Police have issued guidance over the validity of car insurance policies.

The warning comes amid reports of young people driving without insurance. Confusion seems to have developed around the matter, with many young people believing they are insured to drive vehicles of which they are not the owner.

Young drivers who are insured as a named driver on their parent's car are only covered when driving that vehicle. This differs from other motorists who own their own vehicle and may have third party cover to drive other vehicles which they do not own.

Reminding young people, parents and all motorists to be clear on the terms of their insurance, Inspector Rory Bradley said: "In any event it is for the user of the vehicle to ensure that they have valid insurance for the vehicle for which they are driving. Generally speaking, ignorance is no defence for this offence."

It is also the vehicle owner's responsibility to ensure all those driving their car have valid motor insurance, otherwise they too commit the offence of permitting the other to use their vehicle without adequate cover.

If a vehicle does not have a current valid insurance policy in place, it is automatically illegal for anyone to drive it on their own insurance policy, whether they have third party cover to drive other vehicles or not.

Inspector Bradley added: "The crux of all of this is if a vehicle is on a road, the vehicle in question requires a valid insurance document, otherwise you will be uninsured. Please do not allow your loved ones to drive uninsured especially if they are young. It is already difficult and expensive enough for young drivers to get their own insurance without having to declare a previous prosecution for no insurance."



(JG/CM)