Almost 160,000 uninsured cars were seized across the country in 2025, the highest amount in 17 years.
According to the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), the cost of car insurance is one of the main reasons why drivers were breaking the law, with estimates that around 300,000 cars are being driven every day on the UK’s roads without insurance.
Uninsured driving is estimated to cost the UK economy up to £1billion every year - which includes compensation for victims, emergency services, medical costs and loss of productivity.
The MIB believes that last year, someone in the UK was affected by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers every 20 minutes, with one person suffering life-altering injuries each day.
One of the most prolific areas for insured cars is Birmingham, which has five out of the top 15 postcodes in the UK for accidents involving uninsured drivers. These postcodes are B25, B18, B66, B21 and B35.
Other postcodes in the top 10 included: Thurrock's RM19 in Essex; PE1 in Peterborough; M18 in Manchester; Havering's RM1 in London; and Belfast's BT17. In one police operation in April 2026, the West Midlands Police force seized 16 vehicles for being uninsured - including a Lamborghini.
To tackle the rising number of uninsured drivers, the MIB, in conjunction with police forces across the UK, have created a road safety initiative called ‘Operation Scalis’. As part of this operation, uninsured vehicles are taken off the road immediately, preventing drivers from continuing their journey and putting members of the public at risk.
The MIB states that uninsured vehicles and their drivers are more likely to be involved in secondary offences, such as driving while disqualified or under the influence of drink and drugs.
The West Midlands Police force carry out weekly operations to target those breaking the law, with offenders potentially receiving a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points on their licence.