Trustpilot
Show More

Ask an Expert

Can you go to prison for drink driving?

Drink driving is a criminal offence. Depending on the severity of the offence and the level of alcohol in your system, you could face a prison sentence; the court will also take into account both aggravating and mitigating factors, as well as whether you have any previous convictions.

  • Up to 3 months in prison for being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink or above the legal limit

  • Up to 6 months in prison for driving, or attempting to drive, while unfit through drink or above the legal limit. Or, for refusing to provide a sample of urine, blood or breath for analysis when requested.

  • Up to 14 years in prison for death caused by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol.

To be prosecuted for drink driving, your blood, breath or urine sample must prove to be over the legal limit when tested. If you’re arrested and subsequently found to be below the limit, you’ll be released without charge.

Drink driving offences are taken to the Magistrates’ Court, though the most serious cases may be heard in the Crown Court. In addition to a prison sentence, you may also be handed hefty fines and a driving ban, while any car insurance premiums you face in the future are likely to be far higher.

*51% of consumers could save £518.14 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next five cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from June 2025 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.

Related guides

How Much Is It to Insure a 50cc Moped?

If you’ve recently bought, or are thinking about buying, a 50cc moped, you’re probably wondering how much it costs to insure one. Whether you’re a commuter looking for a cheap and nimble option or a teenager getting their first taste of the road, it's important to understand the ins and outs of moped or scooter insurance.Here, we'll cover everything you need to know, from typical costs to factors that influence the price of your moped and scooter insurance, and how to secure the best deal.

What to do if you put the wrong fuel in your car

While misfuelling may feel like something that could never happen to you, over 100,000 Brits report it to the AA each year.As it is such a common occurrence and easily done, it’s worth knowing what damage it can do to your vehicle and whether you can claim for it on your insurance.

What to do if you fail your driving test

Time, cost and a whole lot of effort: failing your driving test can feel like a big blow. Yet this does not make you a failure.We outline how likely it is toget a pass first time, what the most common driving fails are caused by and give you some top tips for the next steps, so you can be best prepared to get that pass second time around – because you will!