Motor premium spike drives motorists to travel uninsured

Soaring insurance premiums are causing UK drivers to break the law by driving uninsured, new research from motor broker The Green Insurer revealed yesterday (14 December 2023).

The research, which surveyed 1,135 UK drivers aged 18 and over, showed that 7% of respondents admitted to having driven without insurance.

And 6% of drivers said they were likely to drive without insurance in the next 12 months because of rising motor policy costs – that increased to 16% among motorists aged 18 to 24, which commonly experience the highest premiums due to the risks associated with their experience and age.

“It’s perhaps understandable that motorists are suffering from the cost of living crisis, so want to cut outgoings, but we would never recommend driving without insurance,” The Green Insurer’s chief executive Paul Baxter said.

“Not only are uninsured motorists risking fines and the loss of their vehicles, but they will be unable to turn to an insurer for help in the event of an accident with another party.”

Premium rise

This came after new analysis from Consumer Intelligence for The Green Insurer revealed that the average car insurance premium rose by 66.5% in the year to 31 October 2023.

Consumer Intelligence’s latest Car Insurance Price Index, which was published on in October 2023, also revealed that premiums had risen by 22% in Q3 2023.

Drivers aged under 25 experienced the largest hit of any age group, with premiums increasing by 66.7% since August 2022.

The Green Insurer further revealed that out of those who had driven uninsured, 33% said it was not the first time they had done so.

Male motorists (9%) were twice as likely to have driven vehicles without insurance than female motorists (5%) and younger drivers (30%) were more likely to have driven uninsured compared to any other age group.

“The policies we are offering can make a big difference to motorists by helping to reduce premiums as a result of their more careful driving habits, which will also lead to lower fuel costs and carbon emissions,” Baxter said.