27,000 uninsured cars seized this year

New analysis by Churchill Car Insurance reveals at least 27,688 cars have been seized by UK police forces in 2015 because the vehicle was uninsured. London is the uninsured vehicle capital of the UK, with the Met Police having seized 9,935 cars already this year because they were not insured. This is twice the number of the second highest constabulary, West Yorkshire, where 4125 cars have been seized.

Once cars have been seized by the police they may be sold at auction. Police forces across the UK report 1,892 seized cars have already been auctioned this year, raising £1,085,636.56. However, not all vehicles are sold off once seized; more than 6736 vehicles have been crushed this year, generating a scrap value of £643,891.

Churchill Car Insurance’s analysis reveals the highest price secured for a car auctioned off in 2015 to date was for a vehicle seized by Warwickshire Police, which sold for £18,874.00. However, this price pales in comparison to the price secured for a vehicle seized by the Met Police in 2013, which sold for £217,933.00.

Table One: Uninsured car seizures across the UK

Source: Churchill Car Insurance’s analysis of UK Police Force data, 2015

Steve Barrett, head of Car Insurance at Churchill Insurance, said, ‘This analysis exposes just the tip of the uninsured iceberg. Thousands upon thousands of motorists across the country are driving without insurance, which is truly terrifying. We need an urgent examination of the penalties for uninsured motoring, introducing sentences that are a real deterrent and that will keep these irresponsible motorists off the road. Motorists driving without insurance are not just those driving around in old bangers, they are people driving luxury vehicles worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.’

‘Drivers without car insurance drive up premiums for all other motorists. Those with a car insurance policy indirectly cover the cost of compensating those involved in accidents with uninsured drivers. For an everyday motorist to be covering the costs of a driver that can afford a Ferrari is a travesty. The penalties for insured motoring should be far higher and money generated from increased fines should be pumped into covering the costs of uninsured drivers.’

The analysis also looked at the number of luxury cars that had been seized because they weren’t insured. Police forces have seized marque car brands including Ferraris, Bentleys and Lamborghinis. Already in 2015 police forces have seized over 40 Porsches, 10 Bentleys and 1767 BMWs. The Met Police consistently lead the way when it comes to confiscating luxury vehicles because they are not insured. In 2015 already the Met has seized 810 BMWS, 386 Audis, 21 Porsches, 5 Bentleys, 2 Lamborghinis and a Ferrari.

Table two: Number of luxury vehicles seized by UK Police Forces because they were not insured

Source: Churchill Car Insurance’s analysis of UK Police Force data, 2015

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