Conviction codes are a call for alarm for any driver on road. The UK Road traffic Act has specified certain codes for a wide niche of driving offences. Whenever a driver breaks traffic or driving law, his license is immediately endorsed with offence code & penalty points. The penalty points would stay on the license for 4 -11 years (from date of committing the offence)- depending on the nature of offence. If you have committed an offence too serious, you would be disqualified immediately from driving. In some cases, the disqualified drivers would have to take a driving test all over again.
The post below offers a brief overview on the major types of motoring convictions and respective codes as followed in the UK. It’s to note here that these conviction codes play a decisive role in determining your car insurance premium. But we would go to that point later after we have discussed the offense codes.
Major types of motoring convictions and codes:
- Accident convictions:
If you are convicted of accident offences, the penalty points would stay on driving license for 4 years.
AC10 - it will be applied if the driver doesn’t stop after accident. It will incur 5-10 penalty points which will sit on the license for 4 years.
AC20 - it will be applied if the driver fails to furnish particulars of accident or doesn’t report about the incident within 24 hours. It will incur 5-10 penalty points which will sit on the license for 4 years.
AC30 - it applies for undefined accident instances. It will incur 4-9 penalty points which will sit on the license for 4 years.
- Careless driving
If you are handed with conviction codes for careless driving, the penalty points would stay on driving license for 4-11 years.
CD10 - it is applied when the driver drives without proper care and attention. It will incur 3-9 penalty points which will sit on the license for 4 years.
CD20 - it is applied when the driver is driving without considering other people on road. It will incur 3-9 penalty points which will sit on the license for 4 years.
CD30 - it is applied when the driver commits any of the two mentioned above.
Below is a list of conviction codes for careless driving where the penalty points would sit for 11 years.
These codes are CD40-CD70. All the codes refer to death caused by careless driving.
- Disqualified driver
If a disqualified driver drives or attempts to drive, he would be down with BA10 or BA30 conviction code. Both the codes will incur 6 penalty points and would stay on your license for 4 years.
- Vehicle construction & use offences
It covers conviction codes from CU10-CU50 and CU80. These conviction codes will apply if you are driving a vehicle with defective part/s. Each of these codes will incur 3 penalty points and would sit on the license for 4 years.
- Dangerous or reckless driving
It is applicable when the driver causes injury or kills somebody due to reckless driving. Each of these offences will incur 3-11 penalty points and sit on license for 4 years.
- Offences under influence of drink or drugs
It is applicable when the driver is driving or attempts to drive under the influence of drinks or drugs. The penalty points can vary from 3-11 and the points would sit on the license for 4 or 11 years.
- Offences arising from exceeding speed limits
It includes conviction codes between SP10-SP50. The penalty points would vary from 3-6 and the points would sit on your license for 4 years.
There are motoring conviction codes for other offenses as well, such as- license offenses, conviction due to not following proper care with pedestrian crossings, traffic signs & directions, theft/unauthorised taking of vehicle etc.
Conviction codes and insurance
Now, let’s see how conviction codes affect your insurance rate-
When a driver is handed with a conviction code, he is definitely considered as a high risk client by the insurance companies. Naturally, the insurance providers charge a higher rate from those with penalty points on their driving licenses. Higher would be the number of conviction or severity of penalty points, more would be the insurance rate. It’s a must that you inform your insurance company about the conviction code you have been handed down for your offense. It is completely illegal to not to furnish your conviction codes. Your insurance provider is most likely to ask you about the conviction code/s you have incurred (if any) in the past 5 years while renewing your policy.
If you are asking by how much the rate would spike- well, that depends on 4 major factors-
- Conviction policy of your insurance company
- Conviction type
- Type of the vehicle that was involved in the offense
- Age of the driver.
Here is a list on how much the insurance rate would hike on the major conviction codes. However this is an average idea.
SP30- You will incur this code if you are driving with exceeding speed level on public road. The average increase in insurance rate here would be something like 34%.
TS10- it refers to the case where the driver fails to stay compliant with traffic light. The average increase in insurance rate here would be something like 24%.
CU80-it applies when a person is driving while holding hand-held device, like mobile phone. The increment rate would be around 49%.
IN10- it applies when a person is driving an uninsured vehicle against 3rd party risks. The increment rate would be around 131%.
DR10- it applies when a person is driving with exceeded alcohol limit. The increment rate would be around 115%.
CD10- it applies when a person is driving without needed care & attention. The increment rate would be around 51%.
CU30- it applies when a person is driving a car with tyre defect. The increment rate would be around 69%.
It’s better you concentrate on responsible and lawful driving. Careful and safe driving practices will prevent conviction codes and also lower down your insurance rate.
