Police are cracking down on uninsured drivers – and yours could be invalid without you knowing
POLICE are cracking down on uninsured drivers in a bid to get them off the road.
But thousands of motorists could be unwittingly breaking the law, leaving them at risk of having their vehicles seized due to conditions in their insurance policy.
Police have launched Operation Drive Insured this week, alongside the Motor Insurers' Bureau, to crackdown on an estimated 40,000 uninsured motorists in Scotland.
Around 130 people are killed and more than 26,000 are injured due to hit and runs involving uninsured drivers each year, according to recent figures by MIB.
If you caught driving without insurance, you could have your vehicle seized, get six points on your licence, a £300 fine and face prosecution in court.
And while the operation will mainly look to target motorists who don't bother getting cover, plenty of regular drivers could also be at risk of invalidating their insurance without realising it.
Drivers put themselves at risk of hefty penalties by making a number of common insurance errors.
It might seem like a friendly gesture, but lending your car to a mate or family member can lead to your car being seized by the police.
Even though you may be insured to drive your own car, not all policies include cover for when someone else is in the drivers seat.
Many insurers are tweaking these clauses in their policies, so make sure to read over yours to see if you're covered.
Another common mistake that can invalidate your insurance is listing your child as an additional driver on your policy rather than the main driver.
The practice, known as fronting, is often used by parents to get cheaper cover, but it's illegal and can see you convicted of fraud.
Even simple modifications to your car like fitting a sat nav can invalidate your insurance and mean you won't be covered.
Whether big or small, any changes not reported to your insurer could affect your policy.
As some modifications have the potential to increase the likelihood of an accident or chance of theft, they can see your cover invalidated.
So make sure to report any modifications to your insurer as soon as they are made.
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Supt Louise Blakelock said: "Police Scotland work in partnership with the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) throughout the year and tackling uninsured drivers continues to be a priority for us.
"During this campaign we will increase our focus, to not only detect, but hopefully deter motorists from driving with no insurance.
"Accidents caused by uninsured and hit-and-run drivers are believed to add £400m annually to motor insurance premiums."
Neil Drane, MIB head of enforcement added: "A driver with no valid insurance has no legal right to be on the road and removing them undoubtedly makes roads safer.
"The increased activity during Operation Drive Insured should get more of these dangerous drivers off our roads."