Odd and specific car insurance question

[keirbrooks]

As I've mentioned elsewhere on the forum, I'm moving to Scotland from the USA in July. I am a keen driving/motorsports enthusiast and tinkerer.

I have a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol that is not yet 5 years old (November this year) and wondered if it is possible to get insurance for myself. My fiance's insurance won't cover me til it's been five years, and I have no idea what the rates will be.

I'm not sure I can survive without my driving addiction until November! Any suggestions on insurance I could look into? The other complication I guess would be that if I'm driving her car, her insurance company wouldn't like that...so I guess I'll just *have* to get that MX5/Miata/Eunos! Aw shux.

Thank in advance,
JD

[TwigtheWonderkid]

You will have no trouble getting insurance, but it'll cost you. Loads of insurance companies cover people with recent drink drive offences, at a price.

[keirbrooks]

Thanks for the quick response.

I'm not sure if the forum permits recommending vendors/companies, but if anyone has suggestions on specific companies, please feel free to send me a private message.

Especially if you can come up with a price.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Just go online. Any of the UK consolidators, Confused.com, moneysupermarket, etc.

For your information, the equivalent code for a DUI offence in the UK is a DR10 conviction. Stick in 0 points, but a 12 month ban. That'll give you an indication of price. Then you'll have to call the insurer to clarify the fact that yours was in the USA.

[ferrariF50lover]

Just out of interest (if I'm being a nosey bd, feel free to tell me to ps off)

What is the alcohol limit in your State (guess it varies by State?) and what did you blow (or however it's calculated over there)? What was your punishment and how was it calculated?

Simon.

[keirbrooks]

.08
California
.10
1 month suspension
6 months restricted license to/from work
3 years requirement to 'live law abiding life'
$4-6,000 in fees/costs

[xcentric]

keirbrooks said:

3 years requirement to 'live law abiding life'

seems weird to have to specify this - true for us all, really. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail.....

[TooMany2cvs]

xcentric said:

keirbrooks said:

3 years requirement to 'live law abiding life'

seems weird to have to specify this - true for us all, really. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail.....

"Bound over to keep the peace". Or, these days, an ASBO.

[keirbrooks]

xcentric said:

seems weird to have to specify this - true for us all, really. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail.....

Yeah. There was a suspended sentence (whatever the standard is for a Misdemeanor in CA, 6 months perhaps) that could be reinstated if I didn't 'abide by the law'. Up to the judge at that point I'd recon, or the prosecuting attorney.

[aw51 121565]

TooMany2cvs said:

"Bound over to keep the peace". Or, these days, an ASBO.

Apples and oranges - one might be given to members of the general population who may have "dropped a bock as a one-off" after a trial in mags court, whereas the other is generally doled out to those with mental health issues who have "behaved inappropriately" (no mere "dropping a bock as a one-off" here ) on one or more occasions.

I knew of a serial rapist who then abused his GP and was given an ASBO which was then broken on several occasions - sanctions?? Cue hollow laughter! He was subsequently found guilty of "breach of ASBO" then won on appeal... No sanctions!

ASBO (now CASBO ) is arguably up there with s.59 as non-credible and unrealistic "law" .