Saved from the scrapheap by CrushWatch
HPI CrushWatch claims to have helped finance and leasing companies recover more £67m of uninsured vehicles last year.
The initiative helps lenders reduce their losses by returning vehicles to their owners which otherwise would have been sold at auction or scrapped.
This figure is up from £56m in 2014, suggesting the number of cars being driven illegally is on the rise.
Working under the umbrella of the Finance and Leasing Association’s (FLA) Vehicle Recovery Scheme and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), HPI CrushWatch assists Law Enforcement Agencies identify if vehicles confiscated from uninsured drivers rightfully belong to a finance house.
The latest figures reveal that the top five models most commonly recovered were Vauxhall Astra, Ford Focus, Vauxhall Corsa, BWM 3 Series and Volkswagen Golf.
The Metropolitan Police alone reunited finance companies with £26,795,500 worth of assets in 2015.
Terry Hunt, Director of Frontline Services from the Metropolitan Police said, ‘By clamping down on uninsured drivers we are not only protecting legitimate motorists from the trauma of being involved in an accident with someone who won’t be able to provide any financial recompense, we are closing the net on organized criminals by denying them use of the road.’
Neil Hodson, deputy managing director of cap hpi, added, ‘The total value of the cars recovered really does illustrate the crucial role that HPI CrushWatch plays in the process of clamping down on uninsured drivers.’
