AROUND three vehicles a week have been seized by police across Dorset last year.

Figures from the Dorset Police No Excuse team reveal that 171 vehicles were seized for having no insurance in 2015.

And so far this year 33 motorists have lost their vehicles for driving without the right documents.

No Excuse team leader Sergeant Stuart Pitman is now warning motorists to get their insurance documents in order otherwise they could be in for a costly experience.

“There are motorists out there that simply think they can just get away without insuring their vehicles but thanks to our ANPR technology in the cars and our ‘eagle-eyes’ we are catching more and more of these drivers,” said Sgt Pitman.

“However many of the people we catch have simply forgotten to change their insurance policy to a new vehicle when they buy a new car.

“But the most common is when they think they have third party cover to drive other cars and don’t.

“All insurance documentation comes with a warning to check the details and phone immediately if not correct but people don’t and then wonder why they lose their car.

“It can be very costly for these drivers as well as the penalty for driving without insurance is either a fixed penalty ticket for £300 and six points on your licence or a summons to court.

“On top of that if your vehicle is seized, which the majority are, it will cost £150 to get it back plus £20 a day storage.”

But the cost of driving without insurance doesn’t just affect the offenders.

Insurance premiums for insured drivers The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) is the mechanism in the UK through which compensation is provided for victims of accidents caused by uninsured and untraced drivers.

It is funded by an estimated £30 a year from every insured driver’s premiums.

Research conducted by the MIB warns that one in 25 drivers (around one million vehicles) in the UK has no insurance – making the likelihood of being hit by an uninsured driver higher than almost anywhere else in Europe.

And the number of uninsured drivers on UK roads has rocketed by 10 per cent in the past year.

But for Sgt Pitman and his team many motorists could avoid such hefty fines if they just kept up to date with their policy.

“Insurance policies will be cancelled by the insurance companies if you don’t keep up monthly payments or fail to send them proof of no claims discount or your driving licence,” he said.

“Business insurance costs virtually nothing to add to your policy.

“If you are using a vehicle on connection with your employment or for the sole purpose of your employment, you must have this cover in place or you will be treated as being uninsured and dealt with.”