30 October 2007
New, tougher, car insurance rules could catch out thousands of drivers when they come into force next year, the AA said yesterday.
As of New Year's Day, the deadline for insurers to register customers' details on the Motor Insurance Database has been halved from 14 days to seven.
The rule change was introduced in an attempt to crack down on the problem of uninsured drivers - although the AA said that it might result in innocent drivers who are slightly late in renewing their premiums being caught out.
Insurance Relations Director at AA Insurance John Close added: "Customers can no longer delay renewing their insurance, even by a day - if they do, they risk being stopped by police for driving without insurance.
"Police use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology which instantly cross-checks registration numbers against the MID. If a checked vehicle is not on the database the equipment alerts police who can then stop it.
"If the driver can't prove that he or she is covered, the car could be confiscated."
Authorities estimate that one in 20 drivers on British roads is currently uninsured - and that the annual cost from accidents involving these motorists runs to £500 million per year.