Nearly 160,000 uninsured cars seized on UK roads

Nearly 160,000 uninsured vehicles were seized on UK roads last year — the highest number in 17 years — highlighting rising uninsured-driving risks that could affect the insurance sector. The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) estimates about 300,000 cars are driven daily without cover and puts the economic cost at about £1bn a year (victim compensation, emergency services, medical costs, lost productivity). The trend (a ~20% rise in seizures over five years) and associated secondary offences and fraud (including fronting) may increase claims uncertainty, compliance and enforcement costs for insurers, and could feed into higher premiums or reserve needs. Operation Scalis and police activity in hotspot postcodes (notably Birmingham) aim to curb the problem, but persistent affordability issues for drivers are a key driver of non‑compliance.