What happens if you get caught in an uninsured vehicle?

It is mandated by UK law that you must have at least third-party car insurance if you’re driving a vehicle. Even if you are just going to be leaving it parked on the street, you technically need to be insured, though it’s very unlikely the police will pull up a check on a parked car.

Yet there are still around 1 million uninsured drivers on UK roads right now, which is around 4% of all drivers. Many of them might not be aware of the dangers and implications of driving without insurance so we’re here to explain why they might want to re-evaluate their situation.

This is even true for those who might only be driving for a few days a week. In their situation, we’d recommend taking out car insurance for a day, by the day.

When don’t I need car insurance?

The only reasons you shouldn’t need car insurance are if you have a statutory off-road notification, your car hasn’t been on a public road since the 1st of February 1998, your vehicle has been scrapped or it’s currently between dealers.

What happens if you are stopped by the police for driving without insurance?

If you are pulled over by the police and asked to provide proof of insurance then you could receive not only a fixed penalty fine of £300 but, more seriously, six points on your driving licence. You could even lose your licence entirely if your case goes to court and the fine you could receive is technically unlimited. The police can also seize and destroy your car. In the future, you’ll also be liable for higher insurance costs.

Will I get a criminal record for driving without insurance?

This is one area in which you can relax, as driving without insurance isn’t technically a conviction. The more pressing thing is that it will stay on your licence for four years.

Do you still need insurance if you’re test-driving a car?

Yes. While you might not need insurance to test drive a car in the US and some other countries, in the UK you need insurance even if it’s just for a quick spin. If you’re taking a driving test in your own car, the same rules also apply. But remember, as stated above you can always get temporary car insurance to keep you on the right side of the law.

What if I forget to renew my insurance?

It might be difficult to hear but if your policy has lapsed and you’ve forgotten to renew it, even if just for a day or two, you are still going to find yourself in legal trouble if the authorities find out you’ve been driving without insurance. So always keep track of your insurance policies. Remember, insurers are under no obligation to renew automatically so check it yourself!