Drink Driving: Does Insurance Cover It?

Drink driving is an illegal offence that puts lives in danger. If you are convicted of drink driving, your insurance will not be voided, but it will be more expensive. Your insurer will be legally responsible for third-party claims costs, but they will likely claim these costs back from you. If you are injured by a drunk driver, their insurance policy may not be enough to compensate you for your losses, and you may need to seek compensation from other sources.

Drink driving convictions will make your insurance more expensive

The severity of the conviction will also impact your future insurance options. For example, if you cause injury or death to another person, you could face a prison sentence. Every policy will have exemptions and exclusions related to alcohol and drugs, including prescriptions. If you're unfit to drive, over the limit, or refuse to provide a specimen, you won't be covered. However, if you have an accident while under the legal limit for alcohol, your insurer will usually provide cover.

Drink driving convictions will stay on your driving record for 11 years and you can receive anywhere from 3 to 11 penalty points, depending on the severity. After five years, these convictions become spent and shouldn't be held against you. However, some providers may include clauses in the policy to cover themselves. To find the best price, it's worth comparing insurance quotes from specialist convicted driver insurance providers.

There are a number of ways to bring down the cost of your insurance if you have a drink driving conviction. For example, black box insurance involves a device that records your driving habits and can prove you're responsible on the road. You could also opt for a higher excess, choose a less powerful vehicle, or cut down your mileage to reduce your time on the road.

Insurers are legally responsible for third-party claims costs

Driving under the influence of alcohol is an illegal offence that puts lives in danger. If you are convicted of drink-driving, your insurance will always be more expensive, and you will be considered a very high-risk driver.

If you have an accident while driving above the legal alcohol limit, your insurer is legally required to pay for third-party claims costs. Third-party insurance, often called liability insurance, is designed to protect individuals or businesses from claims made by an external or "third" party. It covers the costs associated with damages or injuries the policyholder causes to others. In the context of auto accidents, if a driver is found to be at fault, their third-party auto insurance will cover the damages sustained by the other driver. For example, if a driver in Houston, Texas, is at fault in a car accident, their auto liability insurance (a type of third-party insurance) will cover the damages to the other driver's vehicle and their medical expenses.

However, while insurers are legally responsible for third-party claims costs, they will likely attempt to recover these costs from the policyholder. You generally won't be able to claim for any injuries you suffer or repairs to your own vehicle. This means that if you have fully comprehensive insurance cover and you are involved in an accident while over the legal alcohol limit, your insurance policy will effectively be downgraded to third-party cover only.

It is important to note that every policy will have exemptions and exclusions related to alcohol and drugs, and you may not be fully covered if you have an accident while driving under the influence. For example, you won't be covered if you are unfit to drive, over the limit, or refuse to provide a breath, blood, or urine specimen. Therefore, it is essential to carefully review your insurance policy document to understand what is and isn't covered.

Drunk drivers may not have enough insurance to cover your losses

Drunk driving is a grossly negligent action that often results in massive losses for victims. These losses include medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses that pile up quickly. While auto insurers typically cover drunk driving accidents, the drunk driver's auto policy might not be enough to cover all the losses of the victim.

In the event of an accident caused by a drunk driver, the victim can pursue financial compensation from the at-fault party. The drunk driver's insurance company is obligated to pay for the damages, and the victim may also be able to hold the drunk driver civilly liable if the injuries are catastrophic and the insurance isn't enough to cover them. However, punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are generally not paid by the insurance company but by the drunk driver out of their own pocket.

It is important to note that every policy will have exemptions and exclusions related to alcohol and drugs, including prescriptions. If the driver is found to be over the legal limit, unfit to drive, or refuses to provide a breath, blood, or urine specimen, their insurance policy may not cover them, and they may lose their insurance coverage if convicted of operating a vehicle while impaired.

To ensure proper compensation, it is recommended to have legal representation when negotiating with insurance companies, as they often try to pay only the minimum for damages. An experienced drunk driving accident attorney can help victims recover fair and just compensation by identifying all parties who might have some liability for the losses. For example, the drunk driver's over-consumption of alcohol at a restaurant may make the establishment partially liable for over-serving their customer.

Driving drunk doesn't void insurance

Driving under the influence of alcohol is an illegal offence that puts lives in danger. While drunk driving does not void insurance, it has serious consequences, including penalties and increased insurance costs.

When a drunk driver causes an accident, their insurance policy will typically cover the accident victim's claim, even if the driver was intoxicated at the time. However, the driver may be held liable for damages, and the insurer may seek to claim back the costs from the driver. The nature and severity of the accident will impact future insurance options, with more severe accidents resulting in higher premiums or even prison sentences.

Every insurance policy will have exemptions and exclusions related to alcohol and drugs, and it is important to understand these specifics. Generally, if a driver is unfit to drive, over the legal limit, or refuses to provide a specimen for analysis, they will not be covered by their insurance policy. On the other hand, if a driver is under the legal limit, their insurer will typically provide cover.

While drunk driving does not automatically void insurance, it is essential to note that insurance providers ask about any driving convictions when providing quotes. A drink-driving conviction will significantly impact the cost of insurance, making it more expensive and challenging to obtain. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the consequences of drunk driving and make informed decisions to ensure the safety of oneself and others on the road.

You can still get motor insurance with a drink-driving conviction

Drink driving is a serious conviction with serious consequences. If you are caught driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit, you could be given a hefty fine, a driving ban, or a prison sentence. A drink driving conviction can also make it harder and more expensive to get car insurance. Insurers view you as a high-risk driver, and some insurers will not offer insurance to convicted drivers.

However, even with a drink driving conviction, you can still get motor insurance. While it may be challenging to find an insurer willing to cover you, there are some insurance providers that specialise in car insurance for those with drink driving convictions. These providers can offer you a specialised policy that guarantees you're still able to get insurance, although it may be more expensive. Comparing drink driving insurance quotes from different UK insurers will help you obtain the best price you can as a driver with a drink driving conviction.

You should remember that you are obliged to tell your insurer about your conviction, whether you are taking out a new policy or renewing an old one. If you don’t, your policy will almost certainly be void should you need to claim. As a general rule, you will need to declare your drink driving convictions for a minimum of three to five years, after which they become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act of 1974, and you are not required to disclose them.

There are also a number of ways you can bring down your insurance quote. For example, you can research black box insurance, which involves a device that records your driving habits and proves you're responsible on the road. You can also opt for a higher excess, although you need to be prepared to pay it in the event you make a claim. Finally, you can consider your vehicle type and use, as choosing a less powerful vehicle that falls into a lower car insurance category will usually result in cheaper premiums.

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