Young male drivers in Dumfriesshire top list for uninsured cars

MALE drivers in Dumfriesshire are the most likely in the UK to be convicted for driving without insurance, new research has found.

Scottish men occupied three of the top five places in a list of the UK's hot spots for motorists with uninsured driving convictions, in a report compiled by moneysupermarket.com.

It claimed that 28 per cent of men in their early twenties in the Dumfriesshire town of Sanquahar have convictions on their licence for driving without insurance. And male Glasgow drivers between 22 and 25 came third in the list, with 20 per cent having convictions for the offence, while males between 17 and 21 in Galston in Ayrshire came fifth.

The research, based on analysis of insurance quotes on the Moneysupermarket website, found that male drivers are significantly more likely to drive without insurance than women, with those under 25 usually the worst culprits.

Steve Sweeney, head of car insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said one reason for the high level of uninsured drivers under 25 was the rising cost of insurance.

"Unfortunately, with recent news that the cost of comprehensive car insurance increased by almost 19 per cent in 2009, we could see the number of uninsured drivers on our roads increase in the future," said Sweeney. "Whatever the distance, driving without insurance is illegal. Anyone caught doing so could face hefty penalties which include a 200 on-the-spot fine and six points on their licence."

Those found driving without insurance also face the prospect of their car being impounded at the cost of 20 a day plus a 150 collection charge. Confused.com.

"If Brits are foregoing their motor insurance for cost reasons it clearly is a false economy," said Sweeney.

The cost of the cheapest motor insurance quote increased by 12.7 per cent last year, with prices up by 6.3 per cent in the last three months of 2009 alone.

The average policy cost 507 at the end of 2009, up from 450 a year earlier, according to a quarterly car Insurance price index produced by Confused.com and general insurance consultant EMB.

But Scottish drivers have experienced the lowest premium hikes over the last three years, with an annual change of between 9 and 11 per cent, compared with increases of up to 18 per cent in the English midlands.

Karl Murphy, partner at EMB, said: "Northern Ireland is a slightly special case, but overall the regional trends are entirely due to the cost of claims.

"You can't overlook the fact that Scotland has a different legal system to England and Wales where the practice of solicitors paying for personal injury claim referrals is not allowed."