What's the Maximum Fine for Driving Without Insurance?

What's the Maximum Fine for Driving Without Insurance?

By law, drivers must hold the appropriate insurance for their motor vehicle to drive on the roads in the UK. If caught driving without insurance, or with an outdated policy, drivers could receive a fine of up to £5,000 along with between six and eight points or a potential discretionary disqualification. This also applies to anyone who allows another uninsured driver to drive their vehicle; driving without insurance is considered an absolute offence, so the restrictions surrounding it are very serious.

Understanding the consequences of driving without insurance is important as it should encourage you to stay insured and help you to keep on the roads. In the following guide, we have outlined why you need to be insured to drive, what you can expect to happen if you get caught driving without it and how you can manage your insurance policy to make sure it is the right one for you.

Why Do I Need Insurance to Drive?

In a study conducted by the UK Government, they found that over 23,000 people were seriously injured in a motoring accident in 2021, with 95,000 only slightly injured. These figures show that motoring accidents are unfortunately common without even counting the incidents where no one was injured.

Insurance is put in place to help with the cost of accidents. Even if you are not injured in a motoring accident, damage to either parties’ cars can be very expensive, and the driver at fault will be expected to cover both damages. Having an insurance policy allows you to recover finances in order to pay for damages sustained to any vehicle involved. 

Paying for insurance may seem expensive at first, but it will save you a large sum of money should an accident happen. On top of the above points, driving insurance is mandatory by law in the UK.

What Will Happen if I Get Caught Driving Without Insurance?

If you are detected by the police’s cameras or an officer, you will either be pulled over or receive a notification at home. The authorities can scan your vehicle and easily determine whether you are driving without insurance. 

You will be asked to provide information such as your driving licence and documentation about your insurance. If you can not do this when you are pulled over, you will have a week to do so, and you should not attempt to drive again until you have, or any penalties you may receive could be more severe.

If you are confused as to why you have been pulled over or accused of driving without insurance when you believe you are covered, you may need to check your policy. It could have either been changed without your knowledge, be due a renewal or not cover your vehicle or activity. 

If your insurance company has changed your policy without informing you, you may be able to make a claim against them. However, if they have taken steps to notify you and you have missed these, they should be able to prove it and the liability will be yours. 

Certain insurance policies cover different types of vehicles; just because you are insured for one does not mean you are covered for another. You should confirm this before driving any vehicle other than your own. 

The minimum fine for driving a vehicle that you are not insured for is £300, with six points added to your licence. If the vehicle is deemed dangerous by the police, you do not possess a driving licence or someone has been injured due to your actions, this will be considered a more serious offence and could significantly increase your penalty. You will be required to attend court and may be issued with a driving disqualification. Additionally, if you have been charged with a driving offence, insurance companies could charge you a much higher rate in future.

In cases where the vehicle has been found to be dangerous or unroadworthy, the police may seize or destroy it.

What You Need to Be Insured For

Every motor vehicle driver is required to have at least third-party insurance. Different insurance companies will offer different services, but it should cover car repairs and is a basic legal requirement for being able to drive. The next steps up from this are to get a fire and theft plan, and then comprehensive car insurance. Each brings different benefits, and are progressively more costly but will allow you to drive your vehicle.

Some insurance policies allow you to drive similar vehicles with driving other cars (DOC) cover. You should not assume that your comprehensive plan provides this, instead, check with your provider before attempting to drive any vehicle other than your own. This also goes for you allowing another driver to use your vehicle, as doing so illegally will also leave you liable.

If you are planning to hire or test drive a vehicle, you should make sure that you are covered to do so. In many cases, the owner of the vehicle - the dealership or seller - will provide you with temporary insurance cover, but you may also be able to secure this if they do not offer this. 

Vans, trucks, lorries and other different motor vehicles will require you to hold a specific licence before you can legally drive them, so make sure to speak to your insurance provider about this before attempting to.

What to Do If You Are Prosecuted for Driving Without Insurance

If you are accused of driving without insurance, it may be better to pay your fine without disputing it. This is due to the complex nature of contesting driving claims; the police have many ways of gathering evidence and will use this against you in court. If you attempt to dispute the prosecution and fail to do so, you will likely be subject to a higher penalty.

Despite this, there are many angles that professional solicitors can use to mount your argument, and it may be very important to your life to stay on the roads. If you feel as though you have been unfairly prosecuted, you should speak to us now. You should never attempt to dispute a legal claim without the help of an expert solicitor. 

The driving offences team at JMW is highly experienced in dealing with driving without insurance offences and we will be able to assess your situation and advise you on the best course of action. Call us as soon as possible to discuss your situation. Contact us on 0345 872 6666 or fill out an online contact form to request a call back.