Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) Operation Drive Insured.

This week, 9–15 November 2026, is Operation Drive Insured week. This national campaign is focused on taking uninsured vehicles off the road.

As a personal injury lawyer I often meet clients who have been injured as a result of an un-insured driver. In cases such as these the Motor Insurers' Bureau, a UK organisation set up to provide compensation to victims of collisions on the road with uninsured or untraceable drivers, will often meet the claim being made. Against a backdrop of rising living costs and increasing financial pressures on households we are seeing a growing number of claims involving vehicles being driven without valid insurance as motorists look to reduce their outgoings.

There is a human impact of uninsured driving with the MIB reporting some shocking statistics

• Every 20 minutes someone is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver in the UK

• Every 24 hours at least one person is so seriously injured they require life-long care

• Every week at least one person loses their life on UK roads due to uninsured drivers

Uninsured driving is often associated with wider offending, including hit-and run collisions and organised criminal activity. That's why we're supporting MIB’s #OpDriveInsured26 to tackle uninsured driving and improve road safety.

During this week police will be taking action to identify and remove uninsured vehicles from our roads, helping to protect law-abiding motorists and improve safety for everyone.

But not all uninsured motorists realise that there is an issue with their insurance until they are involved in an accident and the reality of not having insurance becomes apparent. Where the MIB is required to make a payment of damages then they will look to recover whatever their outlay has been from the uninsured motorist, and there is no limit as to how much that claim may be.

Take a moment to check to ensure that you are properly covered. Common mistakes include:

• Policy expires or incorrectly assumed it’s set to auto-renew
• Ongoing payment method expires or bounces
• Vehicle is kept off-the-road but not declared SORN
• Wrong class-of use e.g. using social, domestic and pleasure policy to deliver pizzas or parcels when you need business cover
• Assuming fully comprehensive policy allows the use of someone else’s vehicle
• Vehicle modifications not declared to the policy provider
• A named driver is actually the main user

For further information and information on how to check your insurance is valid please see www.mib.org.uk/DriveInsured