What happens if I drive without insurance?

For people who drive vehicles on public roads.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

Third party insurance is the legal minimum. If you're caught driving without the right insurance, police can give you a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points.

In court, you could get an unlimited fine and a driving ban.
Police can seize and sometimes destroy the vehicle.
You can be penalised even if the car is insured but you're not covered to drive it.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

£300 and 6 points
Unlimited fine in court
Vehicle can be seized

Penalties at a glance

Situation	What can happen
Stopped by police	£300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points
Case goes to court	Unlimited fine and possible driving ban
Your vehicle	Police can seize it, and in some cases destroy it

You can be penalised even if the car itself is insured but you are not covered to drive it. For example, borrowing a friend's car when you are not named on their policy, or when your own policy does not let you drive other cars.

What insurance is legally required

You must have motor insurance to drive on UK roads. Third party insurance is the legal minimum. It covers damage or injury you cause to other people, vehicles, animals or property. It does not pay to repair your own vehicle.

You can be fined even if you are not driving

The law also covers the vehicle sitting still. If a vehicle is kept on a road or in a public place, it must be insured. This is called continuous insurance enforcement.

If your vehicle is not insured, the registered keeper (the person on the log book) could:

be fined £100
have the vehicle clamped, impounded or destroyed
face court action with a maximum fine of £1,000

You still have to get insurance on top of any penalty.

The way out: if you are not using the vehicle and keep it off the road, declare a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) with DVLA. A vehicle with a SORN does not need insurance.

Vehicles between keepers, or marked "in trade" with DVLA by a motor trader, are also exempt. A vehicle for your own personal use cannot be marked "in trade".

These rules on vehicles that are not being driven are for Great Britain. Northern Ireland has different rules, so check nidirect.

How to check you are covered

Check your policy documents name you as a driver for that vehicle.
Check the dates. Insurance often ends on a set renewal date.
Use askMID, the Motor Insurance Database, to check whether a vehicle shows as insured.

Why a ban can follow

Six penalty points is a big hit. If you passed your driving test in the last 2 years, your licence is cancelled (revoked) if you get 6 or more points. That means one uninsured driving penalty is enough to lose it.

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Common questions

Do I need insurance if my car is not being driven?

Yes, unless you declare it off the road with a SORN. The registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle could be fined £100, or up to £1,000 in court.

How can I check if a vehicle is insured?

You can check if a vehicle is insured on askMID, the Motor Insurance Database.

Can a new driver lose their licence for driving without insurance?

Yes. Driving uninsured can mean 6 penalty points, and your licence is revoked if you get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test.

What does third party insurance cover?

It covers damage or injury you cause to any other person, vehicle, animal or property. It does not cover repairs to your own vehicle.

Official sources

1.Vehicle insurancewww.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance
2.Driving without insurancewww.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-without-insurance
3.Uninsured vehicleswww.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/uninsured-vehicles
4.Penalty points for new driverswww.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/new-drivers

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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