A survey of motorists has revealed that 15 per cent of drivers has driven either someone else’s vehicle, or their own, knowing that they weren’t insured.
A quarter of drivers aged in their twenties and one in five of those in their thirties, with men twice as likely as women in all age groups, have all risked making uninsured journeys.
Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Anyone who drives without insurance, no matter how short the distance and whether it’s their car or someone else’s, is breaking the law.
"Not only that, but it costs the insurance industry over £500 million each year in claims, which drives up the cost of insurance for responsible motorists. While the cost of insuring a car can be high for young males, they shouldn’t be attracted by the false economy of skimping on insurance."
Statistics from the Motor Insurance Bureau show that motorists who drive uninsured also tend to be ten times as likely to have already been convicted of drunk driving, and are six times as likely to have a mechanical fault with their vehicle.
A fatality is caused every two days by an uninsured motorist.
The penalty for someone being caught driving without valid insurance is an on-the-spot fine of up to £200, up to six penalty points on their driving licence and having their vehicle immediately impounded.
