90,000 drivers were caught without insurance last year - here are the areas with the most offenders

Almost 90,000 motorists in England and Wales were caught driving without insurance last year.

Government figures show that across the two nations 89,818 drivers were caught without insurance in 2019 - equivalent to 1.59 for every 1,000 people - but revealed significant regional variations.

West Yorkshire topped the list of shame as nearly 5,991 drivers in the region caught without car insurance. Per capita, that makes the region the worst for offending, with 2.58 cases for every 1,000 people - 77 per cent about the average.

Bedfordshire was close behind, with 2.34 offences for every 1,000 people, ahead of Lincolnshire, with 2.26 per 1,000.

The ‘little’ lies that could leave you without car insurance

At the opposite end of the scale, Sussex saw a rate of 0.71 per 1,000 despite a 34 per cent increase in offences.

Kent saw the worst increase in offending, jumping from 28th on the list of shame in 2018 to eight in 2019, with a 33 per cent rise in cases.

10 worst regions for uninsured drivers (per 1,000) 2019

West Yorkshire
Bedfordshire
Lincolnshire
Metropolitan (Greater London)
Northamptonshire
Gwent
Humberside
Kent
Lancashire
Norfolk

Driving a car without insurance against third-party risk is a criminal offence and carries a fixed penalty of £300 and six points on your licence. If the case goes to court, offenders can be hit with a driving ban and unlimited fine. It also leaves innocent drivers at risk of having to claim on their own policies if they are involved in a collision with an uninsured driver.

Across England and Wales, the number of infringements dropped but in 2019 it still remained the fourth most common offence behind speeding, licensing offences and failing to present identification.

If police catch you without insurance you can expect a minimum £300 fine and six penalty points (Photo: Shutterstock)

Gerry Bucke, general manager of Adrian Flux, which compiled the data, said: “As a very serious offence, it is shocking that driving without insurance was revealed to be the fourth most common motoring offence in 2019.

“In fact, it’s against the law to drive a vehicle on public roads without insurance and if you are caught doing so, you could receive a hefty fine or worse. Being properly covered ensures the safety and protection of all road users. This is why it is vital that drivers ensure they are appropriately insured.”

The report found that drivers under 40 were most likely to be caught without insurance, with three quarters (74.2 per cent) of all offenders aged 39 or under and 30-39-year-olds the most likely to offend. It also found that male drivers were responsible for more than 8 in 10 uninsured motoring offences in 2019.