Motorists beware - uninsured drivers rife on our roads
Uninsured drivers are rife on Britain's roads, according to research by moneysupermarket.com.
The comparison site found one in six motorists (16 per cent) have broken the law and driven a car they weren't insured to drive. Seven per cent admitted breaking the law by getting behind the wheel of their own car with no cover, while an additional seven percent admit to having driven someone else's car without insurance. Another two per cent admit to driving their own car uninsured in between renewing their insurance policy.
Of those who admitted to driving without insurance, a staggering 27 per cent say it was because they didn't know they needed insurance when behind the wheel. Over a third of these people (38 per cent) blamed being in between insurance policies as the reason for driving uninsured, and one in ten (nine per cent) simply couldn't be bothered to arrange insurance cover. Astonishingly, six per cent said there is no point having insurance as they don't believe they will crash and 13 per cent simply can't afford the insurance cover.
Peter Harrison, head of car insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: "The number of drivers prepared to hit the road without insurance is extremely worrying. It is illegal to get behind the wheel without adequate cover and should you be involved in a crash when not insured you could face thousands of pounds in liability, a conviction including six points on your license as well as charges of up to £5000.
"Uninsured drivers cost the industry £500 million each year, which as a result adds an average of £30 to every motorist's premium. Our research shows insurance premiums rose on average by 44p per day, or by 31 per cent, last year. Coupled with rising fuel prices, you can see why people are looking to cut costs, but car insurance is a necessity for all motorists and not something you should avoid paying for.
"The rising cost of motoring makes shopping around for the best deal crucial to ensure you aren't paying over the odds for your car insurance. The average saving using moneysupermarket.com is £270, so I urge everyone to do their research and not automatically accept their renewal without checking there isn't a better alternative."
In a bid to protect motorists from uninsured drivers the Road Safety Act 2006 included Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE). This is due to be brought in from April 2011 and will mean anyone who is registered as an owner of a vehicle, which isn't registered as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), MUST have valid car insurance for it or face a penalty.
According to the research younger motorists were found to be the biggest risk takers, with 29 per cent of 18-34 year olds admitting to driving a vehicle they weren't insured to, compared to just five per cent of over 55s. The research also revealed men were twice as likely to be tempted to take to the roads uninsured than women, with a fifth (21 per cent) having driven without any insurance compared to 10 per cent of female drivers.
Peter Harrison continued: "With the European Court of Justice recently ruling that discriminating by gender will be deemed unlawful when calculating insurance premiums, effective from December 2012, we will now see car insurance premiums rocket further, especially for female drivers, making it even more important to ensure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance."
moneysupermarket.com's top tips for getting a cheaper car insurance quote:
Fit an alarm: Fit an approved alarm and immobiliser, such as a Thatcham 1 or Thatcham 2. All improvements to security should help to lower your car insurance costs. Some insurers could even insist on sophisticated tracking devices before they will insure expensive cars.
Change your excess: Change the excess you are prepared to pay on any claim to reduce the premium. With voluntary excess the more you are willing to cover yourself in the event of an accident the lower your premium.
Check your mileage: Check your mileage to make sure you are not paying extra for miles you are not covering in your car. If, for example, you change jobs and have a shorter commute to work you could be saving money. Try and work out how many miles you will genuinely cover - but don't get it wrong as inaccuracy could jeopardise your claim.
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Minimise your optional extras: Only select to have a courtesy car or legal expenses if you really need them, as they may increase your premium. The less your motor insurance company has to provide in the event of an accident, the lower your costs.
Be careful where you park: Keep your car parked in a locked garage overnight if you can - this can help reduce the premium. More than 50% of vehicle thefts occur during the night so if your car is safely locked away it makes sense that your insurance costs will be reduced as a consequence. If you don't have access to a garage, then parking on a driveway is generally considered a lower risk than parking on the road. It's less likely that vandalism, theft or accidental damage will occur when you're off the highway.
Pass Plus: If you're a new driver looking to get your first car and car insurance we'd highly recommend that you take your Pass Plus in order to reduce your premiums. The Pass Plus certificate can only be obtained within the first year of passing your practical driving test.