Car Insurance with a criminal record

mrmichaelf

I'm trying to get quotes to renew my car insurance but I am finding no one will cover me because I have a criminal record. All the comparison sites ask you and i cant get a quote if I answer yes., and being honest I have told me current supplier about a recent minor conviction and they will no longer cover me.

Surely there must be something I can do, or am I stuck?

vaio

this is where you forget online and talk to an actual broker

Out of interest is your record motoring or insurance related?

mrmichaelf

Its neither. A conviction for harrassment over money someone owed me that I went a little OTT to get back.

p00hsticks

mrmichaelf wrote: »

All the comparison sites ask you and i cant get a quote if I answer yes

I'm not sure that it's necessarily as bad as you think - in my experience, these comparison sites, and insurance companys own online sites, are geared up to quote for only the most basic of circumstances and give up as soon as you put in anything slightly outside the norm (last time I tried to use them I gave up because I'm the registered keeper but not the main driver of my car).

As vaio says, talk to a broker.

vaio

mrmichaelf wrote: »

Its neither. A conviction for harassment over money someone owed me that I went a little OTT to get back.

I don’t see how having a conviction unrelated to motoring or insurance should affect your quote.

I think I’d not mention it on the quote sites, get your quotes and then approach the insurance companies direct and explain.

DaveMacD

As p00hsticks says, get on the phone. Had to do that with my pick-up, since no sites would quote me. If the conviction is non-motoring, it shouldn't be an issue. Check the small print on the sites as well. Could be they only want you to click yes if it's a motoring conviction.

dacouch

If the conviction is spent then you do not need to declare it to the Insurers irrespective of how they word their question on convictions.

How long ago was the conviction and what penalty did you receive?

mrmichaelf

This year and I recieved community service.

hothothot_3

Some non motoring convictions (like car theft or burglary) attract higher premiums.
Some insurance companies only ask specifically for motoring convictions.
Rather than use the comparison site, go directly to the insurance broker. Then make sure you strictly answer the question they way it is asked, reading any advisory notes given.

dacouch

If it is this year then you need to declare it, have a read of this document which should help you work out how many years before it is spent.

http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/rehabact.htm