Even if it’s just for a day, driving without insurance could land you in hot water. Read on to find out what penalties you might face and get tips to make sure it doesn't happen to you.
What happens if you drive uninsured?
If you’re caught driving a vehicle you’re not insured to drive, the police could give you:
-
a fixed penalty of £300
-
6 penalty points
If the case goes to court you could get:
-
an unlimited fine
-
disqualified from driving
It's also within the power of the police to seize, and in some cases, destroy the uninsured vehicle.
What if the car isn't being driven?
In most cases a parked car still needs insurance. If you don't believe you should be paying insurance as your vehicle is kept off the road, such as in a garage, then you must register it as off the road (SORN).
Make sure you don’t forget
Here’s a few easy ways to make sure you don’t forget to renew your insurance:
-
Act early – if you leave it to the last minute to renew, you could easily forget. Renew your insurance a few weeks before it expires. That way, if something else comes up, you’ve still got plenty of time to sort it out.
-
Set a reminder on your phone – if you have a smartphone, set an alarm up to go off a few weeks before it’s due to run out, reminding you to renew.
-
Check your post and emails – your insurer will often send out a reminder message, so make sure you check your post and emails regularly and don’t miss anything.
- Consider having your car insurance automatically renew - this way you'll know your cover won't lapse.
