Have you had your car impounded for no insurance? You’re not alone as 1 in 25 drivers on Britain’s roads are uninsured. Drivers caught without cover will need to take out specific impounded car insurance policy in order to release their vehicle.

impounded car insurance

Driving without a valid insurance policy is against the law; most people know that and the vast majority of drivers make sure that they’re properly covered before taking to the roads.

Every year though, thousands of drivers are caught by the police driving without insurance. There will always be a percentage of offenders who had a genuine reason for not being insured, having forgotten to renew their policy or not realised that they weren’t covered for that particular vehicle.

Most offenders do tend to be young males though, often having just recently passed their driving test. It’s not a coincidence that the majority of uninsured drivers fall into the category that insurance companies charge the highest premiums; with quotes of £2,000 and above being common.

For some of these new and young drivers the fines and penalties are worth risking when faced with the ever increasing cost of taking out their first policy. According to research carried out by The AA the average fine handed out to uninsured drivers last year was just £299.

In comparison to the cost of insurance, the risk of these relatively small fines can seem like a worthwhile risk to those who don’t mind breaking the law in order to save money.

Be warned though, that the penalties can be much more severe than a small fine and a slap on the wrist. You could be forced to pay fines of up to £5,000, have your car impounded and even be banned from driving.

What is the minimum level of cover that I need?

By law you must have at least third party liability insurance. This means that if you’re involved in an accident, your insurance will only pay out for damage caused to somebody else’s vehicle or their property and for any injuries that you might have caused. Your own vehicle and belongings won’t be covered but you will be driving legally.

How many points will I receive for driving without insurance?

In most cases drivers that are caught behind the wheel without car insurance usually receive 6 penalty points on their license however under certain circumstances 8 points can be handed out.

Remember, once you reach 12 points you will have your license revoked and you will be banned from driving for a set period of time.

Your driver’s license will also be endorsed with an IN10 conviction which must be disclosed to future insurance companies and will have a major affect on the cost of your insurance for several years.

It’s not uncommon for IN10 insurance to cost drivers hundreds or even thousands of pounds more than they would pay if they had a clean driver’s license.

How much are the fines for driving without insurance?

The maximum fine that can be handed out for driving without insurance is £5,000 and the minimum fine that you’ll receive has recently been increased from a £200 to a £300 fixed penalty notice.

Can my car be impounded for having no insurance?

If you’re caught driving without insurance it is very likely that the police will seize and impound your vehicle. It will be confiscated on the spot and taken from you to be stored at the compound.

You won’t be able to get your car back until you have paid all outstanding fines and fees. You will also need to provide proof that you have taken out an impounded car insurance policy. It’s worth noting that insurance for impounded cars can be notoriously difficult to arrange because there are a limited number of insurance providers that will offer cover.