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Steps to Lower Your Car Insurance Premium If You Have a Driving Conviction
Last Updated on: December 19th, 2024
Driving convictions can be anything from a few points for speeding to more serious offenses such as drunk driving or dangerous driving. Whatever your driving conviction, it is likely that it will have an adverse effect on your car insurance. However, there are ways to reduce the cost of your policy.
Here is a guide to help you lower your car insurance premium if you have a driving conviction. In fact, this article will offer you simple solutions to lower your car insurance premium. By following these solutions, you can take the first steps to lower your premium. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article.
Essential Steps to Lower Your Car Insurance Premium
The following are the steps with the help of which you can lower your car insurance premium if you have a driving conviction:
1. Shop Around
The risk of insuring a convicted driver is viewed differently depending on the insurer. This means it is worth shopping around to see who will offer you the best car insurance with points or convictions. This is because the premiums can vary dramatically.
2. Increase Your Excess
Your policy excess is the amount of money you would have to pay before your insurance company will pay out. The bigger your excess, the cheaper your insurance will be.
Therefore, if you want to reduce your insurance premium, you could consider increasing your excess. You will only pay this if you need to make a claim. Also, it could save you money to agree to a higher excess in exchange for lower premiums.
3. Don’t Compound The Problem
If you have a driving conviction, it is important that you don’t repeat your mistake. Hence, you can compound your problem. For example, if you have three speeding points on your license, many insurance companies will offer you their standard rates.
However, if you carry on speeding, then you could have six points or more on your license when it is time to renew your policy. Hence, insurance companies will consider you a higher risk. As a result, they will increase the premium they offer you accordingly.
4. Consider Black Box Insurance
This is a problem that new drivers face. Basically, it is a common way for inexperienced drivers to lower their policy premiums. However, it can be used by all drivers, even if they have been driving for decades. The black box calculates your insurance cost depending on how and when you drive your car. However, if you drive carefully, it can reduce your premium.
5. Drive A Less-Powerful Car
If you drive a cheaper, less powerful car, then your insurance premiums can be significantly reduced. Generally, insurance companies look at the value of the car, the performance, and the engine size to assess the risk and offer premiums accordingly.
On the other hand, if you are thinking about changing your car, then these things are worth considering. Also, you can always treat yourself to an upgrade once your conviction is spent.
6. Take An Advanced Driving Course
An advanced driving course can make you a lower risk to insurance companies because it should make you a better driver. Hence, you are less likely to make a claim. Moreover, insurance companies may lower your premium accordingly, even if you have a driving conviction.
7. Drive Less
As you already know you must increase your excess. However, you can also reduce the number of miles you drive if you can. For instance, if you lower your annual mileage, you will pay a lower premium. Hence, don’t give an unrealistic figure to your insurance company.
However, if you end up lying about your mileage and you make a claim, you will face a consequence. Basically, if you have a higher mileage, it will invalidate your claim.
8. Don’t Go for Added Extras
When you go for a quote for car insurance, the insurance provider will ask you whether you want to add extras or not. Generally, these extras include legal cover, courtesy car, windscreen cover, etc. Although these are helpful, at some point, they will increase the premium.
Hence, your insurance premium for driver conviction will increase. Hence, it is better to avoid them.
Lower Your Car Insurance Premium Now
Don’t despair if you have a driving conviction and you need to renew your car insurance policy. There are ways to reduce your premium if you know how. Therefore, use this guide to get the best insurance rates available.
Do you have more suggestions on how a driver with conviction can lower a car insurance premium? Please share your experiences and opinions in the comments section below.
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