In a move that is likely to anger some (and no doubt please others), ministers want to clamp down on motorists who drive without insurance, effectively increasing the premium prices for everyone else. If drivers don’t currently have cover, then the DVLA will send out a reminder – with a fine of £100 to follow if the ‘advice’ is ignored. Worse though is the next stage, which is a vehicle crush if the person still does not elect to insure their car.
An interesting fact is that 400 uninsured vehicles are seized every day, where they are impounded until a fee is paid (and the owner turns up with insurance to drive the car away). The new offence of Keeper of an Uninsured Vehicle should move more people to do the right thing and get their vehicle properly covered.
Whilst this is of course a good idea, what are the criteria for having a car crushed? I’m sure plenty of the vehicles that are destroyed in this way are old bangers, but what about the newer stuff? Also, it does beg the question of whether this is the best/most environmentally sound way to remove these cars.
If a car is mechanically sound and correct, perhaps what we should be doing is taking the offending vehicle away from those who are uninsured, and maybe the police/government could auction it on to properly insured folks. Some of the money could then be given to road safety charities. Just a thought!
John says
January 28, 2009 at 5:00 pmPersonally I think it’s great, crush em all! I pay almost £1600 a year to insure my car (insurance is very high in Ireland and having a Group 20 doesn’t help) and it makes me really mad to know I’m on the road with these people.
Mr Butterscotch says
January 29, 2009 at 8:27 pmHi John, any chance you could share with us all what kind of (evidently powerful) motor you have that sits in group 20? I’d imagine that the Subaru Impreza WRX that I’m looking for will fall under the same category!
John says
February 3, 2009 at 9:27 amHi Mr B, its a Clio V6 Phase 2. So powerful..ish, but I imagine the high insurance group is associated with its desirability and how rare it is. Also spare body panels are quite hard to get and very expensive, I’ve read something like £1800 for a front wing!
Good luck with the scooby! Insurance shouldn’t be as high as Group 20…but it won’t cheap.
Mr Butterscotch says
February 3, 2009 at 7:53 pmA Clio V6? Very nice indeed – also as you point out, extremely rare. I’ve only seen one and it was living up to the reputation so I didn’t have eyes on it for too long!
I hope you’re right on the insurance, as mine has recently come down to what I would term acceptable. Then again, if I temporarily lose my mind and end up with an OTT STi…
Ian says
February 6, 2009 at 11:30 amI’m with you on this one, Mr Butterscotch – it does seem rather senseless to crush a car that’s good enough to auction off.
After all, the Police auction unclaimed goods that they recover from burglaries etc
Have you seen any figures as to how many of the 400 cars that are seized daily actually end up being crushed?