IN10 Conviction: Using a Vehicle Uninsured

IN10 is the endorsement code recorded against a driving licence for using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance. It is one of the more serious non-drink motoring convictions, both for the immediate penalty and for the effect it has on the cost of insurance for years afterwards.

The immediate penalty

Where the matter is dealt with at the roadside or by fixed penalty, the standard outcome is a fine of £300 and six penalty points. The vehicle can also be seized on the spot, with recovery and storage charges payable before it is released — and it can be disposed of if not reclaimed.

Where the case goes before a court, the penalty is an unlimited fine and between six and eight penalty points, and the magistrates have discretion to disqualify you from driving instead of, or in addition to, the points.

Why six points matters more than the fine

For most drivers the fine is the smaller problem. Twelve points within three years triggers a totting-up disqualification, so a single IN10 puts you halfway there.

How long it stays on your record

An IN10 endorsement remains on your driving record for four years from the date of the offence. The points themselves count towards totting up for three years. However, insurers routinely ask about convictions over a five-year period, and some ask about any conviction ever — so the practical effect on premiums outlasts the formal endorsement period.

The effect on premiums

An IN10 signals to insurers that you drove without cover, which they treat as a significant risk indicator. In practice this means substantially higher quotes, fewer insurers willing to offer cover at all, and possible referral to specialist convicted-driver insurers. The increase varies by insurer and circumstances, but it is typically the largest premium impact of any non-alcohol motoring conviction.

You must declare an IN10 when asked. Failing to disclose a conviction can void a policy entirely, leaving you uninsured and potentially facing a further offence.

The "I didn't know" defence

Using a vehicle without insurance is a strict liability offence: it is committed whether or not you intended it or knew about it. Believing you were covered — because a direct debit was supposed to have gone out, or because you assumed a friend's policy extended to you — is not in itself a defence, though it may be relevant to mitigation. The specific exception is the statutory defence available to an employee driving a vehicle in the course of employment who neither knew nor had reason to believe it was uninsured.

Common ways people end up with an IN10 by accident

• A failed direct debit cancels the policy and the notification email is missed
• Assuming "driving other cars" cover applies — it is not automatic, is often third-party only, and frequently excludes drivers under 25
• Driving a family member's car assuming household cover extends to you
• A policy voided for an unrelated non-disclosure, retroactively leaving you uninsured
• Continuing to drive after a policy expires without noticing the renewal did not complete

Checking the Motor Insurance Database periodically is the simplest way to confirm a vehicle you keep is actually recorded as insured.

Frequently asked questions