Usually, Yes; But It Depends on the Circumstances
For most drivers, a no-claims bonus is a badge of pride; proof of years behind the wheel without mishaps. So it’s natural to worry that a conviction might wipe it away. The truth is that a conviction doesn’t automatically cancel your no-claims bonus. As long as your policy remains active and you haven’t made a claim, the discount should still stand. What may change is how much value insurers attach to it when calculating your renewal premium.
In short, the bonus stays on paper, but its impact can shrink. Insurers still have to price your new risk level, and a conviction makes you a higher-risk customer; even with years of clean driving before it.
How Insurers Treat No-Claims After Convictions
Every insurer handles this slightly differently. Some will honour your full no-claims discount, simply loading your base premium to reflect the conviction. Others might cap or reduce your discount percentage for a few years. A few may even reset it entirely if the offence was serious or led to a ban. There’s no single rule; it depends on the company’s policy wording and the severity of your conviction.
Minor offences such as speeding or running a red light usually don’t affect the discount itself, though they’ll still raise your overall premium. Serious ones; like drink-driving, dangerous driving, or driving uninsured; tend to hit harder. In those cases, your no-claims bonus may remain recorded but have little effect until you rebuild your record.
When You Might Lose It Completely
You only lose your no-claims bonus outright if your insurer cancels your policy, or if you make a claim that pays out while your conviction is being processed. If your cover is cancelled mid-term because of non-disclosure or disqualification, most insurers treat that as a break in cover, which resets the bonus to zero. The same can happen if you go uninsured for two years or more; most companies won’t recognise older no-claims records after that period.
To protect it, keep a paper or digital record of your bonus confirmation letter. Even if your old insurer declines future cover, that document proves your claim-free years to another provider later on.
How to Rebuild or Preserve Your Discount
If you’re starting again after a conviction, you can still collect new no-claims years like any other driver. Each year of safe, claim-free driving adds another level of discount. Some specialist convicted driver insurers even offer “no-claims protection” once you’ve completed a clean first year. Others let you transfer part of your previous history if you can prove your conviction didn’t involve an at-fault accident.
You can also ask whether your insurer offers mirrored or partial bonuses; useful if you’ve had other policies (for example, on a van or classic car) with a clean record. It won’t always apply, but it’s worth asking.
Why It Still Matters to Declare Everything
It’s tempting to avoid declaring old convictions when applying for new cover, but that’s the fastest way to lose your no-claims entirely. If an insurer later discovers undeclared points or offences, they can cancel your policy and void any discount. Always answer questions exactly as asked; if they specify “convictions in the last five years,” don’t assume older ones are irrelevant. Accuracy protects your record as much as your reputation.
Holding on to What You’ve Earned
Yes, you can usually keep your no-claims bonus after a conviction, but expect it to work a little differently. Think of it as a credit history: it doesn’t vanish overnight, but its influence changes for a while. Keep your head down, drive cleanly, and your good habits will start rebuilding the insurer’s trust. Before long, your no-claims bonus will mean what it used to again; proof not just of years without claims, but of how you came back from a setback and stayed steady on the road.