Driving without valid insurance not only puts others at risk but also carries severe penalties, yet many people continue to take the gamble. New figures have now identified the areas of the UK where this law-breaking behaviour is most prevalent, with Birmingham standing out as a major hotspot.
Motorists caught driving without insurance face having to pay for any damage out of their own pocket, a fine of up to £300, and six to eight penalty points on their licence. Should the matter be escalated to court, offenders could receive an unlimited fine and even lose their licence altogether.
Despite the harsh consequences, tens of thousands continue to drive without cover. Data released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) highlights regional trends, and Birmingham features heavily – with five of the UK’s 15 worst postcodes for uninsured driving located within the city.
The MIB’s analysis, which draws on two years of claims data, confirms that the Midlands is disproportionately affected. In addition to Birmingham, areas such as Wolverhampton, Walsall and Solihull also appear among the worst-offending locations.
In a statement on its website, the MIB noted that in 2023 alone, more than 130,000 vehicles were seized in cooperation with police forces. In the current year, that figure is already nearing 115,000.
“Each year, thousands of people are injured or killed by uninsured drivers and without the correct insurance,” the MIB says.
“Evidence suggests that uninsured vehicles are consistently used to conduct wider criminal activity, and are more likely to be involved in a collision, so by targeting uninsured drivers we can help deter criminal activity and remove their means of transport and make our roads safer.”
Aside from the West Midlands, other regions with high numbers of uninsured motorists include parts of London, the Thames Valley, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and Northumbria.
The statistics have been made public as MIB teams up with police across the country for Operation Drive Insured, a one-week initiative focused on tackling illegal driving and raising public awareness.
According to the MIB, someone in the UK falls victim to either an uninsured or hit-and-run driver every 20 minutes. In total, an estimated 300,000 uninsured vehicles are believed to be on British roads daily, a problem that is thought to cost the wider economy as much as £2.4 billion every year.
Top 15 UK Postcode Hotspots for Uninsured Driving
(Based on MIB data from the past two years)
B11, Birmingham
B21, Birmingham
DA17, Bexley
WV2, Wolverhampton
NE29, North Tyneside
HP12, Buckinghamshire
B18, Birmingham
SK1, Stockport
B8, Birmingham
WS4, Walsall
CV7, Solihull
BL7, Bolton
B33, Birmingham
DN8, Doncaster
MK7, Milton Keynes