A change in law announced today means that it is now legally required for anyone that owns a car, van, motorbike, motorhome or truck to have insurance at all times or to declare the vehicle off the road.

The DVLA will compare their records with the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to identify keepers of uninsured vehicles and those caught out could face, implications for drivers or employers include:

• A fixed penalty of £100
• Their vehicle being clamped, seized and destroyed
• A court prosecution with a maximum fine of £1000

The official launch of the scheme will take place today (23rd May 2011).

A national television advertisement endorsed by the DVLA will break on terrestrial and satellite television channels this evening.

Uninsured driving is a serious and costly issue. It is estimated that uninsured and untraced drivers kill 160 people and injure 23,000 every year. Uninsured driving also adds around £30 a year to every motorist's insurance premium amounting to more than £400m a year in additional premiums. There are currently a staggering 1.4 million uninsured vehicles in the UK.

As of late June 2011, offending motorists will receive a letter warning that their vehicle appears to be uninsured and that they will be fined unless they take action.

These new measures are in addition to the powers the police already have to seize an uninsured vehicle from the road and fining the driver.

This gives yet another reason for Fleet Risk Management to be taken seriously by any organisation that allows the driving of grey fleet or any form of cash for car.

Contact us at Business Driver's for details of how Risktraker© can help.