RIAS Issues Car Insurance Warning

Over-50s insurer RIAS suggested today that many credit crunch-affected households are looking to skip car insurance payments.

According to the firm, a combination of rising food, utilities and accommodation prices are leading to many motorists to consider stopping paying for the insurance. Should this trend prove true, the current estimate of two million UK motorists - out of the 30 million total - who drive while uninsured will rise.

RIAS also warned that driving without car insurance is illegal in Britain, and costs motorists who do pay cover around £500 million a year - or around £30 for each law-abiding driver. Government statistics also show that uninsured drivers are involved in road accidents which kill 160 people each year.

By way of comparison, total road deaths run at around 3,200 annually - meaning that those motorists without car insurance are involved in approximately five per cent of fatalities.

Janet Connor, managing director of the car insurance provider, said: "There is no question that driving without insurance is both unlawful and ill-advised…if you are worried about the cost of insurance, it is worth talking to your insurance provider to check whether they are any savings to be made."