Driving offence with £300 fine occurs 2 miilion times a year

The alert comes ahead of the September ’76 number plate change.

New research from temporary car insurance provider Tempcover reveals that one in five drivers would not check if they were insured before test-driving a vehicle in a private sale.

With more than 4.3 million private used car sales each year in the UK, Tempcover analysis warns that uninsured test drives could top 2 million annually.

Motorists caught test-driving without valid cover face a £300 fine and six penalty points (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

The warning follows SMMT Q2 data showing that the UK used car market recorded more than 2 million transactions, including a 67% rise in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales.

Test drives of used electric vehicles are becoming more thorough, with 43% of drivers saying they drive EVs further and for longer than petrol or diesel models, averaging an extra 2.8 miles per test.

This is often to assess battery health and charging capabilities, but driving without insurance remains illegal and carries serious penalties.

What is the punishment for being caught test-driving without correct insurance?

Motorists caught test-driving without valid cover face a £300 fine and six penalty points, or, if prosecuted in court, an unlimited fine, six to eight points, and a criminal record.

Many drivers are unaware that ‘Driving Other Cars’ (DOC) clauses in standard policies rarely cover private test drives.

Tempcover also found that 43% of motorists did not know they could purchase temporary insurance for as little as an hour to stay protected during a test drive.

This marks a sharp rise from an estimated 1.3 million during the September ’75 plate change and 1.5 million during the March ’26 plate change.

Jake Lambert, a temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “Second-hand electric cars are changing hands at an increasing pace, and buyers looking to grab an EV bargain during the September ’76 number plate change are likely to take longer, diagnostic test drives – covering more miles and driving to public charging points to vet battery performance before handing over their hard earned money.

“These extended test drives make proper insurance coverage even more crucial.

“Private sellers have no legal obligation to insure a buyer, and relying on outdated policy assumptions without verifying cover leaves drivers at risk of taking to the road without valid insurance.

“Securing fully comprehensive, temporary insurance is a simple fix that protects buyers from severe out-of-pocket costs if an accident happens.”

How does the September ’76 number plate change impact this?

UK number plates change twice a year in March and September for newly-registered vehicles, which are associated with different numbers.

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March releases use the last two digits of the year, so 2026 becomes 26, while September releases add 50 to the same figure, turning 2026 into 76.

There is usually a seasonal rush when the new plates comes in which is typically driven by sellers looking to avoid the immediate depreciation that comes with an older registration.

As a result, this period may see an increased period of test drive taking place for private car sales.

Have you checked to see if you have the correct insurance to test-drive a car? Let us know in the comments.