Car insurance: Uninsured drivers warned they don’t need to be out on the roads to be caught
Uninsured drivers are being warned they don’t even need to be out on the roads to be caught.
The warning comes after it was revealed that a scheme which cross-checks driver records is catching as many as 3,000 uninsured motorists every day.
The scheme, operated by Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issued its five millionth warning letter in October.
The MIB says uninsured drivers will be caught, with offenders facing fixed penalty notices, fines of £1,000 and even the prospect of having their car crushed.
READ MORE: Driving without insurance — your FAQs answered
Legislation that allows the MIB and DVLA to take action against owners of vehicles that are uninsured – and not declared to be off the road – was introduced in 2011.
The scheme sees data from the Motor Insurance Database record of UK motor insurance policies cross-checked with DVLA vehicle records to identify drivers that appear to have no insurance.
This system means thousands of insurance advisory letters can now be sent out to owners of uninsured cars, meaning they no longer need to be caught on the road.
The letters warn owners to either insure their vehicle, make a SORN (statutory off road notification) to the DVLA, or face fixed penalty notices, fines and court prosecution.
SEE ALSO: Rise of uninsured drivers having a “devastating” impact
Neil Drane, head of enforcement at MIB, said that with the scheme in place there is nowhere to hide.
He said: "Data enables us to easily identify vehicles that appear without insurance. By using automation alongside ongoing police efforts, we've helped to halve the number of uninsured drivers on UK roads over the past 10 years."
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau is a not-for-profit body that helps innocent motorists if they are involved in hit-and-run accidents or collisions with uninsured drivers.
Ultimately in these situations, the bill is paid through the insurance premiums of all law-abiding, fully-insured motorists.
Copyright Press Association 2018. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.
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