MIB figures shows drop in uninsured young drivers

New figures from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) show that the number of 17-20 year olds estimated to be driving without insurance has decreased by half over the last three years.

The MIB estimates that there are now around 125,000 uninsured drivers in the 17-20 year old age bracket, compared to around 250,000 in 2008.

The MIB used claims data to work out the figures, and there are still around 1.2 million uninsured drivers in the UK.

The fall in young uninsured drivers is due to better road policing and the introduction of the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) law last year.

The CIE scheme cross-checks the DVLA database with the Motor Insurance Database. Anyone who appears to have no insurance will receive a warning letter, followed by a series of escalating penalties. 

MIB chief executive Ashton West said: “Whilst the overall number of uninsured motorists in the UK is decreasing and there is a very welcome drop amongst young drivers, there is still much work to be done. 

“There are more than a million drivers under the age of 20 on our roads, and having insurance in place is crucial to protect inexperienced young drivers and other motorists. Uninsured driving adds £30 per policy per year to the cost of insurance premiums, resulting in a £400m a year cost to the industry. ”

The bureau said that telematics could help lower premiums for young drivers.

Road safety minister Mike Penning said: “The fall in uninsured driving is good news, thanks largely to the efforts of the police and more recently the introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement.

“But we cannot be complacent. Uninsured drivers are a danger on our roads and that is why the government will continue to tackle uninsured drivers and leave them with nowhere to hide.”