What are the penalties for driving without insurance? 

Key takeaways  

Car insurance is a legal requirement and there are penalties. In this guide we’ll look at the following: 

• What could happen if you’re caught driving without a valid insurance policy 

• The maximum fine for driving without insurance 

• How to make sure your insurance is valid  

• The consequences of a car accident with an uninsured driver 

What are the main penalties for driving without insurance?  

Unless you have declared your car off-road, with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), it needs to be insured. If you don’t have a valid insurance policy, and the police catch you, the following could happen: 

• Fine: you could face a fixed fine of £300 and you may have to pay more if the case goes to court. 

• Points: you could receive between six or eight penalty points on your driving licence. These remain on your licence for four years and can increase the cost of car insurance. 

• Car removed: the police may seize your car if it’s not insured. If you’re unable to show proof of your insurance within seven days, they can destroy it. 

• Banned: you could be banned from driving if the case goes to court. If you’re banned from driving for more than 56 days you will need to retake your driving test and apply for a new licence before you can get on the road again. 

If you have declared your car as SORN but you drive your car, or park it on a public road, you could also be fined £100 (or more if the case goes to court) or have your car clamped, impounded or destroyed.  These rules apply in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland there are different penalties, including a £5,000 fine, up to six months imprisonment, and between six to eight points on your driving licence.  

Can the DVLA fine you for not having insurance? 

If you don’t have a valid car insurance policy, and you’re caught out, you will receive an Insurance Advisory Letter (IAL). This will go to the registered keeper of the car and it will warn them a fine will be issued from the DVLA unless they take action. 

This can happen even if you’re not driving the car, such as if it’s declared SORN but you haven’t parked it on private land.   

If you receive an IAL you will be given the following options: 

• If you don’t have insurance, you will need to declare it off road or buy car insurance. 

• If your car has been declared as SORN, you will need to contact the DVLA to show proof of this. 

• If you are insured and there has been a mistake, you can contact your insurer and ask it to check your records. 

What is the maximum fine I can get for driving without insurance?  

A fixed fine for driving without insurance starts at £300, or £100 for cars that have been declared SORN. 

There is no maximum fine and the amount will be decided by a court.    

Will driving without insurance go on my criminal record? 

If you’re caught driving without insurance, this will not be recorded on your criminal record. Although it is illegal, it’s not a crime where you would go to prison (apart from in Northern Ireland). 

You will receive an IN10 endorsement on your driving licence though, and this will remain there for four years. It will also push up the price of your future car insurance premiums, and it can make it hard to get car insurance altogether. You may need to go to a specialist provider. 

Is it always illegal to drive without car insurance? 

The only time you are allowed to drive without insurance is if you are driving on private land that can’t be accessed by the public. In any other circumstance you will need insurance in place.    

What if I forget to renew my car insurance policy?  

Forgetting to insure your car is not a valid excuse for driving without cover. Car insurers will contact you, usually the month before your policy is due to end, to remind you.  

Most policies auto-renew, unless you have requested for this not to happen. It’s also a good idea to set a diary note to remind you when to renew your policy. This is also the time to compare prices and premiums to make sure you’re still getting the best price for your insurance.  

How do the police know if you’re uninsured? 

The police can check if a car is insured by looking at the Motor Insurance Database (MID). This lists insured cars in the UK and information can be accessed by the police. 

They can also use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras so automatically check for insured vehicles.  

What should I do if I’m in an accident with an uninsured driver? 

Car accidents often happen when one driver is uninsured, or they don’t leave their details. The number one area in the UK for this is Leeds, followed by Bristol and Salford. 

Some insurers now offer an uninsured driver promise letting you protect your no-claims bonus if this happens. Your insurer may also waive the excess you would usually have paid.   

If you are in an accident with an uninsured driver, there are a few key things you can do to make the process easier and less stressful. They include the following: 

• Take the details of the other driver including their name and address and details about their car. 

• If the other driver doesn’t stop, or you’re unable to get these details you can use the askMID Lookup service. 

• If there are any witnesses, take their details. 

• Take as many photos, or videos, as you can as evidence of what has happened 

• Contact your insurer to report the incident.