The Motor Insurers’ Bureau confirmed the two millionth uninsured car had been taken off the roads after studying data from UK police. The MIB claimed the landmark moment took place in January a whole 15 years after new laws were introduced.
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Car insurance: You could be fined £2,500 and invalidate your policy
Stop and seize powers were passed in 2005 which meant uninsured cars could be towed away instantly.
Over 137,000 cars were seized across the UK last year for not having any form of legal car insurance.
Anna Fleming, Chief Operating Officer at MIB said: “The UK’s two millionth uninsured vehicle seizure is a significant milestone testament to the collaborative and determined work of the police, government authorities and industry to help make roads safer and fairer for all.
“While we welcome this news, we recognise challenges remain ahead and will continue working closely with our partners to help reduce the impact of uninsured driving.
Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is injured by an uninsured driver with many suffering devastating injuries.
The figures equate to nearly one in five road traffic casualties where insurance payouts may be difficult to secure.
MIB says it supports the crackdown against uninsured drivers in a bid to make the roads safer to use.
The MIB runs the Motor Insurance Database which holds information of every active car insurance policy on the road.
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Police use this alongside their automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to scan cars to identify whether insurance has been paid.
MIB experts have warned road orders could face prosecution and heavy fines for not having a valid car insurance policy in place.
Vehicles could even be seized and owners may even face a driving ban if they are found to be repeat offenders.
Do I have valid car insurance cover?
Experts urge motorists to check whether their car has the correct level of insurance in place to avoid the heavy penalties.
Road users who believe they do have cover should double-check in case they have been sold fraudulent car insurance unknowingly.
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In a social media post, the Insurance Fraud Bureau said: “As news breaks that the UK’s two millionth uninsured vehicle has been seized, it’s more timely than ever to remind the public about the dangers of Ghost Broking to help more people avoid fraud and drive with valid insurance.”
Ghost brokers sell seemingly cheap car insurance contracts which actually turn out to be false.
Customers who have purchased false agreements will not be covered in the event of a car crash meaning road users will need to fund repairs themselves in the event of a car crash.
False policyholders may also be fined but to £300 by police officers for travelling without the necessary protection.
Where are most people uninsured?
The MIB says London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bradford were among the worst-affected regions for uninsured drivers.
Analysis from Churchill has shown East, North and South East London were among the highest regions in the whole nation for uninsured vehicles.
One in eight vehicles were found to be uninsured in East London while one in 11 were not covered across Northern and South Easterly regions of the capital.
Outside London, Liverpool topped the list with one in 13 cars being found not to have the correct level of cover.
Mark Chiappino, spokesperson for Churchill said: “The number of uninsured vehicles on the roads is alarming. Car insurance is a legal requirement but hundreds of thousands of motorists continue to flout the law.”
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