Driving without insurance

Driving without insurance is a driving offence which carries heavy penalties upon conviction. If you are facing an accusation of driving without insurance, having expert legal support on your side is essential.

At Renshaw Derrick, we understand the sort of impact a charge for driving without insurance can have on your life. In some cases, it can even lead to the loss of your license and a substantial fine. That is why our team’s expertise can prove so crucial.

We have established a strong reputation for providing the highest quality legal services to drivers in the Bournemouth and Dorset area. We have over two decades of experience in supporting clients accused of a wide range of driving and motoring offences, including in relation to driving without insurance.

To speak to one of our motoring offence solicitors in Bournemouth, get in touch with our offices today, or email mail@renshawderrick.co.uk.

What our driving without insurance solicitors can do for you

Defending allegations of driving without insurance

Being found guilty of driving without insurance can lead to a wide range of penalties. The minimum penalty you can expect to receive if you are caught driving without insurance by the police is six penalty points and a £300 fine, but this can be extended depending on the circumstances.

Factors that could influence the severity of the penalty you receive may include previous charges for driving without insurance, you are also driving without a license, or you are driving a ‘high-risk’ vehicle, such as a heavy good vehicle (HGV).

While it is usually a matter of fact that you were caught driving without valid insurance, there are some potential defences that our solicitors can support you with, given the right circumstances.

For instance, when instructed, our motoring offence solicitors may be able to defend you on the grounds that:

Your insurance provider failed to notify you that they had cancelled your policy
You had a genuine reason to believe that you were insured while driving
You were driving someone else’s car and had received assurance that their policy would cover you

Our solicitors can take a careful view of your situation and advise you on the best way to proceed in relation to the charges you are facing.

Police station representation

If you have been arrested or asked to attend a police station to be interviewed for driving without insurance, it is important that you seek legal representation as soon as possible. Our team will be able to step in to make sure that your rights and interests are protected during an investigation.

With our support, you will understand your current position and what actions could damage your case. We can also ensure that the proper procedures are followed by the police at all times.

Being released under investigation for driving without insurance

Even where you have been released under investigation for driving without insurance, it is still crucial that you speak to our expert solicitors about your case. The police could resume an investigation at any time, which means you may be left in the dark about the case and what is likely to happen next.

We can ensure that you are well prepared if the case is to be relaunched, as well as advise you on what is likely to happen next in your case.

Court proceedings for driving without insurance

Following an investigation, you may be issued with court summons for driving without insurance. Our team includes lawyers with Higher Court Rights, which means that if you are due to attend court, we can provide robust representation at all stages of the process.

If you receive a conviction for driving without insurance, we can also work with you to make an appeal where we believe that it is appropriate to do so.

What is the maximum fine for driving without insurance?

If a case for driving without insurance proceeds to court, you could be liable to face an unlimited fine.

How many points for driving without insurance?

If you do not have car insurance, you could be penalised with six to eight penalty points on your license. Penalty points remain on your license for four years.

You can face disqualification from driving if you have 12 or more penalty points within three years.

What happens if you get caught driving without insurance?

When driving without insurance, you can be stopped by the police. When this happens, they will ask you to provide documentation to prove that you have insurance for the vehicle you are driving. Should you be unable to prove that you have the correct cover, or that the documents you provide have expired, the police can hand out a penalty.

It should be noted that the police also have the authority to seize and potentially destroy a vehicle that is driven uninsured.

Is driving without insurance an instant ban?

Driving without insurance does not automatically lead to an instant ban. However, this will ultimately depend on the surrounding circumstances and whether you have any existing penalty points on your license.

Can you ever drive without insurance?

Put simply, no. It is against the law to drive a vehicle on a public road without having at least third party insurance. You should also be aware that you need to have insurance if you leave a vehicle parked on a street, driveway or in a garage.

There are limited circumstances where you might not need insurance for a car you own but do not drive. These include:

You have a valid Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)
Your vehicle has been away from a public road since before 1 February 1998
Your vehicle has been scrapped, stolen or exported
Your vehicle is between dealers or it is being kept by an authorised dealer

Is driving without insurance a criminal conviction?

As driving without insurance is not an imprisonable offence, it is a conviction that will not appear on a criminal record.

How long does no insurance stay on your licence?

Being found guilty of driving with no insurance will remain on your driving license for a minimum of four years, and it will need to be disclosed to insurance providers for an additional year.

Why choose our driving without insurance solicitors?

At Renshaw Derrick, we are one of the leading criminal defence firms in the Bournemouth and Dorset area. No matter your circumstances, we have the expertise to provide you with the best possible chance of avoiding penalties, or reducing them where conviction is unavoidable.

When you work with our team, you can be certain that your case will be handled by a solicitor with specific expertise in driving without insurance. Our team is led by Dwayne Lewis, a partner of our firm with years of experience acting as a Court and Police Station Duty Solicitor.

Our team also includes lawyers with Higher Courts Rights. This means that we will be able to support and represent you at every stage of the criminal justice process, where necessary.

We are accredited by the Law Society in Criminal Litigation for our high level of criminal defence services, and our accredited members include Dwayne Lewis, Kate Green, Selina Goddard, and Ewa Russell.

Renshaw Derrick is independently regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).