Almost 30,000 uninsured cars impounded this year

"Truly terrifying" how many motorists are driving without insurance, according to Churchill study.

London is the uninsured car capital of the UK, with Met Police impounding 9,935 cars in 2015 so far as a result of a lack of insurance. That is more than double the number in West Yorkshire, the next most prolific area.

Almost 30,000 cars in total have been impounded by the police so far this year due to them being uninsured.

Penalties for driving without insurance

You must have at least third party insurance to drive in the UK.

If you are caught driving without insurance, you could be given a £300 fine and six penalty points. If the case ends up going to court, you could get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving.

And of course, the police can seize your vehicle.

Truly terrifying

“This analysis exposes just the tip of the iceberg,” says Steve Barrett, head of car insurance at Churchill Insurance. “Thousands upon thousands of motorists across the country are driving without insurance, which is truly terrifying.

“We need an urgent examination of the penalties for uninsured motoring, introducing sentences that are a real deterrent and that will keep these irresponsible motorists off the road.”

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Uninsured car seizures

Once a car has been seized the police are free to sell it at auction. So far 1,892 seized cars have been auctioned this year, raising over £1 million. A further 6,736 have been scrapped, generating scrap value of £643,891.

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Uninsured luxury cars

It isn’t just old bangers that the police are taking off the roads. So far in 2015 police have seized two Ferraris, three Lamborghinis, 10 Bentleys, 40 Porches, 1,147 Audis and 1,767 BMWs.

“Drivers without car insurance drive up premiums for all other motorists,” says Barrett. “Those with a car insurance policy indirectly cover the cost of compensating those involved in accidents with uninsured drivers. For an everyday motorist to be covering the costs of a driver that can afford a Ferrari is a travesty.

“The penalties for uninsured motoring should be far higher and money generated from increased fines should be pumped into covering the costs of uninsured drivers.”

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