Why is it such a big deal to be insured whilst driving in the UK?

There are tens of thousands of uninsured drivers on Britain’s roads. We can see though, there was a large drop in motorists being caught driving uninsured last year, which may suggest that the problem is easing off.
 
According to data gained through a Freedom of Information request, cited by Auto Express, fewer drivers were caught without insurance in 2018 than in any other year since 2012.

Police caught 79,713 drivers last year, compared with a whopping 118,698 motorists in 2017 – the highest figure since 2012.
 
Surprisingly, of the offenders caught in 2018, 872 were under the age of 17, meaning they weren’t even of a legal age to be driving. This figure is a 47% drop compared with 2017, when 1,644 under-17s were caught behind the wheel without insurance.
 
The youngest offender caught last year was just 11 years old – though, that’s still a year older than the 10-year-old offender apprehended by police in 2017. The oldest driver caught without insurance last year was 96 years old.
 
If you’ve been convicted of driving without insurance, it could have a knock-on effect when you come to take out cover in the future. For instance, you might find that quotes for insurance are especially high – that’s because some insurers will consider you a greater risk to insure because of your driving history.
 
The Insurance Factory does things differently. We appreciate that the past is the past, and will work to find you competitively-priced convicted driver insurance that contains all the benefits of standard policies.

 

Why do drivers need insurance?

This question may have crossed your mind once or twice in the past – and it’s a good question. Ultimately, insurance provides financial protection in the event that you’re involved in an accident.

Policies can also cover injuries to your passengers, other drivers and even pedestrians.
 
Accidents can and do happen. If you were to crash into another car and cause damage or injury to the driver and their passengers, insurance covers your expenses – for instance, to repair the car or medically treat the driver.

These expenses could total thousands, which could burn a serious hole in your pocket if you weren’t insured.
 
Depending on the policy, car insurance can also offer protection is your car is stolen, destroyed by fire or vandalised.

 

What types of insurance are there?

Insurance has been a legal requirement since the 1930 Road Traffic Act.

Third Party Only cover is the minimum level of insurance required to drive on public roads, though these policies only cover costs associated with the other driver – for instance damage to their vehicle or if they sustain injuries that require medical treatment.
 
You and your vehicle aren’t covered under a third party only policy, which is why many drivers choose to boost protection by taking out comprehensive insurance.

You can also purchase a third party, fire and theft policy, which offers the same level of protection as third party cover plus protection if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.
 
So, if you want to be sure that you and your car will be covered if you’re involved in an accident, then you’ll want to take out a comprehensive convicted driver insurance policy.

 

What happens if you’re caught driving without insurance?

As the Gov.UK website explains, if you’re caught driving uninsured you could receive a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points on your licence. If your case is taken to court, then you could receive an unlimited fine or be disqualified from driving. The police can also seize the uninsured vehicle you’re driving, and in some cases have it destroyed.
 
If you receive a driving ban of 56 days or more, the Gov.UK website notes that you’ll need to apply for a new driving licence before you can drive again. The law states that you can’t apply for a driving licence until your disqualification period has ended.
 
Remember that you’ll need convicted driver insurance before you can get back on the road. Don’t make the same mistake twice!

A man sitting in his car with his hands on his head after getting caught without car insurance


Are there any exceptions?

The only instance where you don’t need to insure or tax your car is when it’s off the road. Still, you need to register it as such by making a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). You’ll receive a refund for any full months of tax remaining on your car.
 
When you’ve declared your car SORN, you can’t drive or even park it on a public road. You must keep off the road, whether that’s on private land, in your garage or on your driveway.

 

What if you’re hit by an uninsured driver? 

If you have an accident with an uninsured motorist, you should tell the police and get advice from your insurance company.
 
More generally speaking, as Gov.UK notes, if you’re involved in an accident that causes damage or injury to any vehicle or person involved then you must give information to anyone ‘with reasonable grounds for requiring them’ – like your insurance company.
 
You’ll need to provide your name and address, your car’s registration number, or the owner’s name if the car you’re driving isn’t yours.

If you don’t give your details at the scene of the accident, then you need to report the incident to the police within 24 hours. You also need to tell your insurer, even if you’re not planning on making a claim.

 

Convicted driver insurance from The Insurance Factory

If you’re looking to get back on the road after committing a motoring or criminal offence, the Insurance Factory can help to set you up with a policy that won’t break the bank.
 
We consider a number of convictions, including:
 
  • Driving without insurance
  • Driving or attempting to drive with a blood alcohol level exceeding allowable limits
  • Exceeding the speed limit on a motorway
  • Driving in a dangerous manner
  • Driving at a dangerous speed
  • Reckless driving
  • Non-motoring convictions
 
We’ve got more than 20 years of experience providing convicted driver insurance to motorists. Get a free, no-obligation quote today!