I was shocked by this too - especially as I have paid out about 8 grand in insurance premiums over the last 10 years...

it looks like about 1k of that was because 1 in 20 c*nts don't have insurance... I heard that in central london the number is more like 1 in 4 have no mot/insurance/license

Even more shocking is that nearly all the minicabs in london don't have insurance for carrying passengers... apparently anything older than a 'M' plate cannot even get minicab insurance - which, if you live in London is frightening because a large majority are E reg Nissan Bluebirds and similar!

rapiddescent

Just thought I'd add a further comment about lynching those who drive without insurance. Although generally speaking those that *knowingly* drive without insurance should be strung up by the short and curlies - it is possible to unknowingly drive without insurance...

A few christmas's ago, when I was without car, I arrived by taxi at my sisters house for an evenings drinking with my sis and mother (who was visiting from Suffolk). As I walked in the door, my mother says hello and promptly asks me to take her car to the off-licence to get some more wine. Having been a named driver on her car insurance before, I didn't bat an eyelid, but still asked her "I am still insured on your car aren't I?". Mother responds "Of course you are dear". I proceed to the offie and get loads of booze (still sober mind!). Whilst on the way back, I get pulled for a defective headlamp (doh!). Copper gives me 2 producers (1 for the headlamp, 1 for me to show doccies). When I get back to my sisters house, I ask my mother "I am definitely insured on your car aren't I? Because I've been pulled by the Police and have got a producer". Mother replies "Of course you are, on *your* insurance". "Mum I haven't got a freakin car, so how can I be insured!!!". "oh dear, will you get into trouble?" she says...

To cut a long story short, I went to the Police station, explained the situation and nothing further happened. I was very lucky.

So although I absolutely abhor people who knowingly drive without insurance, if some of the penalties people have suggested above were in force I would have a criminal record, done some prison time, would have lost my job and been in a very bad way. All for being stupid enough to believe my mother. Who happens to be Head of English for a school in Suffolk.

Next time someone says "Yeah, you're insured", think seriously about asking to see their insurance documents.

I agree here with what everyone saying. Not sure about removing the plates though, cos surely they'll just go and swipe someone else's, and when they get pulled over next time you'll probably start getting stuff through the post.

I lived in the US for a couple of years (pre-Scoooby turbo, dammit!) and there you get new license plates when you buy a car, new or secondhand, so doesn't really make much difference. I think there's an even bigger problem with driving w/o insurance, as most of the your insurance cost goes to pay for medical bills if you injure anyone.

You do have to carry your licence in your car with you at all times, and also produce your insurance. If not, you're subject to an on the spot fine. Of course, if the cops are in any doubt over there, they slap you in jail.

Lunchie

Disks are great,but once you've obtained your disk you can cancil your policy.You may have to issue them monthly?

These premiums do annoy don't they?

one way you can look at it is that all the idiots driving without insurance is pushing our premiums up and that you don't need to be involved in an accident with these to$$ers.

OR

F**K the insurance, its extortionate.
If it was cheeper more people would insure.
catch 22, if you ask me

There should be some sort of tagging system or something(don't know what)

OR

I think that Australia has a system where 3rd party cover is incorporated in their road tax system.

RB5 - Yes Australia do have 3rd party cover in with the Road Tax.

Regarding 'Insurance disc' or other indicator to be displayed, it would simply have to be returned to the insurance company when the insurance cover was cancelled. I cancelled insurance when changing to the Scooby since the current insurers would not cover the vehicle (previous one was Cavalier - without Koni suspension http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/eek.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif ), They insisted on the return of the insurance certificate before refunding any money.

Mick

[This message has been edited by Mick (edited 04 May 2001).]

Lads Lads......The only wallys out their is us......cos everytime some ba$tard is caught they get a poxy fine and OUR Insurance goes up even more to cover for the poor people who get hurt or killed by one of these ****ers, I personally would cut their hands off so they could not drive again, and the goverment should bring in some sort of law by where the parents would be responsible for their actions, and So they have to pay for the damage or pain caused to property or people, also the cars they drive should be taken from them and crushed prefebly with them in it...........GOD IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY.
Cheers
Colin

Iv'e just had to add £107 to my premium for fitting 17" Wheels AAAAaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrghhh!!

These scumbags should be strapped to the front of a car and then .... then ......
GGggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.. http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/mad.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/mad.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/mad.gif

Saw TG last night too . . http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/frown.gif Quite a sad state of affairs.

I remember from my years in Switzerland that the numberplate (assigned to a driver, not a car) remained the property of the cantonal traffic dept. When you buy a car, you must prove you have insurance before they give you your numberplate. If you don't renew your insurance, the insurance co. grasses you up to the traffic dept and they demand the plates back. Failing to do so incurs a huge fine.

The gnomes may well have cracked it!

Suresh

[edited to make sense]

[This message has been edited by Suresh (edited 04 May 2001).]

Suresh,

IIRC, one more _good_ thing about the Swiss system is the fact that you can run multiple cars on one plate (but obviously only driving one at once).

Just fix your plate on "todays car" and away you go!

However, break the law and the Police come round and take your plate back - thus no wheels.

Almost seems too easy (Tony Blur - ru listening?)!

mb

MICK YOUR RIGHT ABOUT SENDING YOUR CERTIFICATE BACK.IF YOU'VE LOST IT YOU SIGN A FORM SAYING IT'S BEEN LOST/STOLEN& IF YOU FIND IT YOU WILL RETURN IT.

I thought a visible disc would be the answer too, but maybe this would end up in an increase in car break-ins for a disc which may be worth £7/800 to someone down the boozer...ending up with higher premiums because of petty theft

I agree that the program did make the idea of driving without insurance seem more attractive to the lowlife scum - but at least it has got everybody's backs up!

What we need to do now is to apply some propper pressure to get this sorted!

I did like the idea of removing the kidneys though, let the little b4sturds suffer! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif

I thought the article on Top Gear was a farkin disgrace. How many other scumbags after watching that have thought `sod the insurance, its only £150-00 fine if i get caught`

I think that this will have made the problem worse. Why dont insurance companies provide the police with details on insured reg numbers then put it on the police computer so they know if a cars insured or not.

The police system being created (that they mentioned) will give the Police the ability to cross reference a car registration with a list of insured vehicles.

I agree that the program did make it seem as if it was much better to drive uninsured - there will be a bunch of morons who decide to not get insurance now (or carry on uninsured).

Very irresponsible of Top Gear IMO.

remember what the 'thicko' interviewee said

i have points on my license!!!!!
but he also said he had NOT GOT A LICENSE!!

so how do u work that one out!!!

you ban him from driving give him points! but he officially doesnt drive/hav a license anyway!!!
so will that stop him?

answers on a post card please! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif


Phil

How do you reason with moronic logic like that oik's?

Large fines and big penalties - including jail-time. That's the only way to deter them.

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/mad.gif

You folk in pommy land are lucky - over here in NZ, car insurance is optional !!!

Honest!

Came to mind this afternoon when a young lady drove into the side of my nice, new, shiny wrx; after my initial expletives deleted my second thought was - is the young lady insured?

Her car was one step away from the scrap yard (ie an old dung-er); she claimed to have insurance - no doubt I'll find out next week for sure.

If she isn't insured, then I either sue her (yeh, right), or cough up for my own repairs, or take a hit on my insurance.

I think i'm allowed one claim without it affecting my NCD.

Could there not be a way of insuring the car not the driver the premium being calculated for car value, catagory and postcode, with different levels of excess for the age of the driver points etc?

Then the police database would easily work as a car is eather insured or not insured whoever is driving it so easy to check along with some other form of system like disc?

just a thought

Andy