Uninsured driver faces six points, £205 fine and train journey home to Ballymena

A Volkswagen vehicle seized in Portadown by police from its Ballymena owner

A motorist stopped by police in Portadown was left facing six penalty points, a £205 fine and a journey home to Ballymena by train after officers discovered his car insurance had been cancelled.

Road Policing officers stopped the red Volkswagen in Portadown on Friday, 28 August, and established that the driver’s insurance policy had been cancelled the previous month.

Despite no longer having valid cover, police said the motorist had continued to drive the vehicle.

Car seized by police

The car was seized, leaving the driver to make his own way back to Ballymena.

Highlighting the consequences of driving without insurance, the a spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said:

“No insurance = 6 points, a £205 fine, your car seized and a train ride home to Ballymena.”

The driver will now have to provide evidence of a valid insurance policy before the vehicle can be released.

He will also have to pay the associated recovery costs to get the car back.

Police warn motorists not to take the risk

The incident was highlighted by police as a warning to other motorists about the consequences of continuing to drive after insurance cover has ended or been cancelled.

The PSNI added:

“Don’t take chances like this driver - stay insured.”

Driving without insurance can therefore leave motorists facing penalties beyond the fine and points themselves, including the immediate loss of their vehicle and the additional expense of recovering it.

For this driver, it also meant finding another way to make the journey from Portadown back home to Ballymena.