Number of uninsured drivers caught dropped ‘significantly’ in 2018

The number of people caught driving without insurance fell by nearly a third last year, new figures show.

Data seen by RAC Insurance shows 79,713 uninsured drivers were caught in 2018, compared with 118,698 during 2017.

Some 872 people caught were aged under 17, meaning they were not old enough to have driving lessons on public roads.

The youngest offenders in 2018 were two 11-year-olds.

The figures were obtained in a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Anyone caught driving without insurance can be given a fixed penalty of £600 and six penalty points.

If a case goes to court, offenders face an unlimited fine and disqualification from driving.

RAC Insurance director Mark Godfrey said: “It can only be good news the number of people driving without insurance has dropped significantly in the last year and is now at its lowest in at least seven years.

“This should help to keep premiums down for every driver and we hope this continues in the years ahead.”