Uninsured without knowing it? Devon & Cornwall Police crackdown

A missed direct debit. A wrong digit in your registration number. A spoiler you never mentioned. Any one of them could mean the car on your drive isn’t covered, and you might not find out until a police officer tells you at the roadside.

Devon & Cornwall Police has said it is taking part in #OpDriveInsured26, a crackdown on uninsured motorists run with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). The force says the aim is to make roads safer, and it is pointing drivers to the MIB’s Drive Insured guide so they can check their own cover is right.

Why uninsured driving matters

The MIB’s figures show what’s at stake. Uninsured driving costs the UK economy about £1 billion every year. One person is killed every week by an uninsured driver, and one person suffers life-changing injuries every day.

On any given day, around 335,000 uninsured drivers are thought to be on UK roads.

What happens if you’re caught

The penalties for driving uninsured, or not properly insured, are heavy:

• A £300 fixed penalty notice
• Six points on your licence
• Your vehicle could be seized by police and possibly crushed
• An unlimited fine and a possible driving ban if the case goes to court
• A driving conviction that could harm your job prospects
• An average increase of £1,000 on your future motor premiums

How drivers end up uninsured without realising

The MIB says many drivers aren’t trying to dodge insurance at all. They simply get something wrong. These are the common slip-ups it highlights.

Missed payments

A missed or failed payment can lead to a policy being cancelled. Check your bank statements and any messages from your insurer, and make sure auto-renewal is still switched on if you rely on it.

Wrong details

Small mistakes count. A wrong date of birth or registration number can affect your cover. If your personal details change, tell your insurer.

How you use the car

Your policy has to match how you actually use the vehicle. Commuting, business use and food or parcel delivery may each need different cover.

Fronting

Naming a more experienced driver, such as a parent, as the main driver to bring the premium down is fraud. If you’re the one who uses the car most, you should be the named main driver. The MIB has separate advice for new and young drivers and for parents of young drivers.

Driving someone else’s car

“Drive Other Vehicle” cover often isn’t included as standard and may come with restrictions, such as the driver’s age or their relationship to the owner. Check your policy, or look at short-term insurance.

Deals that look too cheap

Be wary of unusually cheap offers, particularly on social media. They may be scams run by so-called ghost brokers. Make sure your provider is an MIB or BIBA member. There’s more on avoiding insurance scams on the MIB website.

Modifications

Changes to your vehicle usually have to be declared, even cosmetic ones like new wheels or a spoiler. Leaving them out could invalidate your cover.

How to check your car is insured

The free Check Your Vehicle service shows whether a vehicle you own, or have the legal right to drive, is recorded as insured on the UK’s central motor insurance database.

The MIB also lists common insurance myths that catch drivers out.