More than 1,400 uninsured cars seized in Northern Ireland in 2022 ahead of new campaign

Superintendent Gary Bush commented: “Our preliminary figures show that between January 1 and November 15 this year we have already impounded 1,408 vehicles for being driven without insurance on Northern Ireland’s roads.” Of the seized vehicles, 1,063 were subsequently insured, with recovery and any storage fees paid before being returned to the owner.

A driver found will receive an on-the-spot fine of £200 and six penalty points on their licence.

The remaining 345 cars were surrendered and were either disposed of by shredding and scrapping or auctioned off based on their market value. Superintendent Bush continued: “At one end of the spectrum, we found drivers who assumed their insurance would be a vehicle to recover or that their comprehensive insurance policy covered driving other vehicles.

“Other drivers have been found to be using their car for business or reward purposes, with some ‘simply forgetting’ to renew their policies, so it’s vital that all drivers check they have the appropriate insurance cover before they hit the road.” At the other end of the spectrum, some of the uninsured drivers we found were those who had committed other traffic offenses or were criminals involved in illegal activities. “Any police officer can stop a vehicle and conduct a number of spot checks. on the side of the road to see if it is insured. If they reasonably suspect that there is no insurance coverage, they can impound the vehicle.

“This vehicle will be delivered to the pound and will not be released until the owner presents proof of valid insurance. At this stage the owner will have to pay an exemption fee of £150 per car – more for larger vehicles – and a fee of up to £20 for each day it is impounded. “Of course, the owner still faces an automatic fine of £200 and six penalty points on their licence, or whatever penalty the court may impose for any other criminal offence. “We don’t even have to stop the vehicle for the process to be used. If we see a car being driven without insurance, we can track it down and impound it wherever we find it. If the vehicle is not claimed and the release fee is not paid within two weeks, we have the right to sell the vehicle. “These are significant financial penalties and should convince offenders that it is not worth the risk.”

Superintendent Bush added: “Our message is very clear. Check you have the right insurance before you hit the road. If we find an uninsured driver, the vehicle will be impounded on the spot and they will face the full force of the law.”