A recent Veygo study of 2,000 UK adults revealed a worrying trend: one in six drivers in the UK admit to driving without valid insurance, with learner drivers twice as likely to do so compared to those with a full licence.
Short Journeys, Big Risks
According to the research, 24% of uninsured drivers claimed they didn’t realise they needed insurance cover for short trips. A further 20% said their policy had unknowingly expired, while 17% admitted to driving uninsured to save money. Others shared it was simply an admin task they’d kept putting off.
Learner Drivers
The figures rose sharply among learner drivers. Over a third (37%) of those with a provisional licence admitted to driving without insurance, compared to just 17% of fully licensed drivers.
The primary cause? It’s simple – misunderstanding the rules.
- 21% of learners didn’t realise they needed insurance even when practising with a friend or family member.
- 29% mistakenly believed it’s legal to drive uninsured in car parks.
- 27% thought cul-de-sacs were exempt from insurance laws.
This confusion can have serious consequences – driving without insurance is illegal, and can result in points on your licence, fines, and even vehicle seizure.
What Prompted People to Stop Driving Uninsured?
Of those who admitted to driving without cover:
- 32% stopped after a friend or family member warned them about the legal consequences.
- 27% finally got insured once they could afford it.
- 18% were prompted into action only after being stopped by the police.
While nearly half (49%) of these offences happened in the past two years, 23% said it had been over a decade since they last drove without cover.
Flexible Car Insurance
A key reason for driving uninsured is a lack of awareness of flexible cover. One in five surveyed (22%) said they had no idea short-term car insurance was even an option.
Flexible, pay-as-you-go car insurance offers a legal, affordable solution – particularly for learners or those borrowing a car for a short time. It allows drivers to get insured for hours, days, or weeks, depending on their needs, without committing to a full annual policy. Or alternatively rolling monthly subscriptions is a flexible way of getting longer-term cover that can be cancelled anytime, without fee.
Make Sure You’re Covered – Even for a Short Trip
Whether you’re a learner driver practising with a parent or someone borrowing a car for the weekend or longer, insurance is always required by law. Veygo’s flexible insurance makes it easy, affordable and, most importantly, legal for you to get behind the steering wheel.
Don’t take the risk – get a flexible insurance quote in minutes and drive with peace of mind that you’re covered.