Uninsured drivers risk losing vehicle

11:10am Thursday 1st November 2007

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POLICE are reminding drivers they could have their car seized if they drive without a licence or insurance.

Kent police's roads policing unit seized 482 vehicles in north Kent from January to September this year.

This means it is on course to exceed the 561 vehicles which it towed away last year.

Advances in technology mean police officers can now check drivers' insurance and licence details at the roadside using hi-tech equipment.

If a check shows a vehicle is not insured or the driver does not have a licence, police can seize the vehicle and take it to a secure compound.

Owners then have to pay a fee of £105 to retrieve their vehicle plus £12 for each day it is in the compound.

Inspector Phil Hibben, who heads the unit, said: "Around £30 is added to the average vehicle insurance policy to cover the cost of uninsured drivers.

"These new methods have proved to be a very effective method of not only helping to rid our roads of uninsured vehicles and unlicensed drivers, but also of tackling criminality on our roads.

"We will not tolerate uninsured vehicles and unlicensed drivers on Kent's roads and will prosecute all drivers who commit these offences."

The specialist unit had seized 3,984 vehicles across the whole of Kent up until the end of September. This is 364 more than for the whole of last year.

Private company the Motor Insurance Bureau works with the Government to compensate victims of negligent uninsured and untraced motorists.

A spokesman said: "Uninsured drivers are six times more likely to have been convicted of driving unroadworthy vehicles than honest motorists, and nine times more likely to have been convicted of drink-driving."

Drivers caught driving a vehicle without insurance can get up to eight endorsement points on their licence or a £5,000 fine.

Those caught driving without a licence can get six endorsement points on any future licence and a fine of up to £1,000.