The Metropolitan Police have obtained over £75 million in fines from uninsured drivers since 2012. This is according to  a new study by Confused.com.

They identify the UK police forces that have collected the most from motorists driving without insurance.

Police fine collections from uninsured motorists

Rank Police Force Total fines given (2012-2021) Total fine amount (2012-2021)
1. Metropolitan 220,694 £75,756,926
2. West Yorkshire 101,859 £31,946,116
3. West Midlands 60,228 £23,433,073
4. South Wales 77,907 £18,628,716
5. Sussex 12,183 £17,840,470
6. Greater Manchester 45,205 £13,541,311
7. Hertfordshire 53,176 £13,108,601
8. West Mercia 49,036 £12,981,571
9. Avon and Somerset 48,730 £12,555,191
10. Lancashire 35,540 £12,487,794

Capital cash cars

Since 2012, The Metropolitan Police have collected £75,756,926 in fines from uninsured drivers. This is over double the amount collected by West Yorkshire Police in second place (£31,946,116).

In total, over 220,000 fines have been given by the Met(220,694) over the past decade. This is over 190,000 more than the average number of fines given across all police authorities analysed (30,166).

Naughty northerners

West Yorkshire Police have collected the second most uninsured driver fines, with a total of £31,946,116. In the last decade, the force has collected 101,859 fines. This is 74% more than South Yorkshire Police, where just 26,179 fines were seized in the same period. The average fine given in West Yorkshire was found to be £483, 14% more than in Cheshire (£413).

West Midlands Police rank third, with a total of £23,433,073. A total of 60,228 fines have been given within the region, the fifth-highest amount of all areas analysed. West Midlands Police have collected over 3 times the amount in fines than neighbouring authority, Staffordshire (£7,243,147).

Going west

South Wales Police rank fourth, collecting a total of £18,628,716 in uninsured driver fines. The average fine given by South Wales Police is just £314 – 29% below the UK average (£443) and the lowest of all police authorities analysed. However, South Wales Police have collected the fourth most fines of all authorities analysed (77,907), over double the UK average (30,166).

Higher higher

Uninsured drivers in Bedfordshire are likely to receive the largest fine. Fines distributed by Bedfordshire Police in the last decade were an average of £522 each. This is over two-thirds more than the average fine given by South Wales Police(£314), and 17% more than the average fine across the UK (£443).

Policy proof

Alex Kindred, car insurance expert at Confused.com, comments: “Failing to have the right car insurance policy in place could result in fines, points on your licence or disqualification from driving.

“Insurers appreciate that there are some emergency situations where you may need to jump behind the wheel of a car you don’t own. This is why some cover driving other cars within their comprehensive policy. But being over 25 or having a comprehensive policy doesn’t automatically entitle you to this. This must be outlined in your policy, and the car you drive must also be insured by its owner, or you risk the penalty.

“If you’re confused about whether your policy allows you to drive another car, we’ve outlined what policies tend to cover, and how you can add it to your policy in our guide to driving other cars. But it’s important to check your own policy and remember that if you are covered it will only be for damage or injury to a third party.”

For more help with insurance products go to: www.confused.com/car-insurance