26 January 2009
New measures announced by the Department for Transport will make it an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, not just to drive it.
The move has been welcomed by the Automobile Association (AA), which claims the warning system being proposed is something to be applauded.
Its head of public affairs Paul Watters explained that drivers who fail to obtain or renew their insurance will receive a warning letter before they are fined.
However, he acknowledged that there may be some "bureaucratic, database type of issues" that arise if people are away on holiday and do not receive the letters, for example.
"There is a need once this kicks in, for publicity to remind drivers not to ignore any paperwork and to keep their records up to date and renew their insurance promptly," he remarked.
Under the new proposals, drivers who fail to insure their vehicle after receiving a £100 fine, regardless of whether or not the fine has been paid, could have their car seized or destroyed.
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