- There are 300,000 drivers without cover on Britain’s roads every day
According to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, Birmingham is the region with the most uninsured traffic.
The MIB, which pays claims for victims of uninsured driving and collisions, estimates that 300,000 motorists take to British roads without cover every day.
The West Midlands accounts for six of the top 10 uninsured driving hotspots.
The MIB figures have ranked regions based on the number of uninsured driving claims, adjusted for the population of the postcode, between October 26, 2022 and October 25, 2024.
The area with the highest number of claims against uninsured drivers was Croydon, in London, but due to the region’s dense population it only ranked 176th on the hotspot list.
Drive carefully: Birmingham zip codes are six of the top 10 uninsured driving hotspots
Today the MIB and police launched ‘Operation Drive Insured’ to crack down on motorists without cover.
So far this year, approximately 115,000 uninsured drivers have had their vehicles seized.
However, the MIB estimates that there is an average of 300,000 uninsured vehicles on UK roads every day.
Many uninsured cars are related to organized crime, theft or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
More and more motorists are also taking to the road without coverage due to high car insurance premiums, the MIB warns.
Driving without insurance also has a huge economic impact.
The MIB estimates that injuries caused by uninsured and hit-and-run drivers cost the economy almost £2.4 billion a year in emergency services, medical care, lost productivity and human costs.
Chief Inspector Marc Clothier said: ‘We know that uninsured drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal collisions and failure to stop accidents, and there is also a strong link between driving without insurance and other criminal offences.’
Martin Saunders, head of enforcement at the MIB, said: ‘We are working closely with police across the UK to ensure these dangerous vehicles are identified and removed from our roads.’
Penalties for driving without insurance
Uninsured drivers will be fined £300 and six points on their driving licence.
If they are stopped by the police, their vehicle could be seized and a third of them would be crushed.
If an uninsured driver goes to court, he or she can also receive an unlimited fine and even a driving ban.