jan 2008, the conviction wasn't put on his licence until the following year.

According to the DVLA leaflet, this endorsement can be removed from his licence after 4 years from the offence. BUT the question that the insurance companies ask is has he had any CONVICTIONS in the past five years? The actual offence happened over 5 years ago - when he was caught

We are not sure if he should be declaring this or not - after all in two months time, it will be past the 5 years.

Obviously don't want to "lie" but don't want to be paying extra if we don't have to

The lesson learnt here - make sure you don't forget to renew your car insurance - it has cost us ££££s!

Five years for insurance is the norm. Each insurer differs but I don't know of any company who asks for more than five years of driving history.

Who's the insurer?

I think that the date of the offence is the relevant one. Why not call the insurance company and ask?

Oops. Just read your post again. What's the date of the conviction on his actual licence?

agree - its all the date of offence.

You often get that when people actually arrive in court they have lost points BUT at hte time they were caught they had 9 or whatever

my dh has a couple of speeding ones that are "spent" but to be on the safe side we always declare them with the date of offence and let the insurance company decide if it is relevant or not. they are both old now (>10 years) and the companys usually write and say that they aren't relevant but one or two companys want to know if you have ever had any convictions particularly those offering special packages like protected no claims. declare it and let them decide. if you don't and you have misread their advice then there will be problems.

call the proposed insurer and ask - might be worth getting a broker to get some quotes. This also has the advantage that calls are recorded.

if this is not tied down exactly he could be driving uninsured again.

god over ten years are def spent!!

Thanks everyone - its sorted now, DP called his insurance company and it has to be from date of conviction. I think it matters what type of offence it is - which to me is bloody ridiculous. I know driving without insurance is pretty serious but it was a genuine oversight - 3 days late as DP thought it was the following month Speeding however is from date of offence and doesn't have as many points but you decide whether to speed or not. Doesn't make sense to me!

Anyway, have now insured the car :)

I think it matters what type of offence it is - which to me is bloody ridiculous.

Not ridiculous at all. If you are caught speeding there is a photo or other evidence there and then. Insurance may not show up on a database but may be in place.

You also choose to drive, with or without insurance.

well thats by the by, DP chose to drive, thinking he was insured - which is tough toe nails, but it is not the same as speeding. Driving with no insurance does not put other peoples lives at risk, speeding does, yet the penalties for driving uninsured are heavier.