The MIB reports that uninsured driving costs the UK economy £1 billion annually, encompassing compensation for victims, emergency services, medical expenses, and lost productivity. The bureau also stated that someone in the UK is affected by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers every 20 minutes. Uninsured vehicles and their drivers are more likely to be involved in secondary offences such as driving while disqualified or under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Over the past five years, the number of cars taken off the roads has risen by nearly 20%, from 132,435 to 158,594. Hotspot areas for accidents involving uninsured drivers include Birmingham, which has five of the top 15 postcodes in the UK: B25, B18, B66, B21, and B35. Other postcodes in the top 10 include Thurrock's RM19 in Essex, PE1 in Peterborough, M18 in Manchester, Havering's RM1 in London, and Belfast's BT17.
In a recent police operation earlier this month, West Midlands Police took 16 vehicles off the road for being uninsured, including a Lamborghini, a Mercedes, and a BMW. A few days later, another Lamborghini was seized in Birmingham for lack of insurance. During stops, officers found several empty gas canisters with mouthpieces in one vehicle and noted faults like bald tyres, illegally tinted windows, and broken seat belts in others.
The cost of car insurance is a key factor for those flouting the law, according to the MIB. This has led to 'fronting,' where older family members insure a young person's car to reduce premiums, a type of fraud that leaves vehicles and drivers improperly covered. Operation Scalis, run by the MIB with police forces nationwide, aims to tackle the rising issue of uninsured drivers.