howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
28 August 2010
20:5567673just been reading a report from co-operative insurance that will annoy all car owners here.
in short the average honest driver pays 50 quid extra on their premium to make up for uninsured drivers.
the automobile association estimates that 5% of drivers on our roads are uninsured.
i have long maintained that all cars should display an insurance disc along with the tax one, why is it so difficult to do this?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
29 August 2010
07:0867709No idea Howard.
Some countries tie up the insurance with the MOT and road-tax so no-one can escape any of them. We should do it here.
I do believe things have impoved with the electronic system, but if people don't have any of the three above, it won't help much and it's those who drive completely illegally where the problem is.
We have a few people from overseas living here (understatement !) and their cars are supposed to be changed to English road-tax etc. within 6 months, but some cars have been here for years without changing.
Roger
29 August 2010
23:3767897Howard,
Have to say I agree with you that all cars should display a disc for insurance purposes.
I have to say what the Co-op says has to be taken with a pinch of salt.
It is a simple case of economics. If as the Co-op says that 5% do not pay insurance,yet 95% do then the £50 excess paid by the 95% more than covers the loss of revenue of the 5% (including claims) An excess I am sure none of the insurance companies would be eager to fore go. I mean lets face it it is money for old jam as the saying goes.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
30 August 2010
10:0067924I`d have thought, that if motorist`s got away with not having a tax disc, why can`t they get away with no insurance disc either? As Roger suggest`s above, tie the whole lot up together, but make the fines heavier for dodger`s, with a set amount and no hard luck stories accepted in court.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 August 2010
12:3067944i think the original idea of only handing over a tax disc upon production of the insurance document was based on the premise that it would force people to get insured, unfortunately the ones without insurance seem to be quite happy to forgo the tax disc.
30 August 2010
14:0167952Our family learnt the hard way about uninsured drivers.
A few years ago Mother-in-law was knocked by a vehicle in London Road, broke her hip. Despite details of vehicle not traced.
Her quality of life has been lost as hip replacement not a success so had to have second op and even now requires her mobility scooter.
Re overseas vehicles. This is losing the Uk £millions. As Roger states we see a large number here in Dover. I compiled a list of those known to be living in our area of Dover but still on foreign plates. Gave to PCSO and told nothing they could do. The PCSO is "on the beat" and I would have thought make a note of such vehicle and pass to someone who can take action.
Working at the National Trust we seek NT Membership and if foreign registered attempt to see how long they are in the country for on holiday and where they are intending to visit whilst on holiday. In the summer I can say that at least six foreign registered vehicles per day would answer this question by "we live here". Of course these foreign vehicles are more than likely to have no insurance.
30 August 2010
16:4167958You can't get a tax disc without being insured. I have long said why not just combine them thus making the insurance companies the tax collectors and getting rid of swansea for that purpose. saving all round. We also have a computerised
number plate system so let swansea get on the road at strategic points and stop cars whose number show they have no tax. Huge fines and seizing vehicles until they pay would easily pay for the hit teams and, bingo,

savings all round except for the criminals.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
30 August 2010
17:4067963Why not scrap the cars that are seized or better still confiscate them and sell them on with the money going to the NHS.
Those that do not have insurance, as said before, will not worry about road tax and often could not care less about driving when disqualified, therefore their cars being taken is the only measure left.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
30 August 2010
18:2967976Those insomniacs on here who spend the late hours flipping channels and end up watching repeats of Road Wars know that most police traffic cars now have ANPR so the officers can immediately tell if a car has tax, MOT and insurance and can stop it immediately to check as well whether the driver has a licence. Cars are now impounded immediately and towed away with a recovery fee and storage fee for every day in the pound. Most of the older cars with no tax are never claimed and are crushed.
The technology and laws exist, it just needs the willpower and the manpower to enforce.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
30 August 2010
18:5667991Yes the police grab

the cars but the drivers get them back if they pay the fees, much better to sell the car. The driver then has no car possibly that cost them a few thousand, quite an incentive to obey the law I would have thought.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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30 August 2010
19:5368010Or an incentive to go steal another one!
Agree taking possession and auctioning off is a good idea, or just crushing the vehicle AND seizing other property instead.
Crims are crims whatever my mate Bern might try to tell you!

Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
3 September 2010
10:1668568Was near B&Q at 11pm last evening and heard what I thought was a sound track from Brands Hatch. In fact it was 3 cars going at great speed continuously around the roundabout watched by about 20 youngsters. There was a total disreguard for the few other road users and I imagine for the law also. I was tempted to call the police but thought whats the point,they either wouldn't respond or they wouldn't do anything once they got there(eventually).
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
3 September 2010
10:1968569Ken
don't share your view
but nice to see you on here again
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS