Can a Car Be Parked on the Road Without Insurance?

Under the UK’s Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) law introduced in 2011, all vehicles must be insured at all times unless declared off-road with a SORN. This includes vehicles that are simply kept or parked on public roads, even if they’re not being driven.

What counts as a public road in the UK?

A public road is defined in the UK as any road maintained at the public's expense. This means that residential streets, cul-de-sacs, and high streets are all considered public roads, and you must have valid insurance to park on them. The only time this changes is if your vehicle is kept on private land, such as a garage or a driveway. However, to park in these places without insurance and without facing penalties, your vehicle must be officially SORNed.

There are a variety of reasons why someone might want to take their car off the road. It could be for storage, financial reasons, repairs, or the owner is not using it at that particular time. To officially and legally declare your car off the road (and no longer be liable to pay insurance or road tax in the process), you need to make a Statutory Off Road Notification or SORN.

Declaring your vehicle SORN means informing the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) that your vehicle is no longer in use and, as a result, will not be parked in public places. Once you have a valid SORN, you are no longer legally required to insure or tax your vehicle, but it must be kept on private property or land. Acceptable locations to park a SORNed vehicle include:

• A driveway
• A private road
• A garage
• Private property, such as a privately owned car park

However, it's important to remember that you cannot leave a SORNed vehicle on a public road, even if you have no intention of driving it. Doing so is illegal and could result in a range of penalties. If your car is not in use for any length of time, whether you're waiting for crucial repairs or hoping to sell it, you should still declare a SORN. It's free to apply online and can be done quickly via the DVLA.
What happens if I park on a public road without insurance?

The consequences of parking on a public road without insurance can be severe. Using a vehicle, which includes simply parking it, without insurance, is illegal. So if you're caught with an uninsured car, you can expect any of the following penalties:

• Fixed penalty notices of £100
• Penalty points on your driving licence (minimum of six penalty points, maximum of eight)
• If your case goes to court, you could face the maximum fine, which is unlimited

Additionally, the vehicles of uninsured drivers may be:

• Clamped
• Towed
• Seized/Impounded
• Destroyed

If your vehicle is seized, getting it back can be a difficult process. You may be required to pay additional fees and provide proof of your car insurance. If your vehicle isn't claimed, then it may be destroyed or even auctioned off.

Don't be fooled into thinking that you have to be caught driving without insurance or be very unfortunate to have the police check your parked vehicle outside your home for these laws to be enforced. 

Today, police forces utilise automatic number plate recognition to check insurance details and cover. These sophisticated ANPR cameras read licence plates and instantly compare the information against databases like the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to verify your cover. So, if your car doesn't have insurance, you can still expect penalty points or a court summons by post.

In short, no. The UK law is very clear that any car that is parked on a public road must be insured. Even if your cover lapses for a single day while you're searching for a new comprehensive insurance policy or third-party cover, this isn't an acceptable excuse. Other common excuses, such as "my insurance expired yesterday" or "I'm waiting to hear back from the insurance company," won't protect you from penalties, clamping, or prosecution.

The only way to legally avoid insurance is to SORN your vehicle and move it onto private land.

To keep yourself compliant, it is essential that your vehicle is insured at all times if it's parked on a public road, even if you have no intention of driving it. Remember the following tips:

• Declare your vehicle SORN if you're not going to be using it for a while
• Once declared, move it onto private property
• If the vehicle is visible or accessible from a public road, it will still need to be insured
• Do not cancel your insurance until the SORN is successfully registered with the DVLA
• Even a single day or short lapse of time without insurance can result in fines or points, so make sure you have cover in place