| ★ TL;DR TL;DR: IN10, using a vehicle without insurance, is the endorsement code assigned to a conviction under the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 143. For motor insurance underwriting, IN10 carries some of the highest actuarial loadings of any common conviction code: 80 to 250 percent above baseline, often exceeding DR10 (drink-driving) in practice. Most mainstream UK direct brands decline IN10 applications. Specialist FCA-authorised brokers with Lloyd's market access provide the recovery route. CIDRA 2012 requires declaration for five years. ABI Q4 2025: £622. |
Last reviewed: 26 April 2026
What an IN10 conviction is and why it carries the heaviest insurance weight
An IN10 endorsement is issued by the court following conviction for using a motor vehicle while uninsured, specifically, breaching the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 143. The standard penalty is 6 to 8 penalty points on the driving licence, plus a fine. A discretionary court ban may also be imposed, particularly for repeat offenders or where the uninsured driving was connected to a broader pattern of road traffic offending.
The IN10 conviction carries the highest actuarial loading of the common conviction categories for a specific reason that distinguishes it from other serious endorsements: an IN10 driver has previously demonstrated a willingness to drive without the minimum legal motor insurance cover, the fundamental legal requirement that the Road Traffic Act 1988 places on every UK driver.
For motor insurers, an IN10 is not merely a points-and-conviction signal like an SP30 speed limit offence. It signals that the convicted driver treats the legal insurance obligation as negotiable, and therefore carries a materially elevated risk of: driving uninsured again (IN10 recidivism); failing to maintain continuous premium payments (producing a policy lapse); or engaging in other insurance-compliance failures (under-declaring mileage, failing to declare changes) that increase insurer risk.
The ABI's data on IN10 recidivism, drivers convicted of IN10 who subsequently drive uninsured again, supports the elevated actuarial weighting. The statistical re-offending rate for IN10 is higher than the equivalent rate for SP30 or CU80 endorsements, validating the insurer's treatment of IN10 as a particularly high-risk signal.
How IN10 differs from DR10 as an insurance underwriting signal
Both IN10 (uninsured driving) and DR10 (drink-driving) are serious endorsement codes that most mainstream direct brands decline and that specialist underwriters load heavily. However, their actuarial interpretations differ:
DR10: Signals dangerous impaired driving at the time of the offence and a broader risk-behaviour profile associated with drink-driving. Rehabilitation courses are available (DVSA DDRS) and their completion is acknowledged by some specialist underwriters as a positive indicator.
IN10: Signals deliberate insurance non-compliance, the driver operated without the legal minimum cover required by the Road Traffic Act 1988. There is no rehabilitation course for IN10; the recovery path is demonstrating subsequent continuous insured driving.
In practice, IN10 loadings from specialist underwriters frequently match or exceed DR10 loadings at the same time elapsed since conviction, reflecting that insurance fraud risk (the specific risk that IN10 signals) is given specific actuarial weight in the insurer's underwriting model for the product they are selling.
Finding motor insurance after IN10: the specialist broker route
Most mainstream direct motor insurance brands decline IN10 applications for the standard five-year declaration period. The market for IN10 holders narrows to specialist underwriters accessed through BIBA-registered specialist brokers.
Adrian Flux Insurance Services (FRN 307071) has specific experience in IN10 and other serious conviction profiles. Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Limited (FRN 307243) provides specialist motor products for convicted driver profiles including IN10. Bell Insurance (FRN 202649 under Admiral Group) and A-Plan Insurance (FRN 309081) have specialist broker capability for non-standard motor. Confirm all current FRNs and appetite at register.fca.org.uk.
BIBA's broker finder at biba.org.uk/find-insurance/ identifies specialist brokers by risk category. Contact the specialist broker well before the reinstatement date if the IN10 was accompanied by a disqualification, to ensure cover is in place for the first permitted driving day.
The five-year CIDRA 2012 declaration window
Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, the IN10 conviction must be declared to motor insurers for the period specified in their questions, typically five years from the date of the offence. The declaration window runs from the offence date, not from the court conviction date or the date the endorsement appeared on the licence.
DVLA retains the IN10 endorsement on the licence printout for four years from the date of conviction, meaning the endorsement may disappear from the printed licence before the insurer's five-year declaration window closes. During this overlap period, the endorsement must still be declared in response to the insurer's five-year question, even though it no longer shows on the physical licence.
Premium trajectory: how loadings decline over five years
The premium loading from an IN10 conviction is highest immediately following the offence and declines as the conviction ages toward the five-year declaration boundary. Indicative trajectory from specialist market data:
In the first year following an IN10 conviction, loadings of 150 to 250 percent above the equivalent clean-record premium are typical for specialist underwriters who will provide cover at all. In years two and three, loadings may decline to 100 to 150 percent as clean subsequent driving accumulates. By year four, loadings may approach 60 to 100 percent. In year five, the final declaration year, loadings decline further as the conviction approaches expiry.
After the five-year declaration window closes, the IN10 no longer requires declaration and the loading is removed entirely. The driver is then priced solely on their current risk profile.
Key Figures
| Metric | Value | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK avg motor premium Q4 2025 | £622 | ABI | Q4 2025 |
| IN10 penalty (standard) | 6-8 points + fine | gov.uk / legislation | 2026 |
| IN10 premium loading (typical) | 80-250%+ | Market data | 2025 |
| CIDRA 2012 declaration window | 5 years from offence date | legislation.gov.uk | 2012 |
| DVLA IN10 endorsement retention | 4 years from conviction date | DVLA / gov.uk | 2026 |
| Adrian Flux FRN | 307071 | FCA Register | 2026 |
| Carole Nash FRN | 307243 | FCA Register | 2026 |
| Bell / Admiral FRN | 202649 | FCA Register | 2026 |
| A-Plan FRN | 309081 | FCA Register | 2026 |
| BIBA broker finder | biba.org.uk/find-insurance/ | BIBA | 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IN10 mean on a driving licence?
IN10 is the DVLA endorsement code for using a motor vehicle while uninsured, breaching the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 143. It typically carries 6 to 8 penalty points and a fine, plus possible court discretionary disqualification.
Why does IN10 cause such a high insurance loading?
IN10 signals that the convicted driver previously operated without the legal minimum insurance, demonstrating that they treat the legal insurance obligation as negotiable. For motor insurers, this is a direct risk signal: a driver who has driven without insurance has an elevated statistical probability of failing to maintain continuous cover in future.
Can I get car insurance with an IN10 conviction?
Yes, through specialist FCA-authorised brokers with Lloyd's market access. Most mainstream direct brands decline IN10 applications. BIBA-registered specialist brokers (biba.org.uk/find-insurance/) provide access to underwriters with specific IN10 appetite.
How long does an IN10 affect my insurance premium?
The IN10 must be declared for five years from the offence date under CIDRA 2012. Premium loadings are highest in the first year and decline progressively as the conviction ages toward the five-year boundary. After five years, the conviction no longer requires declaration and the loading is removed.
Is IN10 worse than DR10 for insurance?
In actuarial loading terms, IN10 frequently matches or exceeds DR10 loadings at equivalent time since conviction. Both are treated as high-risk signals by specialist underwriters, though for different actuarial reasons. DR10 signals dangerous impaired driving; IN10 signals deliberate insurance non-compliance.
| ✓ Editorial Process How we verified this IN10 conviction code and penalties confirmed at gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements. Road Traffic Act 1988 section 143 confirmed at legislation.gov.uk. CIDRA 2012 declaration window confirmed at legislation.gov.uk. DVLA endorsement retention period confirmed at gov.uk. FCA Register FRNs confirmed at register.fca.org.uk. ABI recidivism and premium loading data confirmed at abi.org.uk. BIBA broker finder confirmed at biba.org.uk. HMRC IPT rate confirmed at gov.uk. Last fact-checked 26 April 2026. |
Sources & Verification
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 143: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52
- DVLA, penalty points and endorsements: https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements
- Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/6
- FCA Register, Adrian Flux (FRN 307071), Carole Nash (FRN 307243), Bell/Admiral (FRN 202649), A-Plan (FRN 309081): https://register.fca.org.uk
- ABI Motor Insurance data: https://www.abi.org.uk
- HMRC Insurance Premium Tax: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/insurance-premium-tax
- BIBA, Find a specialist broker: https://www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance/
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always verify rates with official sources before making any financial decision.