Been convicted of drink driving? Here’s how you can find affordable car insurance to get you back on the road.
If you've been convicted of drink driving in the past, you already know how hard it is to get car insurance that doesn't cost a motza. We get it.
But before you lose hope, know that getting cover is possible. Keep reading to find out how.
A few helpful pointers:
You can still get insurance if you've been convicted of drink driving, it's just a bit harder to get covered. Here are some quick tips that may increase your chances of finding an insurer that will cover you:
- Some insurers will generally cover you if you have a drink driving conviction, provided you don't have any other convictions related to fraud, theft, and dishonesty.
- It's a good idea to steer clear of any of the notoriously cheaper insurers. They tend to keep their premiums down by avoiding covering high-risk drivers.
- Consider undertaking a safe driving course or installing an interlock system - insurers look upon efforts like these favourably.
- Your premiums will probably be higher than usual.
Want quotes for a drink driving conviction? It's possible!
Can I get car insurance if I'm a convicted drink driver?
Many insurers will cover you if you have only a single DUI on your record. With a little digging around, even those with multiple suspensions will be able to find someone to cover them.
Insurers will ask you about your history when you apply for a quote - usually asking you to report only those offences that have occurred within a certain time frame (anywhere from 2-5 years).
They typically handle past offences one of three ways:
- They won’t cover you with a suspension on your record. They’ll ask you to report your offences and will deny your application with even a single suspension.
- They will accept a single suspension. They’ll ask you to report your offences and will accept your application as long as there’s no more than one suspension on your record. Your premium will probably increase.
- Or they won’t consider prior suspensions. Remarkably, some insurers do not consider suspensions at all. However, if you’re in an accident, they may impose a special excess if your records show your licence had been suspended in the past.
However, unless you’ve got a string of serious drink-driving convictions, you should still be able to find an insurer willing to provide cover. Not all insurers assess convicted drivers the same way, and a 2016 investigation by NewsCorp showed that one of Australia’s largest insurance providers does not place any significant premium increases on people convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
What does this mean for you? Well, if you’re looking for DUI car insurance in Australia, you’ll need to shop around for the best value for money.
How will a drink-driving conviction affect my car insurance costs?
The effect a drink-driving conviction has on your car insurance premium varies between insurers. It could lead to:
- Higher premiums. Many insurers impose a premium loading on your policy. It’s not a small loading either and could be as much as 50% or more.
- A higher excess. Your insurer may only agree to cover you if you’re willing to pay an increased excess when you claim. This excess could be as high as $2,000 and could also apply for up to five years.
- No change. Some insurers won’t impose any premium increase when you return from a drink-driving suspension.
Why is drink driving such a big deal?
Why all the fuss about getting behind the wheel after enjoying a beverage or two? It’s simple: alcohol has been proven to be a major factor in a large proportion of fatal road accidents. Take these statistics from around Australia as a demonstration of just how dangerous it can be to drive while under the influence:
- According to Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission, in 2016 there were 34 drivers and motorcycle riders who lost their lives with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) greater than the legal limit of 0.05.
- In 2015, drink driving contributed to 57 fatalities on Queensland roads – that’s almost one in every four road deaths.
- Drink driving is a factor in more than 20% of all fatal crashes across NSW, resulting in the deaths of nearly 100 people every year
How to find the right policy
There are a number of steps you can take to increase your chances of getting cover in place if you have been convicted of drink driving.
- Get a quote. The only way to find out how your conviction will affect the cost of cover, or whether the insurer will even be willing to cover you, is to apply for a quote. Get quotes from multiple insurers to find out who will insure you and at what cost.
- Check what’s covered. Rather than simply choosing a policy based on its price, read the PDS to find out exactly what is covered. For example, is your car covered for its agreed or market value? What events are included in cover?
- Cover limits. It’s also worth checking the table of benefits to make sure whether any limits apply to cover. For example, what’s the maximum benefit payable for emergency repairs or for stolen or damaged personal effects? If the policy will pay for a hire car after theft, for how long will rental costs be covered?
- Optional extras. Can you add any extras to your policy for an additional premium? For example, you may want to join your insurer’s roadside assistance program.
- Exclusions. Next, check the list of general exclusions to make sure you’re fully aware of all the situations and circumstances that won’t be covered by your policy.
- Who is the underwriter? Read the fine print to see who underwrites the policy – is it a reputable company with a solid background in car insurance?
- How to claim. Finally, check with the insurer to find out what you’ll need to do when you need to make a claim. Is there a claims app for added convenience? How long do claims take to process? Does the insurer have a good reputation for processing claims quickly and efficiently?
By taking the time to compare your options and shop around, you should be able to find the most cost-effective option for your vehicle.
Tips for reducing your premiums
There’s plenty more you can do to help reduce the impact an Australian DUI conviction will have on your car insurance premiums. You can:
- Complete a drink-driving awareness course. Providers around the country offer a range of drink-driving awareness courses designed to educate drivers about the dangers of getting behind the wheel when under the influence. If you complete a course that’s approved by your insurer, you may be able to lower your premiums.
- Get a breathalyser fitted. Alcohol ignition interlocks are breath test devices that prevent a car from starting if your blood alcohol content is higher than zero. If you have one of these devices fitted to your vehicle, your insurer may be willing to offer you a reduced premium.
- Build a clean record. Even if your car insurance options are limited right now, you might be able to get lower premiums, or find a wider variety of insurers willing to cover you, after some time has passed. By simply being a safe driver and never getting behind the wheel when you’ve had anything to drink, you can ensure that the cost of cover will come down over time.
- Choose a lower level of cover. If the cost of comprehensive car insurance is too much, you might consider a basic policy that still includes important third party property damage cover.
- Use discounts to reduce costs. When looking at policies, you might want to factor in discounts you are eligible for when comparing costs.
- Be honest. Don’t try to lower your premiums by “forgetting” to tell your insurer about your DUI conviction. If you do, future claims could be refused and your insurer may cancel the policy altogether.
There are plenty of other simple things you can do to lower your car insurance premiums. Our guide to cheap* car insurance can help you find more affordable cover.
Will drink driving void my car insurance?
If you get behind the wheel of your car when you’re over the legal blood-alcohol limit of 0.05 (or 0 for L- and P-platers), your car insurance won’t cover you for any resulting claims. However, your cover could also be affected even if you’re under the legal limit – if you’re under the influence of alcohol or it is affecting your judgement, your insurer may refuse any claims.
The same goes if you hit the road while under the influence of any drug, while refusing to undergo an alcohol or drug test will also void your insurance.
With this in mind, if you’ve had anything to drink or you’re under the influence of any drug, stay safe and stay off the road.
Get the latest car insurance news
Kangaroo collisions cost Australians $6 million in insurance excess
Huddle launches Australia's first "Kanga Cover". Read more…
South Australian CTP reforms gives drivers more choice… and possibly more ads
Private insurers will soon be able to offer discounts, rewards and incentives. Read more…
TGIF… say car thieves
You're not the only one to love Fridays; an RAA study shows car thefts peak on Fridays. Read more…
if a person has had a drug driving offence and has got a 3 month suspension how can they get full comprehensive insurance they have had no luck so I said I would try and help cheers Eileen
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for your question.
Yes, it may be difficult to get insurance after suspension of the license due to drug driving offense. Though there are still insurers who would offer insurance, more likely they would charge higher premiums or impose additional excess. If in case you’d like to check the brands that offer comprehensive car insurance policies, you can click this page. It would be best to speak to the insurer directly to discuss quotes and level of insurance options.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May