Northern Ireland motorists are being urged to stay on top of routine car paperwork, as simple oversights could cost them up to £3,280 in fines, lead to higher insurance premiums and even invalidate their cover altogether.
The warning from car insurance experts at CompareNI.com comes after police seized dozens of vehicles during a week-long blitz on uninsured drivers.
The operation, which saw the PSNI work alongside the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), lead to 58 motorists being handed fines of £200 and six penalty points for driving without insurance.*
Recent data shows there were 5,735 insurance offences in NI over the last year, accounting for 16% of all motoring offences.
Moreover, Northern Ireland has the highest rate of untaxed vehicles in the UK, at 2.9% of all vehicles on the road compared to the national average of 1.3%.
These figures highlight just how many drivers could be caught out by simple mistakes when it comes to key motoring documents.
Renewal dates for car insurance, MOTs, vehicle tax and driving licences often fall at different times, making it easy for drivers to lose track. And updating a vehicle handbook after a change of name or address can easily be forgotten.
Yet missing a deadline can trigger fines of £80 for untaxed vehicles, a minimum of £200 for driving without insurance, and up to £1,000 for expired MOTs or licences.
And beyond being hit by a fine, some offences can result in penalty points and higher insurance premiums in the future – with motorists convicted of driving without insurance receiving an IN10 endorsement on their licence.
Ian Wilson, car insurance expert and Managing Director at CompareNI.com said: “Thousands of drivers in Northern Ireland are being caught out and unintentionally falling foul of the law after forgetting key renewal dates or assuming reminders will arrive on time.
“While life can be busy and we can let things like paperwork slip our minds, keeping on top of our vehicle admin is crucial to avoid hefty fines, unnecessary penalty points and even having the car seized.
“We’re urging drivers to take a few minutes to make sure their documentation is up to date. Carrying out this quick check on their insurance, tax and MOT status can help drivers steer clear of serious financial and legal consequences.”
Five common car admin mistakes that could cost you:
1.Forgetting to renew car insurance
Driving without valid insurance is a serious offence, risking a minimum fine of £200, six points and an IN10 conviction, which stays on your driving record for four years.**** It also leaves you unprotected financially, should you have an incident on the road. Having an IN10 conviction means you may also need specialist insurance for convicted drivers, and it’ll likely be more expensive than average.
2.Forgetting to renew MOT certificate
If your MOT has expired and you are caught driving on the road, you could face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. Generally, a vehicle needs an MOT every year once it reaches four years old, failure to obtain a valid MOT also means your insurance is likely void.
3.Forgetting to renew car tax
You could be fined £80 for not taxing your vehicle or failing to inform the DVA if it’s off the road using a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). Failure to pay your fine on time could result in your vehicle being clamped or crushed.
4.Forgetting to renew driving licence
A photocard licence must be renewed every 10 years. If you are caught driving without a valid licence, and are not waiting on a renewal, you could receive six points on your licence and a fine of up to £1,000, plus your insurance is likely to be invalid.
5.Forgetting to update your vehicle log book (V5C)
If you change your name or address you must update your vehicle log book. Failure to tell the DVA when your name or address changes is an offence and means you can be fined up to £1,000.******** Any inaccurate information could also result in your insurer refusing to pay out on claims, leaving you unprotected.
CompareNI.com helps hundreds of thousands of drivers every year find savings on car insurance.
