Owners of uninsured cars without SORN should get covered

Date: 20/6/2011

The registered keepers of vehicles that are either not insured or do not have a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) will be sent warning letters from today (June 20th 2011) under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement law.

In an effort to reduce the number of people getting behind the wheel when not adequately covered, the new legislation has made it an offence to own a motor that is not subject to an insurance policy or SORN.

Previously, a vehicle only needed to be covered if it was being driven.

Should Britons not renew or take out an insurance policy, they will first receive a reminder from the Department for Transport and if this is not acted upon they will be subject to a fixed penalty notice.

Failure to comply after this point could result in the car being seized by the police and subsequently destroyed.

Graeme Trudgill, Head of Corporate Affairs at the British Insurance Brokers' Association, said: "The enforcement of the new law is a bold move to tackle uninsured driving and will make the roads safer."

He advises Britons who receive a warning letter but believe they are covered to check the Motor Insurance Database or speak with their policy provider to check that their details have been recorded correctly.

Posted by Mary Treen