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The DVLA in conjunction with the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) and the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) are reminding drivers that a new law to be rolled out in late Spring will mean that they must keep their vehicle insured unless they have notified the DVLA that is it is being kept off the road.

Information about the new law is being distributed with all V11 tax renewal forms from March in addition to the guidance and video available now on Directgov.

David Evans, DVLA’s corporate affairs director, said:

“We know that uninsured drivers are a menace on our roads and add around £30 to honest motorists’ premiums.

“It is vitally important that motorists understand the change and how it will impact on them. That is why we have added new information to Directgov which offers clear advice to help motorists understand the new rules.”

Neil Drane, MIB’s head of motor insurance database services said:

“The change in law is a stepping up of enforcement activity, so that not only those vehicles driven without insurance will be caught. Now the registered keeper must make sure that their vehicle is insured all the time. And if it is, then they need not be concerned. The DVLA and MID will be systematically checked, so that the levels of uninsured driving are reduced even further.”

Graeme Trudgill, BIBA’s head of corporate affairs said:

“Continuous Insurance Enforcement will help reduce the £500 million burden on innocent motorists caused by uninsured drivers, vehicle keepers should ensure they stay insured or SORN their vehicle if it is laid up, vehicle keepers can always check at askmid.com or speak to their insurance broker or company if they have any doubt.”

For more information go to:

www.direct.gov.uk/stayinsured
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Sorry to be cynical but this seems to be imposing on all the legitimate road users at the expense of the (relatively) few scumbags.

I suspect the pros outweigh the cons, but I bet premiums don't come down.

I think it's outrageous. Insurance is only required to indemnify you if you do damage to others or their property while using the vehicle.
There can be many valid reasons for letting your insurance lapse for a while while you don't use it.

This is just lazy "enforcement" that will criminalise law abiding citizens but probably do little to deter those that already don't play by the rules.

I'm guessing this will just be yet another way to make money out of us - both by the government/police and the insurance industry.

Hi all,

This is another excuse to raise my insurance premiums Also, most drivers/riders insure their vehicles anyway So, the government have spent millions designing another paper system too tell people what we already know Maybe they should spent more time actually tracking down the 2,000,000 uninsured vehicles in this country. Fine the guilty, crush the vehicles and make it so driving without insurance really doesn't pay

Government think most people are idiot's obviously......

Most of the people who ride/drive uninsured do it in vehicles which are not registered to them, very often registered as having been scrapped. So yes, the people who will be caught will be the ones who just forgot the insurance had run out as it was winter etc.

The best law that was brought in was the one where they can seize and crush cars which are untaxed and/or uninsured on the road. Except that the people who drive those always know where to get another one!

Yet another waste of the law abiding citizen's time and another civil 'service' to pay for.

Just another bump up for this thread, seeing as the topic is of relevance!

The Government has outlined new laws for all vehicles not registered through SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) to be insured.

From spring, all vehicles must have at least Third Party Insurance. This applies to motorbikes, motor homes and classic cars which may only be used a couple of times a year under temporary insurance. Read more

Failure to insure a car which is not SORN registered could result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Just had that thru from morethan in an email.

So does this mean 'laid up' insurance is to be no more? It used to be like a really cheap third party insurance

I guess not Tim - I'm sure they'll still offer it to insure your Sorned vehicle.

The whole thing really does wind me up though - based on an incorrect assumption that if you don't have it insured for a while you are using it uninsured on the road ... an assumption that seems to contravene the European bill of human rights that states you are assumed innocent until proved guilty

D-Rider wrote:European bill of human rights that states you are assumed innocent until proved guilty

Does it? I thought it was british law that said that - before the Euro stuff took over and made our legal system meaningless.

Yes it most certainly does - I know that was a principle of British law but:

• A) I'm not sure it is actually stated anywhere
  B) It no longer seems to be the case with a number of new pieces of legislation

Whereas in Article 6, clause 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights it is explicitly stated

http://www.hri.org/docs/ECHR50.html

Though reading it more carefully .....

Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.

..... it appears that only those actually charged of a criminal offence are afforded this right .... I guess the rest of us can be presumed guilty as long as we are not charged with a criminal offence .... or am I just getting increasingly cynical ....

iirc it is considered part of Habeus corpus

BUT

with the advent of speed cameras, and the infamous prove it case - someone stated that they had the right to remain silent, and as there was an inferred innocence until proven - the law was changed....

Bugger! now i have to work out which is sorned and which is insured which means finding paperwork thats filed away (ie lost in the melee)