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

Advanced Driving Courses Explained

Advanced driving courses can be a great way to improve your confidence and driving skills. This guide will take you through what courses are out there, and which ones can improve your chances of finding a cheap car insurance policy.

10 driving habits you should avoid

While we all like to think of ourselves as faultless drivers, there is a long list of bad habits that anyone can pick up, putting you at risk on the road, as well as annoying other drivers and passengers. While it's unlikely anyone passed their driving test with all of these bad habits, it pays to do your best to avoid them when you can!In no particular order, here are our top 10 bad habits you should avoid on the road:

What to Do If Your Car Is Written-Off

If you're involved in a car accident, the logical next step is to make a claim with your car insurance provider. After this, they will either tell you how much they will pay you for the repairs, or they will tell you that your car is a write-off. But what does a write-off mean? And does this mean the end of your car? Read on to find out more.