Insurance With a Criminal Conviction

If you have a criminal conviction you know how difficult it is to get insurance. However, it is an urban myth that you can't get insurance with a criminal conviction or if you do, that the policy premiums will be excessively expensive.

Insurance companies evaluate potential policyholders based on risk. The problem is it is far too complex and expensive to gain detailed information at the quote stage. They rely on information that you present to them.

One of the questions you may be asked is "Do you have any unspent criminal convictions?" Often answering this question with "yes" is enough to stop the quote process.

Why?

It is accepted throughout the insurance industry that ex offenders present a higher risk that someone who does not have a criminal conviction. Statistically, this may be true. For example, almost half of people released from prison go on to re-offend. Statistics do not show the full picture though.

Government figures estimate that eight million people in the UK have an unspent criminal conviction and by the age of 53, one in three men have had a conviction. Not all of these convictions result in a prison sentence. Certainly, many of these would not affect insurance risk if an insurer looked at each case on its own merit.

When requesting insurance quotes with a criminal conviction assumptions are made about you. The first is your character and integrity is called into question. The second is that you may go on to re-offend and not be in a position to pay premiums.  Of course, it is unfair and very frustrating.

Having a criminal conviction should not automatically make you high risk.

There are specialist insurance companies that understand this and will provide insurance at competitive rates, even with an unspent criminal conviction. Do not make the mistake of confusing these companies with brokers who simply do not ask if you have any unspent convictions.

Just because your insurance company does not ask if you have unspent convictions, does not mean that you do not need to inform them. Insurance law requires you to disclose any material facts that may affect the insurer’s decision.

An unspent criminal conviction is a material fact, and there is no getting around it.

These days, it is not normal procedure to send out quote forms with a multitude of questions on them. Insurance is often sold online or over the phone. To make the process quicker for the bulk sellers, questions that should be asked often are not and standard statements of material fact are used.

However, these material fact statements form part of your policy small print. By accepting the policy, you agree that these standard statements are in fact, true.

When was the last time you read the small print on an insurance policy? Many people don't.

Finding competitive insurance with a criminal conviction can be time consuming and frustrating, not to mention expensive when calling all those brokers just to be told no! Contacting a specialist insurance broker directly will save you a lot of time, effort and stress.