Are you driving an uninsured car?
Third Party insurance cover is the minimum legal requirement for driving in the UK. If you’re driving without insurance, then you could face tough penalties as this is regarded as a serious criminal offence. If you think you can get away with it, then think again because there are now advanced technologies which quickly scan your vehicle and check whether you have valid insurance in place. Even when driving in a quiet area, you are still at risk and you may get caught when you least expect it.
Penalty for driving without insurance
If you are caught driving with no valid insurance certificate, then you are likely to receive 6-8 points on your licence and may face a maximum fine of £5000. In certain circumstances, an instant ban pay also be imposed on you.
Getting a conviction that is related to an insurance offence can have catastrophic consequences on your future premiums as insurers will give you higher and more expensive quotes and this could last for a good few years.
Can I still be prosecuted if I was not the actual driver who was not insured?
If somebody borrowed your vehicle and has been driving without car insurance, then you will be criminally charged as well because it is your responsibility to check the insurance position of the person who you are lending your car to. Note that not all fully comprehensive policies cover you to drive other vehicles.
You should also remember that driving uninsured is an absolute offence which means that defence is not available for such offences as your vehicle is insured or not. Therefore if your insurance company forgot to renew your policy, then it is your fault to not have checked whether you have valid insurance in place.
Even if you simply park your car on the road but don’t use it, you still need to have proper insurance in place and that also applies if you’re steering a towed away car.
So whether you are renting/borrowing/lending/leasing a car, make sure you (or anyone else) are not driving without insurance as this is illegal and you could be sentenced for it and this could have worse effects on your life than any excuse you have for not paying for your premiums.
