Car insurance: There's no excuse for driving without the required cover

They risk an unlimited fine, up to eight penalty points on their licence and having their vehicle seized and destroyed.

Despite this, many drivers think they’ll be able to explain away their lack of insurance when dealing with the police.

Research amongst recently- retired traffic officers has shed light on some of the outrageous excuses offered by uninsured drivers when they are stopped.

These range from “the car drives perfectly well without it” to “it was my husband’s car. He is dead but he is still insured”. One motorist was driving a Lamborghini and claimed they were covered on a third-party extension of their insurance policy for a Nissan Micra, which when investigated was shown to be wholly insufficient.

A study by Churchill Insurance found an astonishing 38% of drivers without cover didn’t realise they were uninsured, while in 13% of cases, drivers appeared to have deliberately driven without insurance.

Steve Barrett, of Churchill, commented: “Whilst some of the excuses given might raise a smile, it’s a serious offence that can often hit the pockets of motorists who comply with the law. If someone is prepared to run the risk of being caught driving uninsured, then it makes you wonder what other risks they’re prepared to take. This is why we give our customers uninsured driver cover as standard”.

He continued: “It shows the need for education about the risks of driving without insurance, particularly for tourists and international drivers.

“Many motorists claim ignorance as an excuse but it is up to everyone getting behind the wheel to make sure they are protected as it is the driver’s responsibility to know the laws.”

Insurance risk for modified cars