Car insurance cover - crackdown on uninsured motorists

More than 200 cars have been seized and disposed of in Cumbria following a crackdown on drivers without car insurance cover.

Operation Takeaway, began in October after the scheme was successfully piloted in West Cumbria. Cumbria Police joined forces with a number of organisations including the Fire Service and the Association of British Insurers.

Drivers without car insurance cover are faced having their cars crushed, and so far 225 vehicles have been disposed of.

The operation has targeted persistent criminals, drink drivers, banned drivers and even those who have failed to declare their medical conditions to the DVLA or an insurance company.

It is estimated that currently one in 20 motorists drive on the UK's roads with inadequate car insurance cover.

The cost to the victims involved in accidents with uninsured drivers is £500 million pounds each year, which increases the average car insurance premium for those that are insured by 6% or £30.

*A replacement car can normally be arranged under one of the following conditions: (1) Comprehensive policyholders – a replacement car may be available under the terms of your insurance policy. Please check your policy details for more information. (2) Non fault accident – where we have the name, car registration number and insurance details of the person who caused the accident, we can supply a replacement car. This is done on a credit hire basis which means the costs for this service will be passed onto the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. We may not be able to arrange a replacement car where we are unable to get an admission of liability from their insurance company, or where the driver is untraceable or uninsured. (3) Repair garage – if your car is booked in for repairs following an accident, the repair garage may be able to provide a replacement car (subject to availability).