Driving Uninsured

ollym_3

I cancelled my insurance with More Th>n in advance. It was set to end on 3/3/07. I forgot I had done this and didn't take up any new insurance (I only drive about once a month so it's not in my mind as much).

Anyway on the 06/03/07 I drove from Birmingham to Oxford and 07/03/07 I drove back. It was only on my return journey I realised I was uninsured. It was a last minute journey and it totally escaped my mind to do it.

I know ignorance isn't an excuse at all and I'm not trying to make one but what is the process here. I wasn't pulled over but have I been caught by some sort of camera and if so what do I say? Should I be proactive and call the Department for transport, or shut up and wait and see?

Zagu

When did you cancel?

Have a look here.

DavidHM

Say nothing, they'll come for you if they want to.

Get insurance now so that if you do end up with a court date, you'll be able to provide that in mitigation.

Unless and until you get that summons (it's not impossible but it's unlikely) I wouldn't do anything else.

Alfie_E

ollym wrote: »

…have I been caught by some sort of camera…?

While there are speed cameras, there aren’t “driver isn’t insured” cameras. Just because the registered keep isn’t insured, you can’t infer from that the driver wasn’t. It could have been anyone, from a friend to your new personal chauffeur. I don’t think they would even be entitled to demand to know how was driving, when there isn’t any reason to believe an offence has been committed. If you’ve been caught speeding, then, of course, you have a problem.

Matt_Nixon

Sorry Alfie there are!

In my area they have pips cameras on all major routes, these ANPR and are linked to the police.

plane_boy2000

The police do have cameras which can cross refer to the police / insurance database, however unless you have commited some other crime such as speeding you have nothing to worry about. Insurance takes many forms for example a trader may have a policy that allows him to drive any car as part of his job so although the car was not insured he would not hav ebeen breaking the law.

Happychappy

plane_boy2000 wrote: »

The police do have cameras which can cross refer to the police / insurance database, however unless you have commited some other crime such as speeding you have nothing to worry about. Insurance takes many forms for example a trader may have a policy that allows him to drive any car as part of his job so although the car was not insured he would not hav ebeen breaking the law.

So what about the offence of driving an uninsured vehicle on the road and the police go to sieze the vehicle which they are empowered to do? the owner cannot produce insurance or name someone who was driving who had insurance to cover them? I dont follow your arguement.

There is reasonable suspicion to beleive a serious offence of no insurance has been committed and it is up to the driver/owner to prove it hasnt. The police have evidence that vehicle was not subject of an insurance policy, whether the driver was not the owner and was insured third party to drive any other vehicle, is something for the owner to put forward as a defence.

The insurance database as well as VEL, MOT and driver licence details are all held on the PNC and linked into the ANPR cameras which activate and record the details.

Simple, but effective, however, whether the force has enough manpower to follow up activations is extremely doubtful and I would imagine would not be followed up.

mrbadexample

Matt_Nixon wrote: »

Sorry Alfie there are!

In my area they have pips cameras on all major routes, these ANPR and are linked to the police.

But they'll only identify the car, not the driver. The driver could have insurance on a vehicle that is not insured by the owner / registered keeper.

So don't panic OP, no one's coming after you. Best get some insurance before you venture out again, eh? :rolleyes:

ttoli

it may have changed since i left the Met 4 years ago,(Borough Control room) but we were only allowed to (officially!) disclose insurance details, if the driver were being processed for an offence

BargainHunterCat

Don't dob yourself in because then the police may be required to take action against you if you tell them. Just sort out your insurance if you haven't already & hope for the best. I doubt you'll be in trouble unless you were caught speeding or for some other offence.
I worked in insurance for a number of years & had a client who (wrongly) thought she had to report all accidents to the police so she went to her local police station & explained what happened. They promptly booked her for driving without due care & atention! So much for being too honest...

holdengrey

I would not worry too much about someone coming to see you.

You should worry more about the consequences if you had been involved in an accident whilst uninsured.