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Last updated: 18 March 2026

Uninsured driving remains a persistent issue in the UK. Alongside roadside enforcement, the law also targets vehicles that are kept uninsured when they should be covered. This is managed through Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE). [1]

This guide explains what CIE means for van keepers, what to do if you receive a CIE notice, and how penalties differ from being caught driving without insurance.

What Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) means

CIE is the rule that a vehicle must have valid motor insurance unless it has been declared off the road with a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). [1]

This means it can be an offence to be the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle—even if it is parked and not being driven—unless it is properly SORN’d. [1][2]

Keeping uninsured vs driving uninsured

There’s an important difference between keeping a vehicle uninsured and driving without insurance:

• Keeping an uninsured vehicle: Usually starts with record checks. Vehicles are identified by comparing DVLA registration data with the Motor Insurance Database. [2][4]
• Driving without insurance: Typically enforced at the roadside. Police have powers to seize uninsured vehicles, issue fixed penalties, and apply penalty points. [4]

Penalties if your van is uninsured and not SORN’d

GOV.UK outlines the main outcomes for registered keepers of uninsured vehicles not declared off road:

• £100 fixed penalty (may be reduced to £50 if paid within 33 days). [2]
• Vehicle may be wheel-clamped, impounded, or destroyed. [1]
• Potential court action with a maximum fine of £1,000. [1]

Penalties if you’re caught driving without insurance

For driving without insurance, police powers include vehicle seizure, fixed penalties, penalty points, and recovery costs. Unclaimed seized vehicles can be sold or crushed after a set period. [4]

When you don’t need insurance: SORN and other exceptions

You generally do not need insurance if the vehicle is genuinely kept off the road and a SORN has been submitted. [1][5]

Other exceptions apply if the vehicle is between registered keepers or registered as ‘in trade’ with DVLA. Vehicles kept for personal use are not exempt. [1]

How to check whether your vehicle is showing as insured

If you are unsure whether your policy is correctly recorded, GOV.UK recommends using askMID to check whether a vehicle is insured. [1]

Why this still matters

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) estimates there are over one million uninsured vehicles on UK roads each year. [3] Continuous Insurance Enforcement helps reduce this risk by encouraging keepers to maintain cover or formally take vehicles off the road.

If your van insurance is due for renewal

When comparing insurance options, ensure that quotes match your actual use (for example, social vs business use) and that cover dates align to avoid gaps. Services like Van Compare let you compare quotes from multiple providers, but do not provide personal recommendations.

Sources

1. GOV.UK — “Vehicle insurance: Uninsured vehicles” (CIE, SORN, penalties, askMID, trade exception). View source
2. GOV.UK — “DVLA enforcement of vehicle tax, registration and insurance offences” (CIE fixed penalty details, reduction window). View source
3. Motor Insurers’ Bureau — “Our Strategy” (estimate of over one million uninsured vehicles). View source
4. UK Parliament — Written Question UIN 48306 (answered 6 May 2025) on CIE letters, £100 fixed penalty, and driving uninsured penalties. View source
5. GOV.UK — “When you need to make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification): Overview”. View source