Driving Without Insurance

It is against the law to use a vehicle if you do not have a valid insurance certificate that says you are covered to use it at that particular time.

The offence of driving without insurance is taken very seriously by the Magistrates Court due to the possible implications if you were to crash.

In order to be found guilty of driving without insurance, the Prosecutor only has to prove that you were driving the vehicle on a public road at the time in question and it is down to the defendant (you) to prove that you had insurance and you were allowed to be driving it. This is an unusually way of proceeding in court, but it is this way because it would be extremely time consuming and nearly impossible for the Prosecutor to prove that you were not insured because they would have to go to every insurance provider in the country and check that you aren’t insured with each of them. It is therefore your responsibility to prove that you did have insurance to be driving the vehicle at the time in question.

One of the most common ways in which people get caught out with the no insurance law is that they may not actually drive the car, but the law states that you only have to have use of the vehicle in order to be liable for punishment under the no insurance law. Having use of the vehicle can simply mean having the vehicle parked on a public road outside your house and if it is not insured, then you can be prosecuted.

Another common way in which people get accused of driving with no insurance, not believing that they have actually done so is when they believe that their fully comprehensive insurance policy means that they can drive anyone’s car with their permission. Many insurance policies do not actually state that this is allowed.

It is of paramount importance that you understand the terms of your insurance policy and you make sure each and every time you drive either your vehicle or someone else’s that you are actually insured.

For more information about driving without insurance please click driving with no insurance.