Which insurance companies do not ask about criminal convictions?
No reliable, permanent list exists. Some UK car insurers ask only about motoring convictions, while others ask about all unspent criminal convictions, and the wording on proposal forms changes often. The law protects you either way. Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, you only have to answer the questions the insurer actually asks, honestly and with reasonable care. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, you never have to disclose a conviction that is spent (see do you have to declare spent convictions). If an insurer does ask and your conviction is unspent, specialist convicted-driver insurers and brokers will quote. This page is part of our car insurance for high-risk and convicted drivers guide.
- Choosing an insurer whose form doesn't ask about non-motoring convictions is legal. Hiding a conviction when you are asked is not.
- Read the exact question. 'Any unspent non-motoring criminal convictions?' and 'Any motoring convictions in the last 5 years?' are different questions.
- Spent convictions never have to be disclosed. Motoring endorsements are typically spent 5 years from conviction for adults. See how long do motoring convictions stay on your licence.
- The ABI's good-practice approach is for insurers to ask specifically about unspent convictions. Treat a vague question as asking only about unspent ones.
- In the US, auto insurers mostly price from your driving record (MVR). Criminal-record questions are rare, but DUIs and serious violations dominate your premium (see how much does car insurance go up after a DUI).
Why You Won't Find a Trustworthy 'No Questions Asked' List
For a broker who can search several specialist markets at once, see our Adrian Flux explainer, or learn the difference in agent vs broker vs insurer. Before entering personal details on an unfamiliar quote site, run through how to verify an insurance quote site.
What the Law Requires You to Disclose
• Spent convictions are protected: Under the ROA 1974, you can answer 'no' to a question about convictions if all of yours are spent, and the insurer can't hold a spent conviction against you.
• Household members: Some forms ask about convictions of anyone who will drive the car, or anyone in the household. Answer for them too.
Motoring offences have their own disclosure periods. Cover both kinds of conviction with do you have to declare spent convictions.
If you deliberately or recklessly give a false answer, the insurer can void the policy, refuse all claims and keep your premium. You could also face a fraud investigation. Driving with voided cover can mean driving uninsured. See is it against the law to drive without insurance.
How Insurers Price a Criminal Conviction
US Drivers: Criminal Records vs Driving Records
Illustrative Case: Answering the Question Actually Asked
Scenario: Ryan, 27, from Leeds, has an unspent DR10 drink-driving conviction and a separate shoplifting conviction from 2025 (a 12-month community order) that stays unspent until mid-2027. Insurer A's form asked about 'motoring convictions in the past 5 years' and 'any unspent criminal convictions'. Insurer B's form asked only about motoring convictions.
Resolution & Judicial Outcome: Ryan declared the DR10 to both and the shoplifting conviction to Insurer A. Insurer A quoted £1,980, and Insurer B quoted £1,520 with the DR10 disclosed. Buying from Insurer B was lawful, because he answered every question it asked truthfully. If he had answered 'no' to Insurer A's criminal-convictions question, that policy could have been voided.
What You Should Do: Step-by-Step Action Plan
Critical Mistakes to Avoid
- Relying on an old online list of 'insurers that don't ask' without checking the current form.
- Disclosing spent convictions you're legally entitled to withhold, which inflates your premium.
- Answering 'no' to a criminal-convictions question while a conviction is still unspent.
- Forgetting to declare the convictions of named drivers or household members when asked.