Counting The Cost of Uninsured Drivers

It is often the case that insured drivers are left to count the cost of a crash with someone driving illegally without insurance.

And new figures revealed today show more than one in five 17 to 20-year-olds are behind the wheel and do not have any insurance.

Gareth Berry, company director of leading accident management specialists Easi-Drive, said: “If the uninsured driver is traced then they can be prosecuted, but ultimately since that driver couldn't afford insurance in the first place, they are unlikely to be able to afford repairs.

“In the event of an accident with an uninsured driver, the insured party may lose their no claims bonus and may have to pay their excess. If they are not fully comprehensive then they may have to pay for the damage themselves.

“You also have all that additional stress on top of being involved in an accident that probably wasn't your fault.”

According to the Motor Insurers' Bureau, which represents insurance companies, there are 243,000 illegal young drivers on the roads. That is compared with one in every 20 cars nationally.