Record number of uninsured cars seized on UK roads

Consumer Editor

4 minute read|17th Apr 2026

160,000 uninsured cars were seized from UK roads last year - the highest number in 17 years - according to a new report from the BBC and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

MIB data estimated that about 300,000 cars are being driven across the country every day without insurance – with the Birmingham area being the main hotspot for uninsured drivers.

The region also has five out of the top 15 postcodes in the UK for accidents involving uninsured drivers.

Shockingly, the estimated cost to the UK economy relating to uninsured vehicles totals around £1 billion every year.

The final total includes compensation, emergency service resources, medical costs and loss of productivity – according to the MIB.

In fact, someone in the UK is impacted by uninsured or hit and run drivers every 20 minutes – with one person suffering ‘life altering injuries – highlighting the depths of the problem facing the authorities.

MIB’s Hayley Sutcliffe told the BBC: "It's a diverse area so people coming into the country might not know the laws and the legislation of the Road Traffic Act.

"We need to raise awareness around when people need to have the correct level of cover of insurance."

Further analysis has shown that the number of cars taken of the roads in the past five years has risen by almost 20% - from 132,436 to 158,594.

MIB stated that those caught with an uninsured vehicle were also more likely to be involved with secondary offences.

This includes drink and drug driving, as well as having tinted windows, broken seatbelts and bald tyres.

In the report, Sgt Adrian Brown of West Midlands Police said: "A lot of people just own up to it and say 'I couldn't afford it' or 'I haven't passed my driving test'.

"I think the other reason around this criminal aspect is they're trying to hide the identity of the car."