Life insurance for smokers and vapers
Smoking is the single lifestyle factor that has the biggest impact on life insurance premiums. If you smoke, vape, or use any form of nicotine, you need to know exactly how insurers classify you, what it costs, and what your options are. This guide covers everything honestly - including the fact that vapers are treated as smokers by most UK insurers.
The short answer
Smoker rates are roughly double non-smoker rates. You must be completely nicotine-free for 12 months to qualify as a non-smoker with most UK insurers. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, shisha, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and - crucially - vaping. Most UK insurers treat vapers as smokers. Cover is always available, but the best thing you can do for your premiums is quit and wait 12 months.
What counts as "smoking" for life insurance
Insurers define smoking far more broadly than most people expect. If you have used any of the following in the last 12 months, you will be classified as a smoker by most UK insurers:
Cigarettes
Any amount. Even one cigarette in the last 12 months classifies you as a smoker. Social smoking counts.
Cigars
Including occasional cigar smoking. Some insurers are marginally more lenient on very occasional cigar use (fewer than 10 per year), but most still classify you as a smoker.
Pipe tobacco
Treated the same as cigarette smoking by virtually all insurers.
Shisha / hookah
Yes, shisha counts. Even occasional use at social events classifies you as a smoker.
Nicotine patches and nicotine gum
This catches many people off guard. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) still means nicotine is in your system. If you are using patches or gum to quit, you are still classified as a smoker until you have been completely nicotine-free for 12 months.
E-cigarettes and vaping
Most UK insurers treat vapers exactly the same as smokers. This is one of the most important facts in this guide and is covered in detail below.
Vapers are treated as smokers by most UK insurers
This is the single most important thing vapers need to understand. Despite vaping being widely considered less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, the vast majority of UK life insurers classify vapers as smokers and charge smoker rates.
The reason is straightforward: insurers assess nicotine use, not the delivery method. If you are using nicotine in any form, most insurers apply smoker rates. The long-term health data on vaping simply does not exist yet, and insurers price conservatively in the absence of data.
However, not all insurers treat vapers identically to smokers. A small but growing number of UK insurers have introduced differentiated rates for vapers - charging less than cigarette smokers but more than non-smokers. This is where a broker adds genuine value. If you vape but do not smoke tobacco, our specialist brokers can identify which insurers offer the most favourable vaping rates.
Zero-nicotine vaping
If you vape with zero-nicotine liquid, some insurers may classify you as a non-smoker. However, this is not universal. Some insurers still classify any vaping - regardless of nicotine content - as smoking. You must be completely honest about this on your application, and a broker can direct you to an insurer that recognises the distinction.
Vaper? Don't pay full smoker rates
Not all insurers charge vapers the same as cigarette smokers. Our specialist brokers can find the insurer that offers the best vaping rates.
Get QuoteThe financial impact of smoking on life insurance
The cost difference between smoker and non-smoker rates is substantial. Smoker premiums are typically 80-120% higher than non-smoker premiums - roughly double. Over the life of a 25-year policy, this adds up to thousands of pounds.
| Profile | Cover | Non-smoker | Smoker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-year-old, good health | 200,000 level term, 25 years | ~8/month | ~16-20/month |
| 40-year-old, good health | 200,000 level term, 20 years | ~14/month | ~28-36/month |
| 50-year-old, good health | 200,000 level term, 15 years | ~30/month | ~55-70/month |
These are indicative figures based on typical market rates at the time of writing. They are not quotes. Actual premiums depend on your full health profile and the insurer selected.
Over 25 years, the difference between paying 8/month and 18/month is 3,000 in total premiums. Over 20 years at higher cover amounts, the difference can exceed 5,000-10,000. This is why quitting smoking is one of the most financially impactful things you can do for your insurance costs.
The 12-month rule
To qualify as a non-smoker with most UK insurers, you must have been completely free from all nicotine products for at least 12 months. This is the standard across the industry, though some insurers require longer periods and a few accept shorter ones.
Completely free means completely free. No cigarettes, no cigars, no vaping, no nicotine patches, no nicotine gum. If you quit cigarettes 10 months ago but are still using nicotine patches, the 12-month clock has not started yet.
Cotinine testing. For higher cover amounts, insurers may request a cotinine test (blood or urine) to verify your non-smoker declaration. Cotinine is a metabolite of nicotine and can be detected for several weeks after nicotine use. If the test contradicts your declaration, the insurer will apply smoker rates or decline the application.
Be honest. Declaring yourself as a non-smoker when you are not is non-disclosure. If you die and the insurer investigates (which they do for large claims), evidence of smoking found in medical records, toxicology, or GP notes can void your entire policy. Your family gets nothing. A policy that pays out at smoker rates is infinitely better than one that is voided at claim.
Recently quit? Let's check your options
If you've quit within the last 12 months, our partner brokers can advise on the best time to apply and which insurer to approach.
Get QuoteSmoking combined with other conditions
Smoking on its own results in smoker rates. But smoking combined with other health conditions compounds the impact on premiums significantly. Insurers assess cumulative risk, and smoking amplifies the risk associated with almost every other condition.
Smoking + diabetes
Both are significant cardiovascular risk factors. Combined, expect substantially higher loadings than either condition alone. If you smoke and have Type 2 diabetes, quitting smoking improves your insurance terms more than almost any other single change.
Smoking + high blood pressure
Another compound cardiovascular risk. Well-controlled blood pressure on medication combined with smoking is still viewed less favourably than smoking alone.
Smoking + high BMI
The combination of smoking and obesity significantly increases premiums. Both are modifiable risk factors, and insurers view them together as a higher combined risk.
Smoking + mental health conditions
Smoking does not directly compound mental health underwriting, but it does add the standard smoker loading on top of any mental health-related loading.
Cannabis use
Cannabis is treated differently from tobacco by some insurers, though many apply smoker rates to cannabis users as well. The underwriting depends on frequency of use, method of consumption (smoking cannabis combines tobacco and cannabis risk), and the individual insurer's approach.
We have written a dedicated guide covering cannabis use and life insurance in detail, including how different insurers treat recreational and medical cannabis.
Read our full guide to cannabis use and life insurance
The honest answer
The single best thing you can do for your life insurance premiums is to quit smoking - and that includes vaping - and wait 12 months before applying. If you are currently nicotine-free for 12 months, you qualify for non-smoker rates, which are roughly half the cost. If you cannot quit or do not want to, that is entirely your choice, and cover is absolutely available at smoker rates. But do not lie about it. A voided policy protects nobody. If you vape and do not smoke tobacco, call us - a small number of insurers offer better rates for vapers than for cigarette smokers, and our specialist brokers know which ones they are.
Critical illness and income protection for smokers
Smoking affects critical illness cover in the same way as life insurance - you pay smoker rates, which are roughly double non-smoker rates. Since smoking increases the risk of several conditions covered by critical illness policies (cancer, heart attack, stroke), the loading is well-justified from the insurer's perspective.
Income protection is also available for smokers, though premiums are higher. Smoking-related illness is a significant cause of time off work, and insurers price this in. No exclusions are typically applied specifically for smoking - you simply pay the higher smoker rate.
Put your policy in trust
Whether you smoke or not, every life insurance policy should be written in trust. Without a trust, the payout goes into your estate on death, potentially facing 40% inheritance tax and months of probate delays. Writing your policy in trust is free, takes about 2 minutes, and ensures the money goes directly to your beneficiaries without delay or tax.
Read our full guide to trusts and estate planning
Frequently asked questions
I only smoke socially - a few cigarettes a month. Am I still classed as a smoker?
Yes. Any nicotine use within the last 12 months classifies you as a smoker. There is no distinction between social smoking and regular smoking for underwriting purposes. Even one cigarette counts.
I switched from cigarettes to vaping. Will my premiums come down?
With most UK insurers, no - you will still pay smoker rates because vaping involves nicotine. However, a small number of insurers offer differentiated vaper rates that are lower than cigarette smoker rates. A broker can identify these for you.
Can insurers find out if I lied about smoking?
Yes. At application stage, they may request a cotinine test for higher cover amounts. At claim stage, they can access your GP records, which typically note smoking status. Post-mortem examination can also reveal evidence of smoking. Non-disclosure of smoking is one of the most common reasons for claims being denied.
I quit 8 months ago. Should I wait 4 more months to apply?
It depends on your circumstances. If you need cover urgently (for a mortgage, for example), apply now at smoker rates and you are covered immediately. Once you reach 12 months nicotine-free, you can apply for a new policy at non-smoker rates and cancel the old one if the new terms are better. If there is no urgency, waiting until you reach 12 months nicotine-free will save you significant money.
Do nicotine pouches (like Zyn) count as smoking?
Yes. Any product containing nicotine - including nicotine pouches, snus, and similar products - will classify you as a smoker with most UK insurers. The insurer is testing for nicotine use, not the method of delivery.
If I quit smoking, will my existing policy premiums decrease?
No. Existing guaranteed premiums are fixed and cannot be changed. However, you can apply for a new policy at non-smoker rates after 12 months nicotine-free. If the new policy offers better terms, you replace the old one. Our partner brokers can manage this process for you.
Does my partner's smoking affect my life insurance?
No. Your partner's smoking status does not affect your individual life insurance premiums. However, if you are applying for a joint life policy, each person's smoking status is assessed individually, and the combined premium will reflect both.
Get an honest quote - smoker, vaper, or recently quit
Tell us your nicotine history and our specialist brokers will find the insurer that offers the best terms. If you vape, they know which insurers differentiate. One free call, no obligation.
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