Fleet insurance for convicted drivers with points, bans or past offences
One driver with a motoring conviction can change how a whole fleet is quoted. Fill in one short form to be put in touch with specialist brokers who work with insurers that consider high risk drivers on UK business fleets.
- Drivers with points or past bans
- Full disclosure from the start
- Specialist and standard insurers
Fleet insurance for convicted drivers in brief
Fleet insurance for convicted drivers is fleet cover arranged for a business where one or more of the people driving its vehicles has a motoring conviction, such as speeding points, a past driving ban or a more serious offence. Some mainstream fleet insurers accept drivers with minor points, while others refer or decline them, so specialist insurers are often part of the search.
The way the fleet is set up matters too. A business that lets anyone drive may find a conviction rule written into any driver fleet insurance, while a named driver policy deals with each person on their own record.
Which drivers
What kinds of high risk drivers can go on a fleet?
Insurers group convictions by how serious they are and how recent they are. Drivers in any of these groups may still be insurable on a fleet, subject to the insurer's acceptance criteria.
Disclosure
What do insurers expect a business to tell them about driver convictions?
The insurer can only price what it is told. A conviction left off the proposal can lead to a claim being reduced or refused, or the policy being cancelled, so a complete list of drivers and their records is the starting point.
- Every driver's convictions: Motoring convictions for each named driver, and for any driver the business expects to use the vehicles.
- Pending prosecutions: Offences awaiting a court date. Many insurers ask about these as well as convictions already received.
- Fixed penalties with points: Points accepted by paying a fine count as convictions on most proposal forms.
- Bans and suspensions: Past disqualifications, how long they lasted and when the licence was returned.
- Non-motoring convictions: Some insurers ask about unspent criminal convictions for drivers or the business owners.
- Changes during the year: New points or a new ban picked up mid-term, which many policies ask to be reported.
Insurers usually ask about convictions within a set number of years. Older convictions that are spent are not usually asked about, though questions differ between insurers.
How convictions change terms
How do driver convictions affect a fleet policy?
A conviction rarely stops a fleet being insured on its own, but it can change the terms offered. The type of offence, how long ago it was and how many drivers have one all count.
| Driver record | Standard fleet insurers | Specialist insurers |
|---|---|---|
| Minor points, older | Often accepted | Usually accepted |
| Minor points, recent | May carry a higher excess | Usually accepted |
| Several sets of points | Often referred to underwriters | Usually considered |
| Past ban, licence returned | May be declined | Often considered |
| Drink or drug driving | Often declined | Considered case by case |
| Pending prosecution | Usually referred | Usually considered |
A general guide only. Every insurer sets its own acceptance criteria, and the rest of the fleet, the vehicles and the claims record all play a part.
Ways to place the risk
Ways a fleet with high risk drivers can be insured
Brokers have a few routes when a fleet includes drivers with convictions. Which one fits depends on how many drivers are affected and what the vehicles do, whether that is delivery work on a courier fleet or site visits in vans.
Each driver rated on their own record
The insurer sees every driver and sets terms that reflect each one.
- Suits fleets with one or two affected drivers
- New drivers are checked before they drive
- Other drivers are not penalised for one record
A higher excess for certain drivers
Some insurers accept a driver but add an extra excess if they are driving at the time of a claim.
- Keeps the driver on the fleet
- The excess only applies to that driver
- Worth comparing between quotes
Excluding a driver
Some businesses choose to exclude one driver from the policy entirely rather than accept the terms.
- The driver cannot drive any fleet vehicle
- Needs clear rules inside the business
- Can be reviewed when the conviction ages
Managing driver risk
What can a fleet do to improve terms for drivers with points?
Insurers look for signs that the business knows its drivers and acts on what it finds. Employers running a grey fleet of staff using their own cars often use the same checks, since the driver record matters there too.
- Licence checksRegular checks of each driver's licence record, with the driver's consent, to spot new points.
- A written driver policyClear rules on phones, speed, rest and reporting new convictions to the business.
- TelematicsTrackers that record speed, harsh braking and time on the road, which some insurers like to see.
- DashcamsForward or dual facing cameras that can help settle disputed claims.
- Driver trainingRefresher or advanced driving courses for drivers who have picked up points.
- Matching drivers to vehiclesKeeping drivers with recent convictions in lower value or lower risk vehicles.
- Incident reportingRecording near misses and minor damage, not only claims.
- Reviewing the list at renewalRemoving drivers who have left and updating records for those who remain.
How it works
One quote form, specialist fleet brokers
Insure Fleet is an information site, not an insurer or a broker. We link you to MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that gives businesses a gateway to brokers who arrange fleet insurance every day.
Start your quote
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Describe the drivers and vehicles
The form asks about the vehicles, the work they do and who drives, so you can be matched with a specialist fleet broker.
Compare and decide
A broker contacts you with options, subject to insurers' acceptance criteria. There is no obligation to buy.
Before you buy
Questions worth asking when a fleet has convicted drivers
Terms for high risk drivers can sit deep in the policy schedule. These are the points that tend to matter most when a claim comes in.
- Has every conviction been declared?Missing details can affect a claim even if they seem minor.
- Are pending cases included?A court date coming up may need to be mentioned now.
- Is there a separate driver excess?Some terms only apply when a named driver is behind the wheel.
- What happens if a driver gets new points?Many policies ask for changes to be reported during the year.
- Can a driver be added later?New staff with convictions may need insurer approval first.
- Does the conviction rule apply to any driver cover?Open driving terms often exclude certain offences.
- Are licence checks required by the insurer?Some policies make regular checks a condition of cover.
- How will terms change as convictions age?Older offences often weigh less at later renewals.
FAQs
Fleet insurance for convicted drivers questions
Can a fleet be insured if one driver has a conviction?
Usually, yes. Many fleet insurers accept drivers with minor points, and specialist insurers consider more serious convictions. The terms may change for that driver or for the fleet, depending on the offence and how recent it is.
Do speeding points count as a conviction for fleet insurance?
Yes, on most proposal forms. Points accepted with a fixed penalty usually count. A speed awareness course taken instead of points is not usually a conviction, though insurers ask their questions in different ways, so it is worth reading each one carefully.
How long do convictions need to be declared?
Each insurer sets its own period, and the proposal form says how far back the questions go. Spent convictions are not usually asked about, but it is worth checking what each insurer asks for.
Will one driver's conviction raise the price for the whole fleet?
It can, depending on the insurer and the size of the fleet. On a larger fleet one driver may make little difference, while on a smaller fleet the effect can be more noticeable. Excluding the driver or adding a driver excess are sometimes used instead.
Can a driver with a past ban drive a fleet vehicle?
Often, once the licence has been returned, subject to the insurer's acceptance criteria. Many insurers want to know when the ban ended and the reason for it, and some ask for a period of clean driving first.
What if a driver is convicted during the policy year?
Many fleet policies ask the business to report new convictions when they happen. The insurer may then change the terms for that driver. Regular licence checks help a business find out in good time.
Is convicted driver cover available for a new business?
It can be, though a business with no claims history and a convicted driver may find fewer insurers able to quote. Our guide to fleet insurance for a new business covers how a first fleet record is built.
Does Insure Fleet sell insurance?
No. Insure Fleet is an information site and an affiliate of MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that gives businesses a gateway to specialist brokers. When you start a quote you continue to MyMoneyComparison.com, and we may be paid a small commission if you are matched with and speak to a broker.
Fleet with drivers who have convictions?
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