The problem of uninsured cars on the UK road network sees thousands of cars every year sold or sent to the crusher every year, but now some of those cars could be given a last minute reprieve.

Whilst the police are within their rights to seize the cars of drivers who are without insurance, the problem gains an additional element when the fact that many of those cars actually belong to finance companies.

Now the HPI have launched a scheme called Crushwatch which aims to recover those vehicles headed for the scrapyard and return them to the finance companies.

Barry Shorto, head of industry relations at HPI, said: “Crushwatch is proving what a valuable role it plays in the process of clamping down on uninsured drivers. In just one month, the total value of the cars recovered locally by West Yorkshire Police was over three-quarters of a million pounds and by police forces nationally it was over £10 million. This indicates that the problem is becoming more widespread and increasing year on year. “Through ongoing collaboration with police forces throughout the UK, we can continue to minimise finance company losses whilst also clamping down on the problem of drivers thinking it’s okay to drive without the necessary insurance.”

Of the 109,000 cars seized by the police last year, more than 13,000 belonged to finance and leasing companies. Within the last month models as expensive as the Bentley Bentayga and the BMW 1 Series were recovered for finance companies, just some of £10m worth of cars which have been saved.

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