If you have a TT99 conviction and need to insure a van or commercial vehicle, the short answer is yes, it is possible. The longer answer is that it is more complex, more restricted, and usually more expensive than standard motor insurance.
Many drivers with a TT99 conviction are tradespeople, couriers, or self-employed business owners who rely on a van to earn a living. When insurance becomes difficult or unaffordable, the consequences are immediate. This article explains how TT99 affects commercial vehicle insurance, why insurers treat it differently from private car cover, and what options are realistically available.
What Does a TT99 Conviction Mean for Commercial Insurance?
A TT99 conviction is applied when a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period, regardless of the type of offences involved. It signals repeated non-compliance with motoring laws rather than a single lapse in judgement.
For insurers, this matters even more in a commercial context.
Van and commercial vehicle insurance already carries higher risk due to:
- Increased mileage
- Longer hours on the road
- Time pressure and delivery deadlines
- Higher claim values for third-party damage
When a TT99 conviction is added to that profile, many insurers view the risk as compounded rather than isolated.
Why Van Insurance Is Treated More Strictly Than Car Insurance
A common mistake is assuming that if you can insure a car with TT99, a van will be treated the same way. In practice, this is rarely the case.
Insurers tend to be stricter with vans because:
- Commercial vehicles are statistically involved in more claims
- Claims often involve business interruption or goods in transit
- Drivers are on the road more frequently and for longer periods
This is why many mainstream insurers that might quote for a TT99 private car policy will automatically decline van or commercial vehicle cover.
Can You Still Get Van Insurance With a TT99 Conviction?
Yes, but usually through specialist or convicted insurance providers, not standard comparison sites.
Insurers that offer cover in these cases typically:
- Manually underwrite each application
- Review the full offence history, not just the TT99 code
- Ask detailed questions about vehicle use and mileage
- Focus heavily on recent driving behaviour
Business Use vs Private Use: Why It Matters
How you use the van is critical.
Insurers will usually differentiate between:
- Social, domestic and pleasure
- Carriage of own goods
- Courier or delivery work
- Hire and reward
Courier and delivery work is typically the hardest to insure with a TT99 conviction due to time pressure, high mileage, and claim frequency. Tradespeople carrying their own tools and materials are often viewed as lower risk by comparison.
Accurate disclosure here is essential. Misstating usage can invalidate a policy even if the TT99 conviction was declared correctly.
How Long Does a TT99 Affect Commercial Vehicle Insurance?
A TT99 conviction:
- Remains on your licence for four years
- Is usually disclosable to insurers for five years
For commercial vehicle insurance, some insurers may ask about convictions beyond five years if they believe it is relevant to risk. This is more common in specialist underwriting than in private car insurance.
As time passes and your post-conviction driving record remains clean, access and pricing usually improve, but it is rarely immediate.
What About Fleet or Employer-Provided Vans?
Fleet insurance with a TT99 conviction is more difficult but not impossible.
Small fleets may:
- Exclude drivers with a TT99 entirely
- Require individual underwriting for the affected driver
- Apply a premium loading across the policy
Larger fleets often rely on internal risk policies rather than insurer restrictions, but a TT99 conviction still needs to be disclosed. Failure to do so can invalidate the entire fleet policy, not just the individual driver.
Common Mistakes Drivers Make When Insuring a Van With a TT99
The most common issues are avoidable.
These include:
- Assuming van insurance works the same as car insurance
- Using standard comparison sites repeatedly after being declined
- Downplaying business use or mileage
- Failing to disclose the TT99 conviction correctly
- Choosing the cheapest policy without understanding exclusions
Convicted insurance policies often have stricter terms. Reading the wording matters more than usual.
If you’re looking to insure your van but have a TT99 conviction, Insurance Revolution are here to help find you cover at a competitive price.
