Driving After A Driving Ban?

[Jay22]

I got a 2 year driving ban last year. I havent driven since I got the ban. Ive had my license since I was 18 -24 now - so the last while have been getting around by bike and bus.

If you have been banned (or just off the road for some other reason) did it feel strange or different going back driving when you did?

I know that my insurance will shoot up but if you have been in the same situation how much of a hit was it?

[anonymous-user]

I drove after 2.5 years off the road. It felt wierd at first (everything back to happening quickly), but I soon got back used to it.

[Horf]

Not as strange as catching a bus or riding a bike for that matter. I've not done either for about 20 years! Regarding insurance I guess it depends to some extent what you were banned for.

[Jay22]

Drink Driving.

[Doofus]

The only insurers who are actually obliged to offer you any cover at all are the ones you (presumably) had when you were banned.

Consequently, they can quote you whatever premium they want.

[Mound Dawg]

Doofus said:

The only insurers who are actually obliged to offer you any cover at all are the ones you (presumably) had when you were banned.

Nope. They're not obliged to offer you anything at all.

[Pica-Pica]

I had first epilepsy seizure, out of the blue, 11 years ago. Back then I had to stop driving for 3 years. Nowadays, it would only be a 1 year surrender for the same medical condition (sleep only seizures).
I kept my E36, and my wife drove it now and again. I got fitter by walking and taking a bus. It was very frustrating not driving, but I managed. Getting back behind the wheel was fine - it did make me realise driving is a privilege not to be deliberately misused.

[Doofus]

Mound Dawg said:

Nope. They're not obliged to offer you anything at all.

They certainly used to be.

[mac96]

Mound Dawg said:

Doofus said:

The only insurers who are actually obliged to offer you any cover at all are the ones you (presumably) had when you were banned.

Nope. They're not obliged to offer you anything at all.

Insurers used to feel they had a moral obligation to offer something in these circumstances, in the same way that they felt obliged to offer some terms to an existing customer who replaced his Fiesta with a Ferrari, at least for the balance of the year of insurance.
All that went thanks to the drive for cheapest possible premiums.

[spookly]

I had 15 months off the road for the same reason more than a decade ago, 20 month ban reduced by 1/4 for doing a 3 day course. It was fine getting back on the road. I took advantage of the company car scheme and jumped straight into a Leon Cupra which was delivered to the work car park. Drove it home as I normally would drive. Didn't have any issue with it at all.

[Jamessd]

Regarding insurance hit, I had a 20 month ban reduced to 16 for attending a drink drive awareness course, 11 or 12 years ago. Insurance went from circa £750 a year to just shy of £5k in the first year back in a car. Dropped by around a grand each year over the next few years.

[mike9009]

Pica-Pica said:

I had first epilepsy seizure, out of the blue, 11 years ago. Back then I had to stop driving for 3 years. Nowadays, it would only be a 1 year surrender for the same medical condition (sleep only seizures).
I kept my E36, and my wife drove it now and again. I got fitter by walking and taking a bus. It was very frustrating not driving, but I managed. Getting back behind the wheel was fine - it did make me realise driving is a privilege not to be deliberately misused.

I have more or less the same experience. Banned for epilepsy 11 years ago. I was off the road for about 18 months. I was devastated when I was first told, but quickly got used to walking, cycling and getting lifts. Lost some weight (I had to stop drinking too) and felt much better!

Getting back behind the wheel was the most natural thing ever - bit like riding a bike. Definitely a privilege.


Mike

[bodhi]

I was banned for the same reason as you OP about 10 years ago - I was barely over (blew 42, 86 in the blood test) so was only off the road for 9 months. Getting back in the car was like I'd never been away, although it did slow me down a bit.

Insurance wasn't an issue when I returned either - was paying £450 for a Punto Sporting when I got banned, when I got back I bought a 328i which I insured for about £750.

[Jay22]

Thanks for all the info especially from those who made the same mistake I did, Glad to hear you all got back driving was easy enough. As well as the ban I lost my job over it so I learnt my lesson.

Jamessd said:

Regarding insurance hit, I had a 20 month ban reduced to 16 for attending a drink drive awareness course, 11 or 12 years ago. Insurance went from circa £750 a year to just shy of £5k in the first year back in a car. Dropped by around a grand each year over the next few years.

5k foe insurance 12 years ago is crazy. No way I could afford anything like that. How do they expect normal people to afford that? I can see wht people would take a chance

[LosingGrip]

Two year ban I'm guessing a high reading? Do you have to do any type of medical before getting your licence back?

Sorry for being nosey and if you'd rather not say!

[Pintofbest]

LosingGrip said:

Two year ban I'm guessing a high reading? Do you have to do any type of medical before getting your licence back?

Sorry for being nosey and if you'd rather not say!

Why do you think you'd need a medical after a drink driving ban?

[Jimmy Recard]

Jay22 said:

5k foe insurance 12 years ago is crazy. No way I could afford anything like that. How do they expect normal people to afford that? I can see wht people would take a chance

I don't think they do expect anyone to afford it - if you get a quote like that, it's just a way of saying "we'd rather not have you on our books, but we are just about prepared to for this amount"

Unfortunately you've made an expensive mistake, although you know that already. The closest reply I have to the first post is that I barely drove for a couple of years when I went to university and it felt very odd when I'd drive after a few months on the bus. The odd feeling would disappear within a few minutes though

[Black_S3]

LosingGrip said:

Two year ban I'm guessing a high reading?

Since the removal of legal aid for stuff like this there's a good chance it's people thinking that because they're guilty, admitting everything and accepting they did wrong they decide to represent themselves then getting screwed harder than they would have done if they hadn't represented them self.

[LosingGrip]

Pintofbest said:

Why do you think you'd need a medical after a drink driving ban?

Being 2.5+ times the limit requires a medical.

Black_S3 said:

Since the removal of legal aid for stuff like this there's a good chance it's people thinking that because they're guilty, admitting everything and accepting they did wrong they decide to represent themselves then getting screwed harder than they would have done if they hadn't represented them self.

Most people I've seen in court for a first offence have a years ban, unless it's a high reading. Don't think it has anything to do with legal aid not being avaible.

[aka_kerrly]

Pintofbest said:

LosingGrip said:

Two year ban I'm guessing a high reading? Do you have to do any type of medical before getting your licence back?

Sorry for being nosey and if you'd rather not say!

Why do you think you'd need a medical after a drink driving ban?

If you blow over 100mg you will required to take a medical in order to get your licence back to prove you are not a raging alcoholic!!

For a 2year ban it is likely the OP blew dam close to that.

Op, we're you offered a course to reduce the ban? If so make sure insurers know this.

For insurance, try Admiral.