CIE regulations 'to be enforced in spring'

Date: 13/1/2011

From spring, all vehicle owners will need to ensure that their motors are either insured or that they have obtained a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) to cover them.

Under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) rules, it will no longer only be an offence to drive a car, van or motorcycle without cover, but also to own one, even if it is not used.

In addition, a new fixed penalty will be imposed on any person who does not act on the official reminder that their insurance policy has expired.

Should the offences continue, the vehicle will be seized and destroyed.

The new rules have come about as a result of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Motor Insurers' Bureau's combined efforts to cut down on the number of uninsured drivers on UK roads.

According to government estimates 1.5 million motorists drive without insurance, costing the country £500 million annually and pushing up the cost of cover for other drivers by an additional £30 per policy.

Police officers currently seize some 1,500 uninsured vehicles every week.

Posted by Mary Treen