Motor insurance with criminal conviction

[Blackcat13]

Hi all, I was wondering if you could help. 
I got convicted of fraud in October for using my dads blue badge when I shouldn’t have and I’m really struggling to find car insurance I can afford   and it’s due for renewal in a few weeks. 
many help would be appreciated. 
 

 

[Ethel Street]

 

You'll need to use a specialist insurance broker and not rely on online price comparison sites. 

 

There's a national charity called Unlock that helps people with criminal convictions. One part of their website deals with motor insurance and has a list of specialist brokers who may be able to help.

 

List of insurance brokers - Unlock

UNLOCK.ORG.UK

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Background We have been developing access to fair insurance for people with convictions since 2000. Since then we have worked hard to make it...

 

[Blackcat13]

Thank you… I’ll have a mooch 

[Ethel Street]

@Blackcat13Just to save people having to read through the 9 pages of your previous thread I'll summarise what happened.

 

On 13th October 2022 you were convicted in the magistrates court of fraud under s1 and s2 of the Fraud Act 2006. The conviction was because you used a Blue Badge [BB] to park in a disabled parking bay in a council car park but it was not your BB and you were not authorised to use it. By using the BB you fraudulently obtained free parking that were not entitled to. You were not charged with having stolen the BB. It had been issued to your late father and should have been returned to the council after his death but in fact was still in your possession.

 

You pleaded Guilty and were fined.

 

How much was the Fine please? Was any other sanction imposed? Costs and Victim Surcharge presumably. Anything else?

 

Do you have any other motoring or non-motoring convictions? Do you have any points on your licence?

 

Knowing the answer to these questions will help people advise you.

 

 

 

 

[Blackcat13]

It was just a fine of £400 ish can’t remember the exact amount that was including  costs and victim surcharge.

I have no points or motoring convictions 

[unclebulgaria67]

I would suggest contacting large brokers.  

 

e.g., Adrian Flux or A-Plan or Towergate.  Or find a brokers local to you.

 

You could call BIBA on 03709501790 to find a local brokers.  BIBA is the brokers association helpline.

 

On the Unlock website, it lists Direct Line, Churchill and Privilege Insurance.  Whilst these Insurance companies don't ask declaration questions regarding criminal convictions, I seem to remember that one of the eligibility criteria for being able to take out Insurance with these companies, is that the person taking out Insurance does not have any unspent criminal convictions.  Therefore do not take out Insurance with these companies, unless you have phoned them to check whether they can Insure you.

[Blackcat13]

How do I find the eligibility details? 

[unclebulgaria67]

Appears Direct Line might consider offering cover ?. See link (care, under car and driver criminal convictions not mentioned, but under occupants convictions is an issue.  Select Premier appears to be combined Home and Car Insurance, so convictions a problem for Home Insurance occupants, but not for drivers of car)

 

Before arranging any Insurance, if you are unsure about whether convictions are an issue affecting Insurance always check with the Insurance company.

 

https://www.directline.com/select-premier/assumptions

[Blackcat13]

• You or any person living with you or covered under this policy have never been convicted of and/or charged with any offence (other than motoring convictions and/or any convictions spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act) and do not have any prosecutions pending
   

That’s what direct line says 

[dx100uk]

5 hours ago, Blackcat13 said:

It was just a fine of £400 ish can’t remember the exact amount that was including  costs and victim surcharge.

I have no points or motoring convictions 

 

6 hours ago, Ethel Street said:

@Blackcat13Just to save people having to read through the 9 pages of your previous thread I'll summarise what happened.

 

On 13th October 2022 you were convicted in the magistrates court of fraud under s1 and s2 of the Fraud Act 2006. The conviction was because you used a Blue Badge [BB] to park in a disabled parking bay in a council car park but it was not your BB and you were not authorised to use it. By using the BB you fraudulently obtained free parking that were not entitled to. You were not charged with having stolen the BB. It had been issued to your late father and should have been returned to the council after his death but in fact was still in your possession.

 

You pleaded Guilty and were fined.

 

How much was the Fine please? Was any other sanction imposed? Costs and Victim Surcharge presumably. Anything else?

 

Do you have any other motoring or non-motoring convictions? Do you have any points on your licence?

 

Knowing the answer to these questions will help people advise you.

 

 

the key here is too answer these questions...

 

BB Fraud is not classed as a motoring conviction.

 

 

[Blackcat13]

I’ve looked and I think with all of them you have to declare any criminal convictions before you purchase the insurance. 

[honeybee13]

This is where an insurance broker can help you, as they will have seen this situation before. Unclebulgaria1967 recommended a few.

 

HB

[Blackcat13]

Ok, I’ll have a look. 

[Ethel Street]

And there's a list insurance brokers on the Unlock site.

[Blackcat13]

Yes, I have saw these too… is it worth asking my current insurer for a quote with the conviction or does this affect anything? 

[unclebulgaria67]

I have amended previous post re Direct Line. They have many different policies, so the previous link was only to one product. The convictions bit was under occupants which related to Home Insurance part. Under car and drivers, the convictions exclusion is not mentioned.

 

You would need to clarify with Direct Line.

 

You will need to speak to Insurers or Brokers. They will want exact information on the conviction. And yes ask current company.

[Blackcat13]

How soon can I ask current company? My insurance runs out 25th feb. It states that I do not have to report of any convictions until renewal, so if I tell them now will it change things? 
 

[Blackcat13]

I have just contacted direct line and they do not need to be notified of criminal convictions

 

You will not be able to declare that. Please do not add it as we do not need information for such crimes.

 

 

Vaibhav

 at 9:00, Feb 5:

Please be assured!

 

 

You

 at 9:01, Feb 5:

 

 

But it is a criminal convictionRead

Vaibhav

 at 9:01, Feb 5:

We only record motoring and motoring criminal convictions.

[unclebulgaria67]

You needed to tell your current Insurers as soon as you were aware of the conviction. By not telling them within reasonable time, you could be invalidating current Insurance.

 

The current Insurers may cancel your policy or charge an additional premium.

 

You don't have any choice but to tell current Insurers.

[Blackcat13]

It states I do not have to tell them until I am due for renewal on my policy documents 

[unclebulgaria67]

So you are OK getting Insurance with Direct Line if the premium is affordable.

 

Sounds like you are in a position of getting quotes based on all information and going with best option from the renewal date.

[Blackcat13]

3. Pleasetelluswhenyourenewyourinsuranceif:
any information shown on the Motor Proposal Confirmation is incorrect
you or any driver on your policy have had any accidents, incidents, thefts, losses or claims (regardless of blame)
youoranydriveronyourpolicyhavehadanymotoringconvictionsorendorsementsduringtheperiodof insurance or received notice of any pending prosecutions
y you or any driver have any unspent non-motoring convictions or if a non-motoring conviction you have previously told us about has become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

[unclebulgaria67]

So if that is stated in policy documents, then you tell them before renewal, so they can decide whether to offer renewal and what premium.

 

Some Insurers want the information during the policy year and not just at renewal.

[Blackcat13]

I’ll call them and see what they say. Could they cancel my insurance before renewal if I inform them now? 

[unclebulgaria67]

If they only need the info from renewal, the policy would be cancelled from renewal.