Police seized my friend's car, which I was driving, despite my friend being there at the time. Can they do this?

I was recently stopped by the police while I was driving my mate's car and he was in front driving mine. I thought my insurance would cover me but it didn't, and the car was seized. Can police seize the vehicle even that my mate who had insurance to drive his vehicle was there with me and asked if he could take his car instead?

Asked on 4 September 2010 by binche

Answered by Lucy

They can lift the vehicle if the driver is not insured, so technically yes. However, under most circumstances this is done so as not to permit you to continue to drive the vehicle while uninsured. If someone was there who was insured they are lifting it to punish you, which is harsh but I don't think you will get far by complaining about it.

In terms of offences you should realised that both of you are at risk of prosecution for insurance offences - you for driving the car while uninsured, and your friend for permitting you to drive the car while you were uninsured. Both offences carry a stiff fine and 6-8 penalty points.

Tags: traffic offences police uninsured drivers

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