Operation Drive: PSNI launches national campaign to crack down on uninsured drivers
As part of a national campaign to crack down on uninsured drivers, proactive policing operations will be run throughout Northern Ireland to ensure drivers and their vehicles are properly insured.
Operation Drive Insured runs from Monday, November 9 until Sunday, November 15.
During last year's week-long campaign, 58 uninsured vehicles were seized across Northern Ireland.
Between January 1 and October 31, 2026, provisional Police Service figures reveal 2,246 uninsured vehicles have been seized by officers across Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, figures from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) reveal that Mid Ulster, Mid and East Antrim and Belfast areas are among the top 20 for the highest percentage of uninsured vehicles in the UK.
“Some drivers detected have assumed their insurance will auto renew, or that their comprehensive insurance policy covers driving other vehicles,” said the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Head of Road Policing Unit, Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson.
"Other drivers have been detected using their vehicle for business or reward purposes, some have ‘simply forgotten’ to renew policies, so it is critically important that all drivers check they have the appropriate insurance cover in place before they take to the road.
“Drivers should also take the time to read any correspondence from their insurance company and never make assumptions when it comes to vehicle insurance.”
The week of action involving Roads Policing Teams, supported by colleagues from across Districts, is part of a week-long initiative developed by the National Roads Policing Operations, Intelligence and Investigations (NRPOII) committee in partnership with the MIB campaign.
"All drivers need to make sure they are properly insured to drive on the roads and, while this week we will be working to remove uninsured vehicles from the road, it will also be about educating drivers on what can be innocent mistakes they may be making, not realising they aren’t insured properly," added Chief Inspector Simpson.
“I would encourage everyone to pay particular attention to the wording of their insurance policy, as sometimes people mistakenly believe they have cover to drive other vehicles but, when stopped by police, this sometimes is not the case.
“The law regarding vehicle insurance is clear - before you drive a vehicle, it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate insurance cover in place.”