It is a well known fact that a small minority of motorists who choose not to insure their vehicles costs honest motorists a staggering £400 million each year, as well as causing injury to around 23,000 and death to 160.

Up until now it has only been possible to prosecute drivers who are caught driving the uninsured vehicle on the public highway. However, as of last week, it is now an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, meaning that it will now be much easier for the police to catch the dishonest driver.

Each day the police impound and subsequently destroy four hundred vehicles which are uninsured and the new powers mean that this figure is likely to rise dramatically. Under the new legislation rolled out by Road Safety Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, the DVLA and the insurance companies will work together to identify vehicles which are uninsured.

The owners will then be sent a letter warning that the vehicle appears to be uninsured and allowing a fixed period to take out the necessary insurance. If they fail to do so, a fine of £100 will be imposed. If the owner still fails to insure it, the vehicle can be seized and then destroyed.

Before the introduction of this legislation, the average fine for not insuring your vehicle was a derisory £170 which, given the cost of insurance, was hardly much of a deterrent. Currently, one in twenty motorists fails to insure their vehicle and it is to be hoped that the new laws will result in a dramatic reduction of this figure.

If your car insurance is up for renewal soon, it may well be worth considering changing to (or indeed sticking with) Direct Line. The insurance company has revealed that it is offering customers a year’s worth of car insurance for the price of just ten months. The company believes, quite rightly, that consumers are suffering financially at this time of year. The period following Christmas and New Year is always hard economically and this year, with the full impacts of the credit crunch being felt, people are looking to save more money than ever.

The comprehensive car policies offered by the company are a great option for anyone. The policies will protect you if you are hit by an uninsured driver, meaning that your no-claims discount will remain intact. Furthermore, if you need to make a claim after suffering from vandalism, you will be able to keep your no-claims bonus. This is all good news, particularly since January is, according to Norwich Union, the month of the year during which you are most likely to become a victim of a car accident. Much of this has to do with adverse weather conditions and shorter days.

The Head of Car Insurance at Direct Line revealed the reasons behind the savings currently being offered by the company. Maggie Game stated that since the company does not appear on price comparison websites, commissions do not need to be paid. This means that contacting the company directly can lead to big savings. If you would like more details about Direct Line’s deal, visit their website.

The AA has sent out a warning to drivers who may currently be playing a risky game of “roadside roulette” in an attempt to save money. At a time when we are all trying to save money, it can be tempting to try and cut down on expenses which do not seem absolutely essential. With regards to motoring costs, many people have been taking a gamble and choosing to go without breakdown cover. The AA has revealed that this behaviour has resulted in an overall loss of over £120 million during the past year.

During this time, approximately two million people broke down without the safety cushion of breakdown cover and were therefore forced into paying over three times the price of said cover to arrange emergency assistance from a local garage. The AA was also keen to point out the emotional strain which can result from such events, as well as the obvious financial strain.

The stress caused by trying to find a local garage which is willing to help out can be an unwanted burden. Furthermore, these situations can turn dangerous very quickly. Many drivers who break down in remote areas, particularly late at night, are left feeling extremely vulnerable and anxious.

Andy Taylor, who works for the AA, believes that taking a gamble by not paying for breakdown cover is simply not worth it. Taylor understands the desire to save money but he revealed that “it will cost you dearly if you break down – in money, time and sheer stress”. With membership available from the AA from under thirty pounds, it really is worth staying covered this winter and avoiding the risk of Christmas being ruined by unwanted financial and emotional burdens.