Revealed: The most common motoring offences in the uk

• However, more than half (51%) of UK drivers admit to eating behind the wheel, making it the most commonly committed offence - which could lead to insurance costs of £1,703, on average.
• Drink-driving offences could see drivers paying £1,686 for their car insurance, on average
• Meanwhile using a phone while driving could land drivers with £1,213 premiums, on average
• 1 in 5 (20%) UK drivers say speeding is their worst driving habit, while more than 1 in 7 (15%) admit to poor parking etiquette

Almost 9 in 10 (86%) UK drivers admit to committing common motoring offences - but speeding is the one most likely to catch them out, according to new data.

More drivers have been caught speeding than any other motoring offence, according to new data from the car insurance experts at Confused.com. In total, more than 52,000 drivers aged 31-35¹ reported a speeding conviction when buying car insurance in the first 3 months of the year alone. . As a result, they’re now paying as much as £949 for their premiums, on average.

This is followed by driving or using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks - the minimum requirement for car insurance in the UK. In the same period, more than 6,000 drivers aged 31-35 have declared this offence on their insurance. It’s a costly mistake too, with average premiums hitting as much as £2,003 for offenders.

Most common motoring convictions - Q1 2025

Last year, almost 171,000 drivers declared a conviction for speeding on a public road, with a further 51,000 receiving a conviction for speeding on a motorway. The average car insurance premium for these drivers reached as high as £1,074 - a 16% increase compared to 2023.

There’s also been a 32% increase in the number of drivers with convictions for using a mobile phone while driving. Offences rose from 8,808 in 2023, to 11,639 in 2024. As a result, affected drivers paid an average £1,299 for their car insurance in 2024, - a 17% increase compared to 2023.

Change in motoring convictions in 2023 vs 2024

Which motoring offences do drivers commit the most?

While these are the most common offences drivers get caught and penalised for, further research shows that many admit to committing common offences far more regularly. And that’s putting them at risk of not only fines and points - but higher insurance premiums too.

According to the research, more than half (51%) of UK drivers admit to eating while driving. While this isn’t technically an offence on its own, it could still lead to a careless driving charge if it causes the driver to lose focus or control. That carries a fine of £100 and penalty points on their licence². Drivers penalised for driving without due care and attention are paying an average of around £1,703 for their insurance.

This is followed by speeding on a public road (43%), or motorway (41%), and drinking while driving (41%) - which could also be considered as careless driving if it causes danger. When it comes to speeding, around half of offenders admit they do it regularly. And almost 2 in 5 (38%) admit to eating regularly while behind the wheel.

Almost a third (30%) of UK drivers say they touch their mobile phone while driving, with nearly 1 in 5 (19%) admitting to physically using their phone behind the wheel. That carries a penalty of £200, 6 points on their licence³, and higher insurance costs. Worryingly, of those who admit to this offence, more than 2 in 5 (41%) say it’s a regular habit.

Other common motoring offences include:

• Driving after drinking alcohol - 29%
• Undertaking on a motorway - 28%
• Failing to indicate - 26%
• Warning drivers of a speed camera - 23%

What are motorists’ worst driving habits?

While many motorists admit to committing offences - and seemingly getting away with it - there are plenty of bad habits that irk drivers, too.

When asked about their own worst driving habits, it’s no surprise that speeding topped the list. . Close behind was poor parking etiquette, with 1 in 7 (15%) naming it as one of their worst. Driving too slowly (12%) and eating behind the wheel (12%) also made the list.

However, these aren’t among the most annoying habits identified by drivers. Nearly 2 in 5 (37%) say tailgating is top of their list - even though 1 in 10 (10%) admit to doing it themselves. Over half (53%) admit they’ll tailgate if the car in front is driving too slowly, while 2 in 5 (40%) say it’s simply down to impatience. Nearly a third (30%) also do it to nudge the driver in front to get a move on.

Second on the list was using a mobile phone - a habit many drivers admit to doing, despite the penalties. But when asked why, over a third (34%) said they only use their phone if they’re stationary. Almost a third (31%) said they’d use their phone while driving if it felt urgent.

Failing to indicate also ranked highly, with almost a third (29%) of UK drivers naming it as one of the most annoying driving habits. Over 1 in 4 (26%) admit to doing it themselves, , with around 1 in 3 claiming they do it often. Almost half (44%) claim they just forget to do it,while just under 2 in 5 (39%) only indicate if other cars are around. Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) say they don’t always feel it’s necessary.

Throwing litter out of the window also ranked as one of the most annoying driving habits among drivers (24%), along with driving too slowly (22%), and hogging the middle lane (21%).

It’s clear that many drivers are taking the risk and committing offences, often daily. And the knock on effect of this can be hard on their pockets - both in fines and increased insurance costs. But this doesn’t undermine the fact that offences exist for a reason - to protect drivers and other road users.

Confused.com outlines the penalties for driving offences and how this can affect drivers in the long-run.

Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com comments, “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. If you’re caught committing any driving offence, you could face a fine - which in some cases can be hundreds of pounds. You’ll also get penalty points on your licence, which can impact how much you pay for your car insurance. In some cases, that could mean paying upwards of a thousand pounds more than the average.

“Motoring offences are outlined to keep our roads safe. Sticking to the law helps keep everyone safe. And at a time when motoring costs are high, it’s a good way to avoid costly fines or inflated insurance premiums too.”

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Notes to editors