Nearly nine in 10 drivers have admitted to committing common motoring offences, which see car insurance premiums spike to unaffordable levels.
A recent report found that speeding emerged as the most frequent conviction, which sees insurance premiums climb to £949.
The data revealed that more drivers have been caught speeding than any other road offence, with the first three months of the year finding over 52,000 drivers aged between 31 and 35 reporting speeding convictions when purchasing car insurance.
These offenders will now have to pay a much higher amount on premiums due to breaking the key driving law, experts have warned.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
Speeding was the most common driving offence which contributed to high premium prices
GETTYResearch also identified that the most commonoffences includedspeeding, driving an uninsured vehicle, drink driving and using a mobile phone whilst driving.
However, the financial consequences extend far beyond speeding fines, with some offences triggering insurance costs exceeding £2,000 annually.
Driving an uninsured vehicle represents the second most common conviction, with more than 6,000 drivers aged 31-35 declaring this offence in the same three-month period.
Drink driving follows as the third most frequent conviction, affecting 3,967 drivers in the first quarter of 2025. These motorists face average insurance costs of £1,686.
Drivers can see thei car insurance premiums skyrocket if they commit a driving offence
GETTYUsing a mobile phone while driving rounds out the top convictions, with 3,076 drivers declaring this offence,with affected drivers paying average premiums of £1,213.
Last year saw almost 171,000 drivers declare convictions for speeding on public roads, with a further 51,000 receiving motorway speeding convictions.
Mobile phone usage while driving has also seen a dramatic surge, with convictions increasing by 32 per cent from 8,808 in 2023 to 11,639 in 2024.
Drivers caught using mobile phones behind the wheel paid an average of £1,299 for their car insurance in 2024, representing a 17 per cent increase compared to 2023. The research revealed that almost a third of UK drivers admit to touching their mobile phone while driving, with nearly one in five physically using their device.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
But more worringly, more than two in five drivers who admit to this offence said it had become a regular habit. The penalty for using a mobile phone while driving carries a £200 fine and six points on the driver's licence.
Meanwhile, more than half of UK drivers admitted to eating while driving, making it the most commonly committed offence despite the potential for severe financial penalties. While eating behind the wheel isn't technically an offence on its own, it could lead to a careless driving charge if it causes the driver to lose focus or control.
This carries a fine of £100 and penalty points on a licence, with the report finding that drivers penalised for driving without due care and attention pay an average of around £1,703 for their insurance.
Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com, said: "Putting your foot down to get somewhere faster, or quickly reading a text, might seem like an innocent thing to do. But in reality, this can come with very serious consequences."
Car insurance prices have remained high in the first quarter of the yearGETTYJones explained that drivers caught committing any driving offence could face fines reaching hundreds of pounds. They will also receive penalty points on their licence, which directly impacts insurance costs.
"In some cases, that could mean paying upwards of a thousand pounds more than the average," he added.
Most Read
