AA welcomes proposed uninsured driver legislation

AA Insurance has welcomed the Government's plans for continuous enforcement of motor insurance.

The proposals mean that it will be an offence to keep a car that is uninsured, even if it is not being driven, unless a Statutory off Road Notification (or SORN) is sent to the DVLA. Offenders will be subject to a fixed penalty of 100 (reduced to 50 if paid promptly) and three license points. Those who deliberately flout the law could be fined up to 1,000.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance says: "It is unacceptable that law abiding insured drivers pay more because of the uninsured - on average, honest motorists pay 30 as part of their annual insurance premium to pay for the victims of uninsured drivers."

It is estimated that 1 out of every 20 motorists is driving without cover.

However, Mr Douglas cautioned that the new legislation should recognise those who innocently allow their insurance to lapse, for example if they are away for an extended period or are in hospital. He also points out that those who leave their insurance to the last minute could find themselves caught.

"The new legislation also means that motorists will have to ensure that their policy is renewed in good time. Leaving it to the last minute or until their policy has expired will find that their record is automatically removed from the national Motor Insurance Database (MID). They run the risk of being stopped by police using automatic number plate recognition equipment. If they can't prove that they are insured, their car will be confiscated."

Last year, the police stopped over 170,000 cars suspected of being uninsured.

The insurance industry is already well geared up to handle insurance under the proposed legislation and the MID record is normally updated overnight following renewal of insurance cover. However, it could take two or three days before a record that has been removed is reinstated - during which time a driver who has left renewal to the last minute will risk being stopped by police.

Adds Mr Douglas: "There is still a popular misconception that there are a few ‘days of grace' when renewing cover. There are not. Once a policy has expired, you become an uninsured driver. Under the new legislation, you would be breaking the law even if you leave your car on the drive without insurance."

AA advices:

Renew your car insurance or arrange new cover as soon as you get your renewal invitation and no later than four days before expiry of the old policy

If you change your car tell your insurer immediately

If you insurer automatically renews your annual policy (or you pay by monthly direct debit) you have nothing to worry about - but if you change insurers, do so in good time

If you have forgotten to renew your insurance do so immediately and don't drive your car until your new cover is in place

If you have renewed late or taken out a new policy after expiry of the old one, make sure you keep a note of your policy number which your insurer will provide either by telephone or online, as well as your insurer's telephone number; the date and time you renewed. If you are stopped, the police can then check with your insurer to confirm you have cover

Keep your certificate of car insurance with you for a few days after it has arrived by post

You can check whether your car is on the MID by going to askmid.com