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More than 22,594 vehicles seized in 2016 by police forces in England and Wales because the driver was not insured or did not have a valid licence
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52 Porsches, 11 Ferraris, six Bentleys and four Maseratis seized by police in 2016
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BMW is the most-seized luxury car brand by police forces in England and Wales with 2,117 confiscated
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Over £1.4 million raised by the sale of uninsured cars at auction in 2016, with a further £279,253 raised in scrap value
The analysis reveals that BMWs are the most confiscated luxury car brand by police forces in England and Wales, with 2,117 seized in 2016. Every year since 2013 BMWs have remained the most seized luxury car brand closely followed by Audi. What is perhaps more shocking is that the police are seizing vehicles such as Rolls Royces, with the 2016 Dawn 2d Auto model2 commanding a list price of £265,175.
Table one: Number of luxury cars seized by Police Forces in England and Wales in 2016
Source: Churchill Car Insurance’s analysis of data from Police Forces in England and Wales, 2016
The largest amount raised by the resale of a single seized car at auction in 2016 to date was £22,100, secured by the Met Police3. For the money the purchaser spent at auction they could have bought a brand new Ford Focus4 1.5 TDCi (120bhp) Style 5d Powershift (£20,295), or a 1.5 Mini Cooper5 6d Auto (£21,600). Police forces in England and Wales have auctioned at least 2,866 cars to date in 2016. Significant monies are being generated by the sale of seized cars at auction, with over £1.4 million raised already in 2016. The Met Police alone have so far generated £788,022 by selling seized vehicles at auction this year.
Across England and Wales at least 6,583 seized cars have been crushed in 2016, with the scrap value of these vehicles generating revenues of £279,253. Vehicles seized by the Met Police generated the highest revenues with £108,779 raised from their scrap value in 2016.
The Met Police remains the constabulary seizing more uninsured cars than any other in England and Wales, confiscating 6,827 already in 20166. The police force reporting the second most confiscations because the vehicle was not insured was Greater Manchester with 3,488 vehicle seizures. By contrast, Devon & Cornwall Police seized 277 cars in the same period.
Table two: Uninsured driving by region
Source: Churchill Car Insurance analysis of MIB data
Steve Barrett, head of Car Insurance at Churchill Insurance, said: "Everyday, law-abiding motorists are paying out for their car insurance but the harsh truth is that they also have to pay for the million drivers on our roads who choose to drive without insurance. To know that a contingent of these uninsured motorists are driving around in luxury cars worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, believing that their bank balance elevates them above the law, is maddeningly unjust and selfish beyond measure.
Barrett continues: "We need an urgent examination of the penalties for uninsured motoring, introducing sentences that are a real deterrent and that will keep these irresponsible motorists off the road. The penalties should be far higher and money generated from increased fines should be pumped back in to enabling the police to catch more uninsured drivers."
Churchill’s uninsured drivers promise
With over one million uninsured drivers on the road, getting hit by one of them can send your stress levels into overdrive, but at Churchill we don’t see why you should be penalised. If the collision isn’t your fault, our comprehensive car insurance protects your claim free years, we’ll repair your car and we’ll even cover your excess too.
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