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Car insurance rules become more restrictive | |
(40 minutes later) | |
More restrictive car insurance rules have come into effect as the government seeks to clamp down on uninsured drivers. | |
From Monday, drivers will need to declare their car as being off the road if they want to avoid buying insurance. | From Monday, drivers will need to declare their car as being off the road if they want to avoid buying insurance. |
Previously, offenders had to be caught in the act of driving without insurance to be prosecuted. | Previously, offenders had to be caught in the act of driving without insurance to be prosecuted. |
Registered drivers who are found to be uninsured will be sent a warning letter, followed by a £100 penalty. | Registered drivers who are found to be uninsured will be sent a warning letter, followed by a £100 penalty. |
If a car still remains uninsured, it can be clamped, or seized and destroyed, or the owner could be taken to court and given a fine of up to £1,000. | If a car still remains uninsured, it can be clamped, or seized and destroyed, or the owner could be taken to court and given a fine of up to £1,000. |
Enforcement action is expected to commence from mid-July. | Enforcement action is expected to commence from mid-July. |
Advertising campaign | Advertising campaign |
Some 1.4 million vehicles in the UK do not have insurance, compared with 34 million that do. | Some 1.4 million vehicles in the UK do not have insurance, compared with 34 million that do. |
The Department for Transport says that 23,000 people are injured and 160 killed each year by incidents involving uninsured drivers. | The Department for Transport says that 23,000 people are injured and 160 killed each year by incidents involving uninsured drivers. |
"Uninsured driving is a serious problem in this country," said Malcolm Tarling of the Association of British Insurers, noting that about 4% of drivers are not covered. | "Uninsured driving is a serious problem in this country," said Malcolm Tarling of the Association of British Insurers, noting that about 4% of drivers are not covered. |
"Not only are they more likely to cause an accident, but they also push up cost of insurance, which all honest, law-abiding drivers have to pay," he told the BBC. | "Not only are they more likely to cause an accident, but they also push up cost of insurance, which all honest, law-abiding drivers have to pay," he told the BBC. |
He warned that offenders who are caught under the new law will not only get a criminal record, but also have to pay more for their insurance in the future. | He warned that offenders who are caught under the new law will not only get a criminal record, but also have to pay more for their insurance in the future. |
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will work with the Motor Insurers' Bureau to identify non-compliant drivers. | The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will work with the Motor Insurers' Bureau to identify non-compliant drivers. |
The two launched an advertising campaign a month ago to raise awareness of the change in law. | The two launched an advertising campaign a month ago to raise awareness of the change in law. |
Any driver who is concerned about their insurance status can check online to see if they appear on the motor insurance database, which is used to identify offenders. | Any driver who is concerned about their insurance status can check online to see if they appear on the motor insurance database, which is used to identify offenders. |
Drivers who wish to avoid paying for insurance must issue a statutory off-road notification to the DVLA, in the same way they do to avoid paying road tax. | Drivers who wish to avoid paying for insurance must issue a statutory off-road notification to the DVLA, in the same way they do to avoid paying road tax. |
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