Roughly 160,000 vehicles have been seized by police forces across the UK for not having valid car insurance over the past year, marking the highest figure in almost 20 years.
The rise in cases has been linked to soaring premiums, with many drivers choosing to risk driving illegally rather than pay for cover.
The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) estimated around 300,000 vehicles are being driven without insurance on UK roads every day.
The scale of the problem has now created a major headache for police, who are trying to crack down on the problem nationwide.
Insurance costs have been seen as the main driver, with many motorists stating that they simply cannot afford insurance costs.
Birmingham has become a particular hotspot. Five of its postcodes, B25, B18, B66, B21 and B35, were found to be among the worst in the country for crashes involving uninsured drivers.
Other areas of concern include RM19 in Thurrock, PE1 in Peterborough, M18 in Manchester, RM1 in Havering and BT17 in Belfast.
Hayley Sutcliffe from the MIB said a lack of awareness may also be playing a role, particularly in diverse communities.
Roughly 160,000 cases of uninsured driving were recorded last year by the MIB
| GETTYShe said: "It's a diverse area, so people coming into the country might not know the laws and the legislation of the Road Traffic Act.
"We need to raise awareness around when people need to have the correct level of cover of insurance."
Uninsured driving has been found to cost the UK economy an estimated £1billion every year. This includes compensation for victims, emergency services, healthcare costs and lost productivity.
The human impact is also severe, with the MIB warning someone is affected by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver every 20 minutes.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Drivers pay for uninsured driving through higher premiums | MOTOR INSURERS' BUREAUThe bureau also detailed how uninsured drivers are more likely to be involved in other crimes, such as drink or drug driving, or driving while banned.
To tackle the issue, police forces alongside the MIB have launched a joint crackdown called Operation Scalis to tackle the issue. Over the past five years, seizures have risen by around 20 per cent, from 132,435 to 158,594.
In a recent operation, West Midlands Police seized 16 uninsured vehicles in Birmingham in a single day. These included high-end cars such as a Mercedes, a BMW and even a Lamborghini.
Police also found other offences during stops, including bald tyres, illegal window tints, faulty seatbelts and empty gas canisters.
Drivers caught travelling without insurance face a £300 fine
| GREATER MANCHESTER POLICESergeant Adrian Brown said many drivers admit to breaking the law. "A lot of people just own up to it and say 'I couldn't afford it' or 'I haven't passed my driving test'," he said.
He also warned some offenders may have more serious motives. "I think the other reason around this criminal aspect is they're trying to hide the identity of the car," he said.
Rising insurance costs have also led to a risky practice known as "fronting", where an older driver insures a car for a younger person to bring the price down.
In the UK, drivers caught without insurance face a £300 fine and six penalty points on their licence, but in more serious cases, it can escalate to court, resulting in an unlimited fine, driving disqualification and the police seizing or destroying the vehicle.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter